
Class I" Q 7 / 



PAST AND PRESENT 



OF 



DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA 

Bv rROF R F. WOOD 



t: -ether with 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

OF MAXT - : MINEXT AXr L E 7 N : T TENS AND 

lUUISrWOUS DEAD 



ILLUSTR.-.TED 



CHKUkGO: 
THE S. 1. CLOUCE njmUSSBEBOG C01BPi»3fiT 



iJcbicttteb to the 

^i0neev& 

of tl)e ffiottntB 






ii'im 



PREFACE. 



The last authentic history of Dallas county was written in 1879 by the Union Historical 
Company. This has been freely consulted and much of its material utilized in compiling 
this work. The intention has been to preserve the salient points of this first history and add 
to it the important events of the next thirty years. 

The files of the various newspapers of the county have given much information and 
the members of the advisory board, together with many other patriotic citizens, have rendered 
invaluable assistance. The apology for rewriting so extensively from the former history is 
that it contains so much important matter not obtainable elsewhere that the readers of today 
should have the benefit of. 

The author has aimed not so much at originality or brilliancy in literary style as relia- 
bility and clearness. It is believed that if the interesting and important events connected 
with the growth and development of Dallas county be collected in one volume it will be ap- 
preciated now and in the future. 

Enough state history has been introduced to give a basis for local history. History 
has in view the presentation of important facts and the cultivation of patriotism. 

The history of Iowa, as a whole, and of its constituent parts, is more a story of peaceful 
growth than of sanguinary strife. For three-quarters of a century Iowa has been advancing 
in population and material growth, Dallas county has shared in the general prosperity and 
character of citizenship. 

The pioneers have nearly all gone, but their sons and daughters are taking their places 
and exhibiting the same energy and firmness of character that characterized their illustrious 

dead. 

To the rugged pioneers who marked out the path of civilization and blazed the way for 
future generations this volume is cordially dedicated. 

R. F. Wood. 





qA / lo--(^ 



J, /'II 



HISTORICAL. 



INTRODUCTION. 

"The Pioneer was a rugged seer 
As he crossed the Western river, 

Where the copper man called the Indian 
Lay hid with his bow and quiver." 

As for the pioneer, his days are numbered. 
As for the Indian, there he stands, a specter 
on the horizon! 

The conflict has been irrepressible. There 
could be no compromise ; the races were too un- 
like. The Red man's ways were not in accord 
with modern progress. The verdict of civili- 
zation has been that his room is better than 
his company. It is an edict issued from the 
court of Progress that the Indian shall be 
pushed aside. 

In this world there is one law : the weakest 
goes to the wall. Men may as well expect a 
weight on the shorter arm of a lever to lift a 
greater weight on the longer, as to suppose a 
reversal of this law. There is such a thing as 
a science of Historical Physics, which is time 
for thinkers to consider. The fundamental 
maxim in the dynamics of progress is, that the 
greater force overcomes the less. They who 
will, may complain of the result and try to ex- 
plain it. 

In the great march -which has substituted 
the wheat field for the cane-brake, and made 
the White man the exterminator of the Red 
barbarian, there is this that is peculiar: in 
America the work has been done by a class of 
men unknown in Europe — The Pioneers. 
Europe was peopled by large bodies of men 
moving from one countrv to another. Every- 



where, except in our own country, the move- 
ment has been en masse. But in America it 
has been accomplished by a different process. 
Here we have had the gradual approach of 
civilization and the gradual recession of barbar- 
ism. Population has been flung westward in a 
spray, which has fallen far out beyond the 
actual line of the column. Hence the pioneers. 
It is surprising that no state of the great 
sisterhood, west of the influence of the Atlantic 
tides, has been colonized. Every common- 
wealth has been peopled by the scattered 
scouts of progress — the pioneers. They have 
come by twos and threes. The individual, un- 
able longer to endure the hardships of civili- 
zation, has moved out to find the comforts of 
the wilderness. 

We have thus had in America a race of men, 
sui generis — the pioneers — the hardiest type of 
men that ever foreran the columns of civiliza- 
tion. They belonged, like other heroes, to 
the Epoch of the Dawn. The Old World 
knew them not. They are our own — or were; 
for the pioneer type is in process of extinction. 
Like the red tribes, pressed back by their 
energies, the rugged adventurers who made 
possible this wonderful heritage are seen only 
in the glow of sun-down. 

Many changes have come about since the 
first settlers came to Iowa. The waters of the 
rivers, once so clear and transparent, have be- 
come clouded by the intermingling of soil 
from the cultivated fields. The waters of the 
rivers have been no more changing than the 
landscape. This is the true age of magic. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



M'ho is there that does not see that the Lamp 
of Ci\Tilization far surpasses the fanciful one of 
Aladdin ? Not a single palace, but whole cities 
have sprung into existence, as it were, in a 
single night. Instead of transforming towns 
into lakes, and their inhabitants into fish, by 
our magic, swamps and reedy lakes are trans- 
formed into cities, towns and productive fields. 
Unnumbered generations of wide-eyed children 
have wondered at the enchanted horse, whicTi, 
by the turning of a peg, in a single day trans- 
ported the Prince of Persia and his lady love 
to his distant dominions. But we have en- 
chanted horses which travel at the rate of a 
mile a minute, able to carry, not merely two 
persons, but whole populations. Yet we do 
not wonder. The author of the "Arabian 
Nights' Entertainments" thought his fancy 
had transcended the bounds of all that was 
possible. But the creations of his imagination 
are tame and dull beside the marvelous handi- 
work of the real Genie, the Spirit of Civi- 
lization. The people today have comforts, 
conveniences and luxuries never dreamed of 
by our forefathers. No country has a more 
progressive, prosperous and enlightened citi- 
zenship than Iowa. 

With a soil unsurpassed in fertility, favor- 
able climatic conditions, ample transportation 
facilities, Iowa easily ranks today among the 
foremost agricultural states of the world. It 
is pre-eminently a country of productive farms 
and beautiful homes. The sentiment of the 
people is aptly represented by Major Byers, 
in the following: 

You ask what land I love the best, Iowa, 'tis Iowa, 
The fairest State of all the West, Iowa, oh! Iowa; 
From yonder Mississippi stream to where Missouri's 

waters gleam 
Oh fair it is as poet's dream, Iowa, in Iowa. 

See yonder field of tasseled corn, Iowa, in Iowa, 
Where Plenty fills her golden horn, Iowa, in Iowa; 
See how her wondrous prairies shine to yonder sun- 
set's purpling line. 
Oh happy land, oh land of mine, Iowa, O! Iowa. 

And she has maids whose laughing eyes, Iowa, O! 

Iowa, 
To him who loves where paradise, Iowa, oh Iowa; 
Oh happiest fate that ere was known, such eyes to 

shine for one alone, 
To call such beauty all his own, Iowa, O! Iowa. 



Go read the story of the past, Iowa, O! Iowa, 
What glorious deeds, whi.t fame thou hast, Iowa, O! 

Iowa; 
So long as time's great cycle runs, or nations weep 

their fallen ones, 
Thou'll not forget thy patriot sons, Iowa, O! Iowa. 



IOWA. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

The official register of Iowa for 1905 gives 
it an area of 55,475 square miles, with a popu- 
lation of 2,210,050. The surface is a gently 
undulating prairie, that of about three-quar- 
t<?rs of the state sloping in a southeasterly di- 
rection, with an average elevation of 1,100 
feet. The highest point in the state, about 
1,700 feet, is near Spirit lake, in Dickenson 
county. The Des Moines is the largest river in 
Iowa. It flows through the central part of the 
state, a distance of more than 300 miles. Many 
of the streams furnish good water power for 
milling and manufacturing purposes, but none 
of the interior streams are rtavigable. North- 
western Iowa is an extension of the celebrated 
lake region of Minnesota. Spirit lake, near 
the northern boundary, is fourteen miles in 
circumference. East and West Okoboji lakes 
are beautiful sheets of water united by a nar- 
row strait. Clear lake and Storm lake are in 
the open prairie, and each covers an area of 
several hundred acres. All these lakes are 
noted summer resorts, and are visited annually 
by large numbers of tourists and pleasure-seek- 
ers. 

Iowa has a cool, temperate climate. The 
temperature ranges from one hundred degrees 
in the summer to forty degrees below in the 
winter. This represents the unusual extremes, 
however, the ordinary years not being subject 
to such variations. The winter just closing 
(1906-07) has been unusually mild, verj' little 
cold weather and scarcely any snow having 
fallen. The soil of the greater part of the 
state consists largely of a hea\";s-, dark loam of 
Avonderful fertility. 

In no other state is there so small a propor- 
tion of unproductive land, more than nine- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



tenths of the entire state being adapted to 
agriculture. The most important mineral de- 
posit in Iowa is soft or bituminous coal, with 
which fully one-fifth of the state is underlain. 
Coal is mined in at least thirty counties in the 
southern part of the state. Clay, suitable for 
brick and tile making is found in nearly all 
parts of the state. Lead, zinc and gypsum are 
mined to some extent and limestone of excel- 
lent quality is found in nearly all parts of the 
state. 

The native timber of Iowa is found mainly 
along the banks of its rivers and smaller 
streams. The principal forest trees are the ash, 
elm, maple, hickory, butternut, poplar, cotton- 
wood, box elder, black walnut, and several va- 
rieties of oak. Fruit trees are abundant and in 
nearly all parts of the state artificial groves of 
willow, maple, poplar, and less frequently, the 
pine, larch and spruce are seen. Nature seems 
to have decreed that Iowa should become a 
great agricultural state. It has a deep, fertile 
soil, a temperate climate, abundant rainfall, 
good drainage, and its generally level surface 
is well adapted to the use of farm machinery 
for sowing, planting, cultivating, and harvest- 
ing crops. Large crops of corn, oats, barley, 
rye, flax, potatoes and hay are raised. Wheat 
was at one time largely raised, but diversified 
farming has forced this cereal out of the list 
of important crops. In some parts of the state 
fair crops are still raised on land that has 
been farmed continuously for forty years wath- 
out the use of fertilizers. Corn is the leading 
staple, and nearly one-fourth of the entire area 
of the state is devoted to the raising of this 
crop. Stock raising is one of the leading occu- 
pations of Iowa, which in this branch of indus- 
try holds a foremost rank among the states of 
the Union. Much attention is given to raising 
draft and driving horses and thousands are ex- 
ported each year. In the products of the dairy, 
also, Iowa is in the front rank. 

In the vicinity of the cities and towns much 
attention is paid to raising of vegetables and 
small fruits. 

The manufactures of Iowa are somewhat 



limited on account of the attention given to 
agriculture. An efi^ort is made by all the large 
cities to encourage manufactures. Meat- 
packing and the production of cheese, butter, 
condensed milk, flour and grain products are 
the chief manufacturing industries. Other 
important manufactures are lumber, cars, ma- 
chines, agricultural implements, carriages, 
wagons, brick, tile, pottery, buttons, starch and 
sorghum sirup. 

GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. 

The long accepted belief as to the antiquity 
of the eastern over the western continent seems 
to be refuted by scientific research. America, 
though much later in culture and civilization, 
was the first born among the continents. Hers 
was the first dry land lifted out of the waters; 
hers the first shores washed by the ocean that 
enveloped all the earth besides; and while 
Europe was represented only by islands rising 
here and there above the sea, America already 
stretched one unbroken line of land from Nova 
Scotia to the far west. The stratas of rocks 
with their fossil remains and scratched surface 
are like the pages of an open book to the sci- 
entist. From them is read the story of the 
past and deductions and conclusions reached 
that are incontrovertible. Prof. Calvin has 
well said: "The finding of a single genuine 
prehistoric arrow point may enable us to write 
up an important chapter in the history of a 
people that no historian ever saw, and concern- 
ing whose existence there is not even the 
shadow of a human tradition. When, as is 
often possible, we may add the knowledge 
gained by exploring their homes, their shrines 
and sepulchers, we are in a position to write 
up somewhat more fully the portion of their 
history which deals with their daily occupa- 
tions and their domestic life. Many records 
tell of other facts than the mere presence of 
human occupation in a region such as Iowa. 
Vegetable remains preserved in peat bogs in 
the mud that accumulated at the bottom of 
ancient ponds and lakes enable us to recon- 



10 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



struct the prehistoric forests. With such vege- 
table remains are usually found bones of ani- 
mals that lived in the forests. Human weapons 
or human skeletons are often there too. So 
in records preserved in the peat bogs or lake 
bed, science may rehabilitate in a general way 
the prehistoric landscapes, and may see them 
enlivened with multitudes of struggling crea- 
tures, man among the rest; all bent on ac- 
complishing the two great objects for which 
living things below the higher plane of human- 
ity seem to strive — 'to eat and escape being 
eaten.' Not only may we restore the forests 
in the shadow of which prehistoric man lived, 
but we may know the size and habits of the 
animals that roamed through the forests; 
those that man chased and those from which 
he in turn fled; we may even go farther and 
determine the climatic conditions under which 
all this assemblage of animal life existed. Ge- 
ology unfolds to us a wonderful history of the 
most remote periods of time, which reduced 
to language reads like a fairy tale. It tells 
us all we know of the countless yeai-s that passed 
away while the continent, of which Iowa is a 
part, was in the process of formation. These 
geological records untampered with, and unim- 
peachable, declare that for uncounted years, 
Iowa, together with the great valley of the Mis- 
sissippi, lay beneath the level of the sea. So 
far as it was inhabited at all, marine forms of 
animals and plants were its only occupants." 
Ages go by and the limestone beds appear 
above the surface in Northeastern Iowa, then 
in course of lime in Marshall, Des Moines, and 
Lee counties. Then came the coal measures 
with the layers of rock and shales above them 
and finally the vegetable and higher forms of 
animal life. The climatic conditions of Iowa 
at this time were decidedly tropical. Animal 
and vegetable life distinctly tropical character- 
ized this period. Luxuriant growth of flowers, 
fruits and ferns sheltered myriads of brightly 
colored birds with gorgeous plumage — ^a 
kaleidoscopic view of which would have given 
a panorama of unrivaled beauty. 



But this was not to last. A great climatic 
change came over the country. The delight- 
fully balmy days began to be tempered by 
chilling winds. Frosts came earlier and re- 
mained later. Snows fell to great depths, and 
were pressed into great sheets of ice extinguish- 
ing all remaining animal and vegetable hfe. 

This was the great glacial sea that pressed its 
way over hill and plain, smoothing the surface, 
planing off the tops of high hills and embank- 
ments, leaving huge boulders and furrowed 
rocks to mark its passage. Another climatic 
change came and the ice began to melt and 
rivers began to pour over the land, carrying 
the clayey sediment and depositing over the 
land. 

It is the opinion of the state geologist that 
slacial action litis contributed in great part 
toward making our state one of such ideal con- 
ditions. It has been demonstrated that before 
the glacial epoch Iowa was composed of an 
intricate system of hills and valleys. There 
were narrow gorges hundreds of feet deep and 
ridges of laud of corresponding height above 
the surface. Without the leveling effects of 
the glaciers, the surface of Iowa would resem- 
ble the bad lands of Dakota. Also the soils 
of such uniform excellence would have been 
impossible in a non-glacial Iowa. 

The soils of Iowa have a value equal to all 
of the silver and gold mines of the world com- 
bined. And for this rich heritage of soils we 
are indebted to great rivers of ice that over- 
flowed Iowa from the north and northwest. 
The glaciers, in their long journey, ground 
up the rocks over which they moved and min- 
gled the fresh rock flour from granites of Brit- 
ish America and Northern Minnesota with 
pulverized limestones and shales of more south- 
ern regions, and used these rich materials in 
covering up the bald rocks and leveling the 
pre-glacial surface of Iowa. The materials are 
in places hundreds of feet deep. 

Every part of Iowa is debtor in some way 
to the great ice sheet of the glacial period. The 
chief agents concerned in modifying the sur- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



11 



face throughout most of Iowa since the dis- 
appearance of the latest glaciers have been 
organic, although the chemical and physical 
influences of air and water have not been with- 
out their effects. The growth and decay of a 
long series of generations of plants have con- 
tributed certain organic constituents to the 
soil. Earth worms bring up fine materials 
from considerable depths and place in position 
to be spread out upon the surface. 

The pocket gopher has done much to furnish 
a surface. layer of loose, mellow soil. Organic 
agents in the form of plants and burrowing 
animals have worked unremittingly through 
many centuries and have accomplished a work 
of incalculable value in pulverizing, mellow- 
ing and enriching the superficial stratum, and 
bringing it to the ideal condition in which it 
was found by the explorers and pioneers from 
whose advent dates the historical period of 
oar matchless state. 

Various theories have been advanced to ac- 
count for the absence oif trees on the great level 
or rolling plains. Destructive fires, conditions 
of the soil, climate and presence of certain 
kinds of vegetable life have been offered as 
solutions by different authorities. While the 
absence of trees in early times is not satisfacto- 
rily explained, with the coming of the settlers 
trees have been readily made to grow until 
now they form an important feature in giving 
Iowa landscape its characteristic beauty. 



While Iowa is one of the younger states of 
the Republic, as compared with the thirteen 
colonies which won independence from Great 
Britain through the War of the Revolution, 
it has a history which may be traced with some 
degree of certainty for a period of more than 
two hundred years. 

The original inhabitants of Iowa and the 
Mississippi were called Mound Builders, on 
account of the huge elevations of stone and 
dirt erected by them. Traces of these are 
found in many counties of the state, some of 



them containing skeletons partially preserved 
and various implements of peace and war. 
Whether these early inhabitants were Indian 
tribes of superior intelligence or a different 
race is a matter of conjecture. 

The Spaniards, in 1541, under the leader- 
ship of De Soto, were the first white men to 
cross the Mississippi and explore the southern 
part of tne United States. They were a band 
of ruffians bent on pillage and murder and 
their treatment of the Indians did much 
towards causing the latter to hate the sight 
of the pale face. 

While the English were colonizing the At- 
lantic coast and the Spaniards the region about 
the Gulf of Mexico, the French were coming 
into the interior by the way of the St. Lawrence 
river. Great Lakes and the Mississippi. Fur 
traders and missionaries pushed their way far 
into the unknown countries and made friends 
with the dark skinned savages. One of these 
missionaries, Father Jacques Marquette, and 
Joliet, French Jesuits, made their way with five 
companions first of all white men down the 
Mississippi and discovered Iowa June 17, 1673, 
from the mouth of the Wisconsin, the pres- 
ent site of McGregor. A few days later they 
landed on the west bank of the river a lit- 
tle above the mouth of the stream now called 
the Des Moines, the first Europeans to tread 
the soil of Iowa. Leaving their canoes in 
charge of their companions, Marquette, accom- 
panied by Joliet, followed the trail that led 
from the river a few miles into the interior 
to the Indian village. 

They were received with much astonishment, 
but were given a royal welcome. A feast was 
prepared for the distinguished visitors in which 
roast dog and roast buffalo figured promi- 
nently. The chief made a great speech in- 
dicative of good will and friendship and 
invited the white men to come and live with 
them. It seems that there was a tradition or 
prophecy among these Indians that white vis- 
itors were to come to them, and the visit, while 
a surprise, wias not altogether unexpected by 
some at least. 



12 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



One can imagine the feelings of Marquette 
and his band when they came in sight of Iowa 
on that June day. Prairies spread out before 
them like seas of green grass, the creeks fringed 
with trees and shrubs clothed in luxuriant 
foliage, the landscape dotted with beautiful 
flowers, a delicious, balmy air, streams of water 
so clear that their pebbly bottoms were plainly 
seen, herds of deer and €lk pasturing in 
the meadows, the woods echoing to the voices 
of the prairie chickens, wild turkeys, quail, 
pigeons, squirrels and other wild game. 

The visitors remained a week with their 
hosts, feasting, hunting and sight seeing in 
this enchanted land. 

No wonder the first Indians, who came to 
this fair land to make it their home, gave it 
the name of Iowa, meaning "beautiful land." 
No wonder the words of the poet in the follow- 
ing song touch a responsive chord in the hearts 
of so many, who have the same veneration and 
patriotic devotion to their country as prevailed 
in the simple child-like race to whom was first 
given dominion over this land; 

"A song for our dear Hawkeye state, Iowa, Beautiful 

Land, 
As a bird sings of love to its mate in Iowa, Beautiful 

Land; 
The land of wide prairies and trees, sweet clover and 

humming of bees, 
While kine breath adds perfume to these in Iowa, 

Beautiful Land. 

Cho.— 

"Crown her! Crown her! Crown her! 
Crown her with corn, this Queen of the West, 
Who wears the wild rose on her breast. 
The fairest, the richest, the best, Iowa, Beautiful 
Land, Iowa, Beautiful Land. 

"The cornfields of billowy gold, in Iowa, Beautiful 
Land, 

Are smiling with treasure untold in Iowa, Beautiful 
Land; 

The food hope of nations is she, with love over- 
flowing and free, 

As her rivers which run to the sea, in Iowa, Beautiful 
Land. 

"Her tale of the past has been told, of Iowa, Beau- 
tiful Land, 

The future is not yet unrolled, of Iowa, Beautiful 
Land; 

The Past! how high on lame's scroll she has writ- 
ten her dead heroes' roll. 

The future fear not for thy goal Oh! Iowa, Beautiful 
Land. 



"Then sing to the praise of our God, of Iowa, Beau- 
tiful Land, 

And our fathers whose feet early trod this Iowa, 
Beautiful Land; 

A land kissed by sunshine and showers, of corn 
lands, wild roses and flowers, 

Oh! thrice blessed land this of ours, our Iowa, Beau- 
tiful Land." 



Though most of the records of this early ex- 
ploration made by Marquette and Joliet were 
lost their impressions of the countrj' are known 
to us. The main purpose of the travelers was 
to convert the Indians to the Jesuit faith. In 
contrast with the bloodthirsty, rapacious char- 
acter of the Spaniards the gentleness and 
urbanity of the French present an agreeable 
picture. Departing with presents, prominent 
among which was the sacred calumet, highly 
ornamented, which was to be a safeguard 
among strange Indian tribes — Marquette and 
his associates passed on down the river, floating 
with the current by day and landing at night. 
After penetrating the regions far to the south, 
protected from warlike Indians by the sacred 
calumet, the party finally made the return trip 
by way of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to 
the Great Lakes. 

The next expedition sent to the valley of the 
Mississippi was led by Robert Cavalier De La 
Salle. This great explorer stands out as one of 
the most inflexible, indomitable characters in 
historj'. He can not be classed with any other. 
His name is a star which belongs to no con- 
stellation. Stern, gloomy and unconquerable, 
he undertook to accomplish tasks which would 
have appalled one of less heroic mold and iron 
will. Coming to Canada in 1666 he became 
interested in the stories told of the "Great 
Father of Waters." Cherishing the dream of 
a "southwe.-^t" passage to China and a great 
French Empire, he began to make frequent 
trips inward and to gather all possible informa- 
tion. With one companion, he pushed his way 
to the south and discovered the Ohio river. 
Abandoning the idea of a southwest passage 
he became convinced that the ^Mississippi flowed 
into the Gulf of Mexico. He was determined 
to secure the country watered by this great 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



13 



river for his countryman, the king of France. 
With prophetic insight into the future he real- 
ized that this was the choicest portion of the 
new world. In describing it he says : "So beau- 
tiful and so fertile; so free from forests and so 
full of meadows, brooks, and rivers ; so abound- 
ing in fish, game, and venison, that one can 
find in plenty, all that is needful for the sup- 
port of flourishing colonies." His idea was to 
explore the Mississippi, build a chain of forts 
from the Lakes to the Gulf and erect a strong 
fortress at the mouth of the river. With the 
assi.-lance of the governor of Canada a fort 
was built, named in honor of the governor, 
Frontenac, near the junction of the St. Law- 
rence and Lake Ontario. Enemies from po- 
litical and religious sources began to make 
trouble for La Salle, necessitating a personal 
trip to France to lay the matter before the 
king. 

In this he was successful and returned with 
a grant from the king and money from friends 
who had faith in the enterprise. ■ From this 
time he was encircled by enemies, who shad- 
owed him to the grave. 

Through an unwise act of Champlain, a 
French explorer, in making war on the Iro- 
wois, the latter became bitter enemies of the 
French. The Jesuits hated La Salle and plot- 
ted against him because he had abandoned 
their cause and co-operated with a' rival order. 
The fur traders were also jealous of his success 
in opening up new channels of commerce. In 
spite of all the villainous machinations against 
him, his inflexible will overcame all obstacles. 
King Louis XIV of France was opposed to col- 
onies, but was anxious for military dominion, 
and assisted La Salle in his plans. A ship 
named the Griffin was built on Lake Erie and 
Ft. Crevecoeur established on the Illinois river, 
both of which, however, were destroyed Ijy 
those who were leaving no stone unturned to 
accomplish his defeat. Refusing to give up he 
constructed a new ship, floated down the Mis- 
sissippi to its mouth and took possession of the 
new country, naming it Louisiana in honor 
of his king. Reascending the river he buill 



Ft. Saint Louis on a high bluff overhanging 
the Illinois river, now called Stai'ved Rock. 

But his situation was one of peril. The new 
governor of Canada, La Barre, was unfriendly 
to La Salle and refused to assist him. The 
king began to lose confidence in the scheme 
and concluded new discoveries should be aban- 
doned as utterly useless. What a prophet was 
the king concerning the future of America. 
Little did he realize how much "New" France 
was to surpass "Old" France. La Salle .was 
undismayed. Again crossing the ocean he ap- 
peared once more before the throne of France. 
The desire burning within him was to get a 
fort and colony on the Mississippi. Instead of 
dwelling on its use in developing the interior, 
he held out the more glittering but far less 
substantial allurement that such a fort would 
be a basis for a descent on the Spanish domin- 
ions. The idea of wresting Mexico with its 
rich mines of gold and silver from the indolent 
Spaniards who guarded it, caught his eye. He 
hated Spain. Any plan to hurt her was grate- 
ful to him. So La Salle was granted more than 
he asked. La Forest, La Salle's lieutenant, was 
dispatched to Canada with a royal reprimand 
for Governor La Barre. He was further or- 
dered to march with 4,000 Indian warriors to 
the mouth of the Mississippi to co-oj^erate with 
La Salle in an invasion of Mexico. When his 
lieutenant received this latter order from La 
Salle the latter must have had difficulty in 
preserving the serenity of his countenance. It 
is the solitary joke in his stern career. It 
gives him rank among the funny men of all 
ages. Gulliver's exploits are nothing in com- 
parison with marching 4,000 wild Indians, as 
unstable as water, belonging to a hundred dif- 
ferent tribes, two thousand miles from their 
hunting grounds; their women and children 
left behind; their numbers so great that with- 
out any provision for supplies, they must starve 
on the way ; with no arms but bows and arrows 
and no object but to invade a country which 
they had never heard of. 

But the wise simpleton of Versailles saw 
iKilliing of the joke. Whai could be more 



14 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



natural? The idea delighted him. He gave 
La Salle four ships instead of one. The ships 
arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but 
failing to find the mouth of the Mississippi, 
they were driven ashore and wrecked. Again 
the sublime will of La Salle rose superior 
to difficulty. He determined to push up the 
river to St. Louis, make his way overland to 
Canada and from thence to France, where he 
would again obtain succor. It was a journey 
of seven thousand miles. The imagination 
fails to compass the immensity of the undertak- 
ing. It surpassed the labors of Hercules. Be- 
fore proceeding far, however, on this expedi- 
tion, he was basely murdered by one of his 
own men. Thus at the age of forty-three fell 
one of the greatest explorers of the time. It is 
impossible to find anywhere an equal for La 
Salle's undertakings and efforts, his sufi'erings 
and his toils. Unfortunate in life he was un- 
fortunate in death. Dr. Foster says of him; 
"Thus fell not far from the banks of the Trin- 
ity one of the grandest characters that ever fig- 
ured in American history— a man capable of 
originating the vastest schemes, and endowed 
with a will and judgment capable of carrying 
them to successful results. Had ample facili- 
ties been placed at his disposal by the King of 
France, the result of the colonization of this 
continent might have been far different from 
what we now behold." 

The reason the expeditions of La Salle are 
interesting to the people of Iowa is from the 
fact that it is largely due to him that Iowa be- 
came a French province and a part of Lou- 
isiana. Then came the struggle between the 
countries striving for mastery. The British 
Lion and the Lilies of France, such were the 
emblems of the two terrible antagonists on 
either side of the English channel, who were 
to contend for the incomparable prize of 
America. The question was to be permanently 
settled whether Iowa and her sister states were 
to be dominated by the French people, M'ith 
their language, customs, governments and in- 
dustrial policies, or whether they were to be 
possessed by the strong, vigorous, jjrogressive 



Anglo-Saxons. And on that September morn- 
ing in 1759, the French, with Montcalm looked 
with faces flushed by a series of victories con- 
fident of future supremacy. But when Wolfe 
and his men climbed to the heights of Abra- 
ham and infused his spirit in the hearts of 
his soldiers the scene changed and the going 
down of the sun witnessed the death blow to 
the hopes of France. Everywhere the Lilies 
of France were supplanted by the British Lion. 

GIVES LOUISIANA TO FRANCE. 

By the Treaty of Paris, January 1, 1763, 
France was compelled to give to England her 
lands east of the Mississippi and north of the 
St. Lawrence rivers. Fearing that her posses- 
sions west of the Mississippi might be wrested 
from her by her hereditary enemy she secretly 
gave that portion of Louisiana to Spain. Thus 
Iowa became part of the Spanish dominion. 
Spain really claimed to be the original owner 
of our state. After the discovery of America 
by Columbus, a division of the land was made 
by the pope. An imaginary line was drawn 
from pole to pole. The country east of this 
not claimed by any other Christian prince, be- 
longed to Portugal, that west of the line, to 
Spain. 

However, as Spain made little effort to assert 
her claims other than the southern portions, 
France may be said to be the first civilized na- 
tion to have recognized title to Iowa soil. Spain 
retained her hold on Louisiana until 1801, 
when compelled to bow to the military genius 
of the great Napoleon, she gave back to France 
all of Louisiana. 

PURCHASE BY UNITED STATES. 

About this time Napoleon was engaged in a 
great European war. France and the United 
States had long been friendly. This friend- 
ship was exhibited during the American Revo- 
lution, at which time the French, led by La 
Fayette, De Grasse and others came over and 
rendered the Americans substantial assistance. 




EA.ST END OF ItAILROAD BRIDGE XEAR ADEL 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



17 



Napoleon, doubtful of being able to hold Lou- 
isiana and wishing to make America a formid- 
able rival of England negotiations were entered 
into for the sale of this territory to the United 
States. Jefferson had prided himself on being 
a "strict constructionist" of the constitution. 
He could find no constitutional authority for 
this purchase. His far-seeing statesmanship, 
however, realized the value of this territorj' 
and, to a certain extent, what its possession 
would mean to the United States. He deter- 
mined to take a liberal interpretation of the 
"implied powers of Congress" and accordingly 
gave his consent to the plan already partially 
formulated by the American plenipotentiaries 
Livingston and Monroe, though he admitted 
that he had to stretch the constitution almost 
to the point of breaking to cover this purchase. 
Few acts of wise far-seeing statesmanship are 
entitled to more credit than this purchase. 
The triumphs of diplomacy are more honor- 
able than war and the fame of Jefferson, Liv- 
ingston and Monroe is more as statesmen than 
as soldiers. 

On the 30th of April, 1803, this treaty 
was concluded by which Louisiana was 
ceded to the United States for $15,000,000. 
The plain, straightforward sagacity of the 
American ministers wa.s a match for the wily 
Talleyrand, the crafty First Consul. Upon 
signing the treaty Livingston shook hands 
with the others and with a feeling of ecstacy 
exclaimed: "We have lived long, but this is 
the noblest work of our lives. This treaty will 
change vast solitudes into flourishing districts, 
and prepare ages of happiness for innumer- 
able generations." 

ESTABLISHING NEW GOVERNMENT. 

In October, 1803, a temporary government 
was established by Congress, though in reality 
no government existed except in name, the 
French governor still remaining in power by 
the request and authority of the United States. 
In 1804 Iowa was attached to Indiana for pur- 
poses of government, William Henry Harrison 
being then governor of that province. 



In July, 1805, was included in Louisiana 
Territory with capital at New Orleans. For 
brief periods it was attached to Illinois, Mis- 
souri and Wisconsin. July 12, 1838, Iowa Ter- 
ritory was organized and on December 28, 
1846, was admitted into the Union as a state. 

In organizing the Northwest Territories, of 
which Iowa was a part. Congress passed the 
famous "Ordinance of 1787," declaring that 
neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall 
exist in these newly acquired territories except 
for crime. A further clause stipulated that 
schools and the means of education shall be for- 
ever encouraged. In May, 1785, Congress pro- 
vided for the survey of public lands. 

Townships of thirty-six square miles each 
were established. One section in each town- 
ship was reserved for school purposes. These 
two provisions, viz., the prohibition of slavery 
and the liberality toward education were acts 
of broad statesmanship and rendered incalcu- 
lable service in the development of our great 
commonwealth. After the surveys were made 
and recorded the lands within certain hmits 
were offered for sale at not less than one dollar 
and a quarter an acre. 

EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. 

The first white man to make a settlement 
within the limits of Iowa was Julien Dubuque. 
Purchasing the right from the Fox Indians in 
September, 1788, to a tract of land covering 
the site of the present city of Dubuque, he 
~ immediately began to establish a settlement 
and develop the land found at that place. He 
afterward had the Spanish government ap- 
prove his Indian title and continued to work 
the mines for twenty-two years until his death 
in 1810. Dubuque seems to have been very 
popular with the Indians and was the recipi- 
ent of the highest honors. Years afterward 
the titles to farms and city lots in and around 
Dubuque city became involved in tedious liti- 
gation extending through a half century, the 
courts finally holding that the original grants 
were in the nature of permits and did not con- 
vcv actual title to the lands. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The next white settlement was by Basil Gir- 
ard, in 1795, in Clayton county, known as the 
Girard tract. This purchase was confirmed by 
the United States government and may be con- 
sidered the first legal title obtained by a white 
man in Iowa. 

LEWIS AND Clarke's expedition. 

In 1804 Captains Lewis and Clarke were 
commissioned by Congress to explore this 
newly acquired territory. This was one of the 
greatest feats of geographical exploration and 
adventure ever undertaken and occupied two 
years and a half. They held a notable "pow- 
wow" with the Indians near the northwest 
corner of the present county of Pottawattamie, 
giving the name of their camp Council Bluffs. 
On the 20th of August occurred the only tragic 
incident of the entire trip — the death of one of 
their members, Sergeant Charles Floyd. He 
was buried with military honors on a high 
bluff near the mouth of the Sioux river, the 
first white man known to have been buried on 
Iowa soil. In 1901 a lofty obelisk, erected 
by the Floyd Memorial Association of Sioux 
City, was dedicated with imposing ceremonies, 
and an eloquent oration by John A. Kassan, 
on The Expansion of the Republic West of the 
Mississippi River. 

This expedition gave our country the first 
authentic information of its vast western pos- 
sessions. Other expeditions, notably that of 
Major Pike followed, the objects being to learn 
more of the country and to establish friendly 
relations with the Indians. 

INDIANS or IOWA. 

When Iowa was first ex'plored by white men 
the tribes of Indians in possession were the Da- 
kotas and the Algonquin?, the sub-tribal divis- 
ions being called lowas, Omahas, Winnebagoes, 
Osages, Missouris, Illinois, Sacs, Foxes, Chip- 
pewas, Ottaways and Pottawattamies. 

Some of the most famous chiefs were Black 



Hawk, Keokuk, Wapello, Poweshiek, Mahaska, 
Appanoose and Tama. 

BLACK hawk's "WAR. 

The first serious clash with the Indians in 
the history of Iowa was with the Sacs and 
Foxes. As usual, the troubles grew out of a 
treaty. It was made in 1804, and in it it was 
agreed that the Indians should give up their 
possessions east of the Mississippi for the in- 
significant sum of $2,234 and a yearly stipend 
of $1,000. 

Black Hawk and his followers always 
claimed that this treaty was illegal. It would 
seem from a thorough investigation of the cir- 
cumstances that there was shrewdness and 
cupidity displayed by the American govern- 
ment in this treaty and in the subsequent one 
providing that the Indians should have un- 
disturbed possession on the west side of the 
river, than strict justice. 

During the war of 1812 the British culti- 
vated the good will of Black Hawk to the ex- 
tent that he joined their army, taking with him 
five hundred braves. When Tecumseh fell 
(lead in the battle of the Thames, Black Hawk 
was fighting by his side. In 1823 the United 
States insisted that the Sacs and Foxes leave 
their homes and move across the river west- 
ward, according to the treaty of 1804. Keo- 
kuk, the great peace chief, favored removal, 
and with a majority of the tribe withdrew to 
the Iowa river. 

Black Hawk determined to. remain. Here 
had been the home of his people for more than 
half a century. Here were ties endeared by 
associations of a lifetime. Here under the 
shadows of the stately trees had been buried 
their dead. 

To be driven from this beautiful spot made 
dear by recollections of the happy years spent 
here, to be commanded by the inexorable law 
of fate to "Move on" was to arouse all of the 
fighting blood of this great chieftain. A coun- 
cil was held at Ft. Armstrong. General Gaines, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



19 



representing the government, dealt with Keo- 
kuk alone and sneeringly asked "Who is Black 
Hawk?" The latter, who was present, arose and 
said: "You ask 'Who is Black Hawk?' I will 
tell you who I am. I am a Sac. Ask these 
young men who have followed me to battle and 
they will tell you who Black Hawk is. Provoke 
our people to war and you will find out who 
Black Hawk is." The United States govern- 
ment compelled the Indians to move. A 
bloody war followed. While the Indians, true 
to their instinct,*, carried out their part in this 
bloody drama with their usual relentles,s cru- 
elty, the whites also ignored the ordinary rules 
of warfare, even firing on the Indians while 
they were raising the white flag of truce. The 
war could have but one outcome, Black Hawk 
was captured in the Jefferson barracks, com- 
pelled to wear a ball and chain and his people 
forced to give up the unequal struggle. The 
old chief was liberated the following spring 
and taken on a tour through the east, where 
he was impressed with the power and resources 
of the United States. Upon returning to his 
home, he was compelled to go through the 
humiliation of making a public surrender of 
his authority to his hated rival, Keokuk. The 
remainder of his life was as quiet and un- 
eventful as his former years had been boisterous 
and warlike. He died in 1838 and was buried 
on the banks of the Des Moines river at the age 
of seventy-two. 

A physician dug up the remain.*, but the 
government regained them and placed them 
in the museum at Burlington, where they were 
destroyed by fire. Black Hawk was one of the 
greatest men the Indian race has ever pro- 
duced. Free from the vices which usually be- 
set his people, he set an example of high cour- 
age, devotion to home and family worthy of 
unstinted praise. His name is preserved and 
given to one of Iowa's prosperous counties. 

In the "Annals of Iowa" is found the fol- 
lowing tribute: 

"In Black Hawk was incarnated the very 
spirit of justice. He wa.s as inflexible as steel 
in all matters of right and wrong as he under- 



stood them. No thought of malice or revenge 
entered his great soul. The contest was waged 
with no other purpose in mind than to protect 
his people in what he believed was their in- 
alienable right to the wide domain that was 
being wrested from them. It matters not 
whether his skin was copper colored or white, 
the man who has the courage of his convic- 
tions always challenges the admiration of the 
world, and as such pre-eminently the old Sac 
war chief will ever stand as an admirable fig- 
ure." 



Keokuk, like Black Hawk, was a descendant 
of the Sac branch of the nation and was born 
on the Rock river, in 1780. His name means 
"Watchful Fox" and indicates shrewdness and 
cunning. He possessed the elements of true 
courage and could fight, when occasion re- 
quired, with a cool judgment and heroic en- 
ergy. In appearance he was tall and well 
formed, with commanding attitude and grace- 
ful gestures. As an orator he was the most 
gifted of his race. While he was handicapped 
in his addre.sses to the whites, a.s he had to 
speak through an interpreter, • but in speaking 
to his own people he had the power to electrify 
them and sway them at will. Keokuk had the 
wisdom to see that a conflict with the whites 
was useless and he became distinguished as 
the great "peace chief." He was more crafty 
and diplomatic than Black Hawk but did not 
possess the moral courage of his rival. He 
was addicted to many petty vices and died from 
the effects of his dissipations. 

OTHER INDIAN CHIEFS. 

Some of the other chiefs already mentioned 
were well known to the early settlers and were 
closely associated with the growth of the state. 
Their names are still preserved in many coun- 
ties and towns of Iowa. 

Many interesting anecdotes are related of 
tiicse, which indicate that they possessed many 



20 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



estimable qualities. Since the story of the In- 
dians is written by their conquerors, it seems 
but fair that they should be given due credit 
for their virtues. It is doubtful whether their 
torture of prisoners was any more barbarous 
than the terrors of the Inquisition and in some 
of their deeds of generosity and devotion to 
others they exhibited a sublimity of courage 
and nobility of action never surpassed. They 
never forgot a favor nor forgave an injury. 
The Spirit Lake massacre was inspired by 
Ink-pa-du-tah on account of the murder of 
his brother Si-dom-in-na-do-tah by the whites 
some years before. 

Most of the stories of the Indians have re- 
lated to their warlike traits. An unprejudiced 
account of their childhood, education, dress, 
habits, beliefs, religion and sports would give 
many of us a modified view of the aborigines 
of our country and correct erroneous impres- 
sions. Judging the Indian by our standards 
some of his customs and habits seem atrocious 
and outrageous. But comparisons sometimes 
are odious. We must not forget treatment 
of wives and children by drunken white 
brutes, the burning of negroes, etc. It is the 
cheapest sort of moralizing to measure a peo- 
ple of one race and generation by the stand- 
ards of another. Our viewpoint changes so rap- 
idly that what was yesterday regarded as the 
blackest crime is today considered the highest 
virtue. Conscience has only two monitions to 
men — "Do right" and "avoid wrong." But 
the question of what is right and what par- 
ticular things are wrong is a matter of reason, 
intelligence, civilization and progress. 

Colonel Dodge tells a good story in his re- 
cent work on "Our "Wild Indians." 

A band of braves with their families was 
in camp near Ft. Chadbourne. Some of the 
officers in the fort owned fast horses, the speed 
of which was well known and bantered the 
Indians for a race. After two or three days 
of chaffering, the Indians agreed to match one 
of their ponies against the third best horse in 
the garrison, distance four hundred yards. 
The Indians bet robes and plunder of various 



kinds to the value of sixty or seventy dollars 
against money, flour, sugar, etc., to a like 
amount. At the appointed time all the Indians 
and most of the garrison assembled at the 
track. The Indians showed a miserable sheep 
of a pony with legs like chums. A three inch 
coat of rough hair stuck out all over the body, 
and a general expression of neglect, helpless- 
ness, and patient suffering struck pity into the 
hearts of all beholders. The rider was a stal- 
wart buck of one hundred and seventy pounds, 
looking big enough to carry the poor beast on 
his shoulders. 

He was armed with a huge club, with which, 
after the word as given, he belabored the mis- 
erable animal from start to finish. To the as- 
tonishment of all the whites, the Indian won by 
a neck. 

Another race wa.< proposed by the officers, 
and. after much "dickering" accepted by the 
Indians against the next best horse of the gar- 
rison. The bets were doubled, and in less 
than an hour the second race was run by the 
same pony, with the same apparent exertion 
and exactly the same result. 

The officers, thoroughly disgusted, proposed 
a third race, and brought to the ground a 
magnificent Kentucky mare, of the true Lex- 
ington blood, and known to beat the best of 
the others at least forty yards in 400. The 
Indians accepted the race and not only doubled 
bets as before, but piled up everything they 
could raise, seemingly almost crazed with the 
excitement of their previous success. The 
riders mounted, the word was given. Throw- 
ing away bis club, the Indian rider gave a 
whoop at which the sheeplike pony pricked 
up his ears and went away like the wind, al- 
most two feet to the mare's one. The last fifty 
yards of the course was run by the pony with 
the rider sitting face to the tail, making hide- 
ous grimaces and beckoning to the rider of 
the mare to come on. 

It afterwards transpired that the old sheep 
was a trick and straight race pony celebrated 
among all the tribes and that the Indians had 
just returned from a visit to the Kickapoos in 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



21 



the Indian nation, whom they had easily 
cleaned out of six hundred ponies. 

In former times the Red men of Iowa were 
almost constantly engaged in war with each 
other. In the battle between the Sacs and 
lowas, near the present site of lowaville, in 
1824, the latter were almost exterminated. An 
incident happening a short time previous to 
this, at which time the two tribes were at peace, 
indicates some of the Indian traits that were 
not unusual. 

A young Sac had killed an Indian of the 
Iowa tribe. In imitation of the whites, these 
tribes had arranged to surrender the murderer, 
but when the time came the prisoner was ill. 
His brother, with high generosity insisted that 
the sick man should remain at home and that 
he would go and die in his place. This was 
agreed to by his own people and he accord- 
ingly went forward and gave himself up. 

A short talk was had among the chiefs from 
each tribe and the situation was explained. 
The Sacs took a last look at their doomed 
friend and turned their faces homeward. That 
evening while in camp, the rapid gallop of 
a horse was heard and the rider suddenly ap- 
peared among them. It was the young brave 
who had been left behind. The lowas at first 
had threatened him, but when his generosity 
and self-sacrifice became known there was a 
revulsion of feeling and hatred changed to 
admiration. 

They not only released him, but sent him 
back to his people with presents. 

LOCATING DES MOINES 

In 1843, in order to preserve peace and order 
in the new territory which was seriously 
threatened by outlaws and thieving bands of 
Indians, it was decided to erect a fort at the 
forks of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. 
To this end Captain James Allen was sent out 
with a small detachment and supplies. He 
named the fort "Raccoon." General Scott, 
however, did not approve the name and 
changed it to Ft. Des Moines. The camj) was 



laid out along the west bank of the Des Moines 
river, in a belt of timber near the present line 
of Second street. 

THE NAME IOWA ADOPTED. 

Other settlements rapidly followed and the 
new country began to attract considerable at- 
tention. As early as 1836 Lieutenant Albert 
Lea published a book with accurate maps and 
notes descriptive of the Iowa district. He 
writes of it as the "Iowa District," as the Iowa 
river was the principal water course running 
through it. The name at once became popu- 
lar and became accepted as the official name 
of the territory, and later the state. 

EAELY GOVERNMENT. 

In 1834 the Iowa district was divided into 
Des Moines and Dubuque counties. A court 
was established in each county, the first court 
being held in a log house in Burlington in 
.April, 1835. A census taken at this time 
showed a population of 6,257 in Des Moines 
county and 11,687 in Dubuque. Iowa at that 
time was part of the Wisconsin district, with 
capital at Belmont. The first delegates sent 
to represent Iowa in the legislature from Des 
Moines county were: Arthur Inghram, Jere- 
miah Smith, Joseph B. Teas, Thomas Blair, 
John Box, David Chance, Warren Jenkins, 
Isaac Leffler, Eli Reynolds, George Teas. 

From Dubuque county were: John Foley, 
Thomas McCraney, Thomas McKnight, H. T. 
Camp, P. H. Engle, Hardin Nowlin, Patrick 
Quigley, and Loring Wheerler. 

At the same time George W. Jones was 
elected delegate to Congress. 

IOWA TERRITORY. 

On June 12, 1838, Congress passed an act 
providing for the organizing of the new Iowa 
territory. This act went into effect July 3 and 
the president appointed Robert Lucas first gov- 
ernor. A temporary seat of government was 



22 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



established at Burlington. The first seat of 
government, Belmont, located in the south- 
west corner of Wisconsin, gradually dwindled 
away, and today a fine farm marks the site of 
the first capital. A newspaper, the first in the 
territory, was established by John King in 
1836, called the Dubuque Visitor. .After sev- 
real changes it finally became the Dubuque 
Daily Herald. 

CAPITAL LOCATED AT IOWA CITY. 

The first legislature provided for the loca- 
tion of the capital in Johnson county. A sec- 
tion of land was procured on the east bank of 
the Iowa river and the location named Iowa 
City. There were no roads leading to the 
new town, and in order to guide travelers 
to the new capital from the Mississippi river, 
the settlers employed Lyman Dillon to plow a 
furrow across the prairie and through the 
groves to guide strangers to the new seat 
of government. For nearly a hundred mile? 
this furrow, the longest on record, marked the 
w-aj' and finally became a famous roadway. 

E.iELY COUKTS. 

In the early history of the settlement of Iowa 
by the whites, justice was generallj' meted out 
by local authorities. An old settler relates 
an incident connected with one of these primi-' 
five courts held in a grocery store. The court 
bailiff's name was Peterson. He was only 
about five feet high, and was very broad and 
squat. He called the court to order by yelling 
"Silence!" two or three times. 

No attention being paid to him, he mounted 
a barrel of molasses standing on end. "Silence !" 
he called out in stentorian tones. To empha- 
size the word he stamped so vigorously with 
both feet that the head of the barrel gave way. 
Into the molasses, up to his chin sank Bailiff 
Peterson. The court suspended proceedings 
until the unfortunate baiUfi" could be taken to 
the river and washed. 

The following incident described in "The 
Making of Iowa"' illustrates the Indian's value 



of a lawyer's ability. An Indian boy accused 
of killing a liquor dealer was defended by 
Judge James Grant and Judge Samuel Mur- 
dock. When the Indians met to consider the 
amount that should be paid the lawyers for 
their services, an old chief arose and said : "I 
was present at the trial and heard all the talk 
though I did not understand a word. I sup- 
pose the talking was good. The little man 
talked the loudest, and according to my opin- 
ion he ought to have the most pay." 

People in those days did not stand on for- 
mnlity. A very tall stranger entering a tavern 
during a term of court at Garnavillo in Clay- 
ton county was asked by a very little man 
"Where do you live, sir, what business do you 
have here and from what breed of men did you 
get those long legs?" The stranger smiled good 
naturedly and answered: "Sir, my name is 
Hutchinson, I reside in Iowa county, I am 
going to Ft. Atkinson and I got my long legs 
fiom Grandfather Shanks." 

People who are accustomed to the decorum 
and unruffled dignity of the present day courts 
would be astonished at the system, or rather 
lack of system, that prevailed in pioneer days. 
An early resident relates that he was present at 
one of the territorial courts and heard the 
judge order the bailiff to have the jury retire 
for consultation. Unfortunately there was but 
one room to the building,- so they were taken 
out doors. It appears that all of them readily 
agreed until they came to a Dutchman who de- 
clared in rather belligerent tones that he would 
not agree. "By hivens," yeUed the foreman, 
a stalwart, pugnacious Irishman, "I'll make ye 
agree," and he immediately began to punch 
the Dutchman in the face until the latter 
agreed to make the verdict unanimous. 

BOUXDARY DISPUTE WITH MISSOURI. 

A dispute having arisen with Missouri re- 
garding the boundary line, Congress under- 
took to settle it in 1838. The dispute arose 
over the meaning of Des Moines River Rapids, 
this term having been used in describing the 
original sur\'ey made in 1816 by J. 0. Sulli- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



23 



van. The "Rapids" alluded to meant the point 
in the Mississippi near the mouth of the Des 
Moines, but were erroneously located by Mis- 
souri in the Des Moines river itself near Keo- 
sauqua. Matters assumed such serious propor- 
tions when the time came for collecting taxes, 
that the militias were ordered out from both 
Missouri and Iowa. Trouble was finally avert- 
ed by referring the matter to the supreme 
court of the United States, who decided that 
Iowa was right in her contention. H. B. Hin- 
dershott, of Iowa, and W. G. Minor, of Mis- 
souri were appointed to mark the boundary 
line. This th6y proceeded to do, erecting iron 
pillars ten miles apart along our southern 
boundary. 

The land claimed by Iowa and Missouri 
was heavily wooded and in many of the hol- 
low trees the bees had already taken up home- 
steads. This quarrel has thus been called the 
"Honey War" and was the occasion of the 
foUoM'ing poem from a Missouri wag: 



"Ye freemen of this happy land, 

Which flows with milk and honey, 
Arise! To Arms! Your ponies mount! 

Regard not blood or money, 
Old Governor Lucas, tiger-like, 

Is prowling round our borders, 
But Governor Boggs is wide awake 

Just listen to his orders. 

"Three bee trees stand about the line, 

Between our state and Lucas. 
Be ready all these trees to fall 

And bring things to a focus 
We'll show old Lucas how to brag 

And seize our precious honey! 
He also claims, I understand. 

Of us three bits in money." 



The settlers along the disputed territory took 
lively interest in the question and both sides 
had their respective champions. People living 
on the .strip did not know whether they were 
in Iowa or Missouri. Two old women were 
discussing the ownership of the land. Said 
one, shaking her head slowly : 

"I dew hope it won't fall to Missouri, fer 
Missouri's so sickly." "Wall, I dunno," replied 
the other, puffing at her pipe, "They alluz raise 
wheat in Missouri." 



DEVELOPING THE COUNTRY. 

By various treaties with the Indians impor- 
tant tracts were secured as follows : The one in 
1832, known as the Black Hawk purchase, ex- 
tending from Missouri to the Upper Iowa river, 
containing six millions of acres, being the pen- 
alty paid by the Indians for making war on 
the whites and was the first section thrown 
open for settlement; in 1836 the strip known 
as Keokuk's Reserve was secured at a nom- 
inal cost; in 1837 another slice of a million 
and a quarter acres adjoining the Black Hawk 
purchase, and finally in 1842, the Indians 
ceded all their remaining lands in Iowa to 
United States and agreed to remove to Kan- 
sas. 

RUSH FOR LAND. 

Although Iowa .land was not legally thrown 
open for settlement until June 1, 1833, some 
whites had crossed over without authority and 
settled in the Indian country. Some of these, 
notably among whom was Dr. Muir, had mar- 
ried Indian women. The doctor had become 
very much attached to his wife and when, by 
order of his government he was given the op- 
tion of resigning from the army or abandon- 
ing his wife, he at once resigned from the army 
saying "May God forbid that a son of Cale- 
donia should ever desert his wife or abandon 
his child." 

Until the land was legally opened for set- 
tlement the bands of soldiers stationed on the 
frontier to protect the Indians and restrain 
unscrupulous whites from unlawful acts were 
kept busy. Finally the preparations were 
completed and the msh for land began. 

The first settlers were stalwart, brawny men, 
capable of enduring the hardships incident to 
pioneer life and confident of their ability to 
carve out their fortunes. Camping in the 
groves that fringed the water courses, our pi- 
oneers lived in cabins made of logs, uncleaned 
of their bark, with doors made of split clap- 
boards, with greased paper for windows. Noth- 



24 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ing daunted, they saw promise ahead, and 
willing hearts and working hands wasted no 
time. 

Kindred circumstances begat kindly social 
relations, and no newcomer, when ready to 
raise his cabin home, failed to find strong 
hands to give him the needed lift. Then fol- 
lowed the spread of simple, wholesome fare 
which was partaken of by workers whose ap- 
petites needed no coaxing to render full justice 
to the banquet. 

Organizing for mutual protection, they 
pledged themselves to stand by each other. In 
the absence of laws protecting their claims from 
mercenary speculators, they organized and en- 
acted homestead and pre-emption laws, long in 
advance of the legislation which was subse- 
quently founded upon the recognition of the 
justice of this principle, thus first established 
by the necessities of the early pioneers. 

Early settlers wrote back to the friends and 
relatives in the east glowing accounts of the 
"New Eldorado," and the Iowa Territory began 
to become famous. So that when the new 
purchase was obtained in 1842 and arrange- 
ments completed to have it thrown open to 
settlement three years later, a swarm of home- 
seekers came, eager to get a title to some of 
this fertile land. 

People of this generation, who are familiar 
with the recent land openings in Oklahoma, 
can appreciate the conditions applied to the 
disposition of the Iowa lands. The eastern 
portion was to be vacated by the Indians April 
30, 1843. For weeks previous to this, settlers 
with their families were squatting on the bor- 
der line ready to make the rush for homes. 
The signal was given at midnight and then 
with frenzied shouts and general uproar the 
new land was appropriated. 

A steady stream of settlers poured into this 
"Promised Land" from the south and east. 
Newspapers were filled with long drawn out 
accounts of this land rush. The roads were 
thronged with people and "prairie schooners," 
as the canvass covered wagons were called, dot- 
ted the landscape as far as the eye could see. 



Ferries over the Mississippi were worked over- 
time to meet the unusual demands made on 
them. Some of the eastern towns reported that 
from 500 to 1,000 immigrants were passing 
through each day. 

In 1843 the population of Iowa was but 43,- 
017, while in 1855, it was 500,000. 

J. B. Newhall, secretary of Governor Clarke, 
in his book called Glimpse of Iowa, writes that 
at the time of the early settlement of the Black 
Hawk purchase, the thoroughfares leading 
through Indiana and Illinois were literally 
lined with wagons headed for Iowa. Fol- 
lowing the wagons were men, women, children, 
hogs, dogs and cattle, all heading for the new 
region that had already became so famous. 
They had with them all their possessions and 
very little money, but depended upon their 
liibor, ingenuity and resources to create homes 
in the wild region into which they were going. 
The men built their homes and obtained food, 
the women cared for the homes, made the 
clothing and prepared the simple meals. 

MORMONS IN IOWA. 

The Mormons have a remarkable history. 
The founder, Joseph Smith, claimed to have 
received by revelation from God the Book of 
Mormon and in 1830, assisted by Sidney Rig- 
don at Kirkland, Ohio, organized the church 
of Latter Day Saints. The Mormons did not 
consider themselves bound by state laws, but 
responsible only to their leader and prophet. 
Their peculiarities made them very disagree- 
able to their neighbors, especially when they 
began the practice of polygamy. The indig- 
nation culminated in a riot at Nauvoo, Illi- 
nois, where the colony was then living, in 
which Smith was killed and .the band driven 
west across the Mississippi river into Missouri 
and Iowa. Being driven out of Missouri, they 
suffered great hardships, many dying of star- 
vation and disease, they settled in Lee county, 
Iowa, where they were received with much 
kindness. In 1845, under the leadership of 
Brigham Young, the colonies from different 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



25 



sections united and began a pilgrimage to 
Utah, where they founded large cities, built 
magnificent temples and changed the desert to 
blooming gardens. 

No more fortitude or devotion to principle 
has ever been seen than that displayed by the 
Mormons, and no more bravery or sublime 
courage ever witnessed than was exhibited by 
them during their wanderings. The line of 
3,000 wagons, 30,000 head of horses and cat- 
tle made up a caravan such as never before had 
been seen in America. In some places during 
the march through Iowa, the horses could not 
be used in the deep mud and hand wagons 
were substituted, drawn by men and women. 
Sometimes a mile or two a day was all that 
could be accomplished. 

Their trail could be followed for years by 
graves that marked their journey through Van 
Buren, Davis, Appanoose, Decatur and Union 
counties. 

In the persecutions of the Mormons Iowa 
did not .join. The people of the Hawkeye 
state have a liberal tolerance for different re- 
ligious beliefs. Many Mormons, who dissented 
from the views of the others in regard to polyg- 
amy, remained in Iowa and their descendants 
are among the most prosperous and orderly of 
our citizens. 

HUNGARIAN COLONY. 

During the time of the civil war in the prov- 
ince of Hungary, a country in Central Europe, 
the people of the United States deeply sympa- 
thized with the Hungarian patriots in their ef- 
forts under the leadership of Louis Kossuth 
to throw off the Hungarian yoke; and when 
Austria aided by Russia had succeeded in 
crushing the rebellion and was disgracing the 
victory by acts of oppression, the Hungarian 
refugees were ofiFered a home in Iowa. 

They came in large numbers and settled in 
Iowa on the Grand river, in the southern part 
of the state, but owing to the severity of the 
winter that followed they became discouraged 
and moved to Texas. Kossuth county, Iowa, 
was named in honor of the Hungarian leader. 



OTHER COLONIES. 

Various societies, some socialistic, others 
religious, have -at times colonized portions of 
Iowa. Some, like the Commonwealth at Salu- 
bria. Van Buren county, founded by Knee- 
land and the society of "Baneemyism," found- 
ed by Charles Thompson near Onawa, in Mo- 
nona county, have been failures; others like 
the Amana Society, who bought 18,000 acres 
of land in 1855 in Iowa, have made steady 
progress and are known all over the state for 
their thrift and honesty. 

PROGRESS OF THE NEW COUNTRY. 

After the treaties with the Indians had been 
completed and the latter had been removed, 
the public lands were surveyed by the general 
government and sold at a price not less than 
$1.25 per acre. 

The system of survey used is the one devised 
in 1802 by Col. Jared Mansfield, then surveyor 
general of the Northwest Territory, and has 
been uniformly used by the state and general 
government ever since. 

As soon as possible after the territory was 
opened up, the government established mili- 
tary and territorial roads. As there were no 
railroads, settlers depended mainly on horses 
and oxen for transportation purposes. 

Mails were few and far between. For some 
time postage was twenty-five cents a letter. 
Money was scarce and interest rates at times 
exorbitant. Wheat was hauled a hundred 
miles and sold for prices that seem insignificant 
today. Corn was sometimes used as fuel. 

The style of living, houses, clothing, etc., 
were, as a rule, plain and unpretentious. 
Among the poorest classes, many makeshifts 
were resorted to. Cabins of logs or sod were 
erected, clothing made from wool, flax or skins 
of animals. Furs, produce and other articles 
circulated as legal tender in the absence of 
money. 

EDUCATION. 

The early settlers of Iowa believed in educa- 
tion and schools were started as soon as the 



26 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



homes were completed. The first Iowa school 
teacher of whom we have any record was 
Berryman Jennings, who taught a term of 
school in 1830 in Lee county near the present 
town of Galland. The building was a small 
log structure constructed according to the style 
of architecture prevalent at that time. The 
schools in pioneer daj'S were lacking polish and 
refinement, but they were mighty factors in 
molding character and paving the way for 
useful citizenship. 

Sometimes the school building had one 
window, sometimes two, frequently oiled paper 
was used to allow the light to enter. Floors 
were of dirt or- of split logs, called puncheons. 
Text-books were whatever the parents hap- 
pened to own, sometimes consisting of merely 
the Old and New Testament. Interest was 
stimulated by frequent application of the 
"birch" and a teacher's tenure in office some- 
times depended more upon brawn than brain. 

The old aphorism, "No lickin' no rarnin," 
was fully believed in and vigorously enforced. 
If a pupil was punished by the teacher the 
parents generally approved the action, and if 
the teacher was unable to keep the large boys 
subdued he was considered unfit for the posi- 
tion. The pay of teachers was never very high. 
From $8 to $12 a month with the privilege of 
boarding around was considered about the 
proper compensation for Iowa's first educators. 
Not infrequently the teachers would assist in 
the numerous domestic duties at their boarding 
places, strengthening their popularity with 
both pupils and patrons. 



country, their earthly possessions being their 
horse and what few personal effects they carried 
with them. Often the salary of these itinerant 
preachers consisted of but very little beyond 
board and lodging, but they were rich in 
ambition to do good. They were men who 
seemed to be divinely prepared to help lay the 
right kind of a foundation for future great- 
ness ; dauntless in rebuking sin wherever found ; 
zealous and successful in planting the seeds of 
law and order, of civilization and religion in 
the wild soil of the pioneer's heart. 

THE PUBLIC LANDS. 

The grants of public lands made in the state 
of Iowa were for various purposes and con- 
tributed very materially to the development of 
the country. 

Schools had to be provided for, immigration 
encouraged and means of transportation pro- 
vided for. 

THE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRE TRACT. 

When the state was admitted into the Union 
she became entitled to 500,000 acres of land by 
virtue of an act of Congress, which granted this 
much for internal improvements. This was 
used to increase the school fund. This with 
the proceeds from the sale of one section of 
every township, constitutes the basis of the 
Permanent School Fund of the state. 

UNIVERSITY LANDS. 



RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. 

It has already been noticed that the religious 
zeal of the first explorers had much to do with 
the history of low-a. The saintly Marquette 
was a devout Jesuit and braved dangers and 
privations to carry the "True Faith" to the 
savage races. The same lofty motives charac- 
terized the "circuit riders" of the early settle- 
ments. Through heat and cold, storm and 
sunshine, they made their way over untraveled 



By act of Congress, July 20, 1840, a quantity 
of land not exceeding two townships was re- 
served in the territory of Iowa for the use 
and support of a university. Under this grant 
there was set apart 45,957 acres to be placed 
under control of a board of trustees. 

SALINE LANDS. 

By act of Congress of 1852, Iowa was granted 
the use of certain salt springs within the state 




IIAILROAI) BRIDGE ACROSS "COOX" RI\ER AT ADEL 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



29 



together with six sections of land contiguous 
to each. The proceeds from the sale of this 
land have been devoted to the support of the 
insane asylum. 

THE DES MOINES KIVER GRANT. 

In 1846 a grant of land was made by Con- 
gress containing 271,572 acres to be utilized 
to improve the navigation of the Des Moines 
river. Misunderstandings regarding the bound- 
ary lines of this grant led to much litigation 
and caused much uncertainty in titles until the 
matter was definitely settled by special legisla- 
tion. 

SWAMP LAND GRANT. 

By an act of Congress in 1850 all the swamp 
land and overflowed land remaining unsold 
was given to the state. Although this grant 
did not exceed 4,000,000 aci'es, it was the 
cause of much trouble and considerable legisla- 
tion. 

Many of these lands were selected in 1854 
and 1855 immediately after several remark- 
ably wet seasons, and naturally some portions 
of this, selection would not appear swampy 
after a few dry seasons. 

When persons desired to enter parcels of the 
so-called swamp lands and offered to pi'ove 
them dry, the general land office ruled that if 
the land was dry it should be entered and the 
claim of the state rejected. Speculators took 
advantage of this and, for a few dollars, bought 
lands of reckless and irresponsible men who 
would swear to lands they never saw. 

This in connection with the railroad claims 
of the odd numbered sections complicated the 
situation to such an extent that it required 
many years of contention and legislation to get 
the situation adjusted. 

THE RAILROAD GRANT. 

In 1848 the excitement concerning railroad 
enterprises struck Iowa and great enthusiasm 
prevailed. A public convention was held at 



Iowa City, which was largely attended, and 
the transportation question discussed. Two 
projected roads were considered, one from 
Davenport via Iowa City to Des Moines and 
Council Bluffs, and another from Dubuque 
via Iowa City to Keokuk. To aid these laud- 
able undertakings Congress was petitioned for 
a grant of public lands. 

Possibly some of the most active champions 
of the agitation were influenced by selfish mo- 
tives and took advantage of the popularity of 
the movement,- but the result of the agitation 
spoke volumes for the development of Iowa. 

In 1856 Congress passed the act providing 
the "Railroad Grant." A careful examina- 
tion of this act of Congress does not reveal any 
special reference to railroad companies. The 
lands were granted to the state and the act 
evidently contemplates the sale of them by the 
state, the proceeds to be used to aid in the 
construction of certain lines of railroads within 
the limits of said state. The lands approved 
to the state were as follows : 

Burlington & Missouri R. R., 287,095 acres. 

Mississippi & Missouri R. R., 774,674 acres. 

Cedar Rapids & Missouri R. R., 775,454 
acres. 

Dubuque & Sioux City R. R., 1,226,558 
acres. 

It was the original intention to grant to the 
railroads the alternate, odd numbered sections 
six miles in width on each side of the right of 
way, but this gift was supplemented by others 
which increased considerably the original 
provision. 

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LANDS. 

iVn agricultural college and model farm was 
established by the general assembly in 1858. 
By the eleventh section of the act, the proceeds 
of the five-section grant made for the purpose 
of aiding in the erection of public buildings, 
was appropriated, subject to the approval of 
Congress, with all lands that might thereafter 
be granted by Congress to the state for this pur- 



30 



PAST AND PEESEXT. OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



pose. The agricultural lands amounted to 
204,309 3-10 acres. 

In 1860 the necessarj^ land was purchased 
in Story county and suitable buildings erected. 
Additional pro\asions and liberal appropria- 
tions made by the state have given the agri- 
cultural college a recognition that is now world 
wide and its influence in stimulating the 
development of Iowa from an agricultural 
standpoint as well as providing a liberal course 
of study for Iowa's sons and daughters, justify 
the wisdom of its founders. 

LOCATING THE CAPITAL. 

"WTien Iowa was part of Wisconsin territory 
the legislature met at Belmont, Wisconsin. 
With the formation of Iowa Territorj' the seat 
of government was placed temporarily at 
Burlington, where the first legislature of Iowa 
met in November, 1838. At this meeting it 
was decided to select a location in Johnson 
county and in 1841 the change was made to 
the new site called Iowa City. When Iowa 
was made a state in 1846 Iowa City was still 
the capital, but there was a gro\ving sentiment 
that it should be relocated nearer the center 
of the state and commissioners for this purjwse 
were selected in 1847. 

This commission selected a location in 
Jasper county five miles west of the Skunk 
river and about two miles southeast of the 
present town of Prairie City. 

This new site was named "Monroe City" 
and the sale of lots began in October, 1847. 
The commissioners showed their faith in the 
future of Monroe City by buying up a large 
number of choice lots, expecting to reap a 
rich harvest. 

The act providing for the relocation of the 
capital of the state was repealed in 1848, the 
plat of Monroe City vacated and the state 
treasurer directed to refund with six per cent 
interest all money paid for lots in that city. 
The commissioners themselves were excluded 
from the benefits of this refunding act. 
Finally Des Moines was chosen as the place 



for the permanent capital of the state and in 
November, 1857, the state effects were moved 
from Iowa City to their new home and the 
matter is now permanently settled. 



THE FORTY-XIXERS. 

In 1848 an event occurred that largely 
affected the settlement of Iowa for several years 
— the discovery of gold in California and the 
consequent rush to this new gold field. The 
stories of fabulous wealth suddenly achieved 
in this famous region fired the imaginations of 
the settlers not only in the Mississippi Valley 
but also those living in the far eastern states, 
and soon great crowds were hurrjdng thither. 

Not onlj' were prospective settlers of Iowa 
diverted from their destination, but residents 
of the state in the spring of 1849 by the 
thousands joined the excited band of gold 
seekers. The journej' had to be made overland 
in wagons drawn by horses or cattle. Provision 
had to be made to carry food for the trip as 
well as protection against wild Indians whom 
they might encounter. A steady stream of 
people poured across the Iowa prairies during 
these days. 

A great number of Iowa men remained in 
California, preferring to delve for the elusive 
gold rather than to accept the more uniform 
but more certain returns of agriculture. 

'Incidentally, Iowa became more widely 
known than ever before, and many who re- 
membered the beautiful country through which 
they had passed, returned in after years to 
make this their home. 

IOWA AND SLAVERY. 

Iowa has always been a "free state." By 
the ordinance of 1787 slavery was prohibited 
in the Northwest Territory. This was further 
strengthened by the Mi.?.50uri Compromise, 
which prohibited slavery- in that part of the 
Louisiana Purchase north of the parallel of 
36 degrees and 30 minutes. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



31 



During the days of Kansas' struggles with 
"border ruffians," John Brown's "raids" and 
the abuse of "Free Soilers," the people of 
Iowa got a glimpse of the evils of slavery and 
many exciting scenes occurred on the south- 
west border, which was a gateway into Kansas. 

Governor Grimes in his inaugural address 
in 1854 said : "The removal of that great land 
mark of freedom, the Missouri Compromise 
line, when it had sacredly been observed until 
slavery has acquired every inch of soil south 
of it, has presented the aggressive character of 
that system broadly before the country. It 
becomes the state of Iowa to let the world 
know that she will never consent to become a 
party to the nationalization of slavery." 

But although Iowa was a "free state," there 
have been slaves within her limits. While she 
was attached to Michigan and Wisconsin, some 
of her early settlers brought their slaves with 
them. 

In 1839 an important decision in a slave 
case was handed down by the supreme court of 
Iowa. A slave owner in Missouri had allowed 
his slave, Ralph, to come into Iowa to earn 
money with which to purchase his freedom. 
While working here he was kidnapped by two 
traders, who were familiar with the circum- 
stances. The kidnappers were stopped at 
Bellevue and brought to Dubuque. 

The court decided that inasmuch as Ralph 
had come into a free state with the consent 
of his master, he could not be legally seized 
while living here. So he was released. When 
the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, it aroused 
a storm of indignation in the North. While 
Iowa had iriany sympathizers with the system 
of slavery, the majority was opposed to it, and 
took active interest in caring for runaway 
slaves and assisting them to freedom via the 
Underground Railroad. 

YEAR OF FLOODS. 

The old settlers have a vivid remembrance 
of the wet season of 1851. Throughout the 
spring and summer months the rain fell in 



unusual quantities. River bottoms and low 
grounds were inundated and small creeks be- 
came raging torrents. Bridges, fences and 
buildings were carried away and fields with 
crops became flooded. The large rivers over- 
flowed their banks, cities were flooded and 
homes abandoned. In many jjarts of the state 
stock was drowned, great ditches cut through 
farms and incalculable damage done. Decay- 
ing animal and vegetable matter exposed to 
the hot weather became a prolific source of 
disease and the ravages of cholera added to 
the miseries of an already overburdened people. 
What with destruction of property, sickness 
and famine, it seemed that Iowa was going 
through the darkest days of her history. 
Hundreds died during these trying months and 
many sold everything they had at a sacrifice 
and left the state. 

TEMPERANCE QUESTION. 

Before Iowa became a state its legislature 
had passed laws prohibitory and restrictive 
concerning the sale of intoxicating liquors and 
the question has been one of the serious prob- 
lems ever since. 

In 1858 a law was passed prohibiting the 
sale of strong drinks, though allowing the sale 
of mild liquors like ale, wine and beer. This 
law did not prove satisfactory, however, and 
led to much controversy. The temperance 
movement figured strongly in municipal and 
state elections for years and finally was strong 
enough to secure an amendment to the con- 
stitution giving the friends of prohibition what 
they had so long contended for. By reason of 
a clerical error, the amendment was declared 
invalid. But in 1884 the temperance forces 
were strong enough to secure statutory prohibi- 
tion. 

In trying to enforce this law so much feeling 
was engendered that it became one of the burn- 
ing political issues of the day. 

Public feeling ran high and minor questions 
seemed to be lost sight of. The murder of 
Rev. Geo. C. Haddock, an energetic and fear- 



32 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



less temperance worker, intensified the feeling 
already existing and indignation meetings were 
held denouncing the crime and demanding 
justice. 

Although large rewards were offered and 
many arrests made no convictions were secured. 
The campaign of 1889 was fought mainly on 
question of dealing with the liquor traffic; the 
Republicans standing for prohibition and the 
Democrats for license. 

In his closing address to the general assem- 
bly, Governor Larrabee called attention to the 
liquor question and made the following plea 
for prohibition: "While the number of con- 
victs in the country at large rose from one in 
every 3,442 of population in 1850 to one in 
every 860 in 1880, the ratio in Iowa is at 
present only one to every 3,130. The jails of 
many counties are now empty a good portion 
of the time and the number of convicts in our 
penitentiaries has been reduced from 750 in 
March, 1886, to 604 July 1, 1889. 

"It is the testimony of the judges of our 
courts that criminal expenses have diminished 
in like proportion. We have fewer paupers 
and tramps in our state in proportion to its 
population than ever before. It is safe to say 
that not one-tenth, perhaps not one-twentieth 
as much liquor is consumed in the state as was 
five years ago. The standard of temperance 
has been raised and if full provision were made 
for carrying out the intent of the law. the saloon 
would soon be a thing of the past in Iowa." 

The Democrats were successful in electing 
Horace Boies governor, who favored the license 
law in such localities as preferred it to prohibi- 
tion. This was termed local option and the 
re-election of Boies upon this issue caused the 
Republicans to veer over to the Democratic 
^^ew on the liquor question and make some 
other issue more prominent. The Republicans 
were successful in the next election in 1893 
and proceeded to pass the "Mulct Law" per- 
mitting such cities and towns as desired saloons 
to establish them by petition. Thus for the 
first time in the historv of the state saloons 



were established wherever a majority of the 
voters could be induced to consent. 

IOWA'S INDIAN MASSACRE. 

Iowa, with one noted exception, has been 
singularly free from Indian massacres. The 
most treacherous, warlike tribe has been the 
Sioux. Fierce, revengeful and unrelenting in 
their hatred of the whites, some of the most 
bloodthirsty acts in all the great drama of 
Indian warfare in the history of America may 
be laid at their doors. The Sioux are responsi- 
ble for the tragedies of Minnesota, the mas- 
sacre of Custer's army, and the desolation of 
Iowa homes at Spirit Lake. These acts of 
diabolical crime and monstrous atrocity are 
characteristic of the Sioux. 

In 1850 in order to protect the white settlers 
from outrages that were being committed by 
the Sioux under their chief Si-dom-i-na-do-tah, 
a fort was erected on the upper Des Moines 
called Fort Dodge. A few years before that time 
a worthless white ruffian named Henry Lott 
had established himself in that region with a 
barrel of whiskey expecting to reap a profitable 
harvest by trading with the Indians. 

Being driven away by the Indians, Lett 
determined to be revenged and in 1853 he 
returned with his stepson and built a cabin 
near what is now known as Lott's Creek in 
Humboldt county. Si-dom-i-na-do-tah lived 
in a cabin a short distance. Ingratiating him- 
self into the confidence of the old Sioux chief 
Lott took the first opportunity that offered to 
murder him. That same night, assisted by 
his stepson, he attacked and killed the chief's 
family — seven victims in all, and made his 
escape out of the country. 

Ink-pa-du-tah, a brother of So-dom-i-na-do- 
tah was informed of the murder of his brother 
by the whites and determined to bide his time 
and wreak a terrible vengeance. Brooding 
sullenly over the murder of his relatives and 
incensed at the encroachments of the whites, 
he waited for three years, and then in the 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



33 



isolated region of Spirit Lake he gave expres- 
sion to the min-derous thoughts so long hidden 
in his heart. 

Indian tradition gives a beautiful, though 
tragic, account of the reason why Spirit Lake 
was so called. Yeai-s before the white man had 
made his home in this region it was inhabited 
by a band of Dakota warriors who had captured 
a beautiful white maiden in one of their war- 
like expeditions in the far east. One of their 
own warriors, also stolen in infancy from the 
wliites and adopted into the tribe, recognized 
by all as the bravest of the brave, and the 
rising man of the nation, fell in love with the 
beautiful captive. He determined to rescue her 
and flee to a distant land. She was not in- 
sensible to his devotion and agreed to the pro- 
posed flight. 

A favorable night came and the lovers 
hastened to a canoe in waiting and were soon 
speeding across the mirrored surface of the lake. 
But the Great Spirit who rules the waters willed 
that their home should be together beneath the 
waters where they should be disturbed no 
more. So a breath of the Great Spirit dashed 
a wave over them and the waters closed over 
them forever. Since that time the Indian's 
canoe is not safe on these waters and the waters 
were henceforth called "Spirit Water." 

Though Iowa had been a state some ten years 
or more, the northern and northwestern parts 
were very sparsely settled. About the year of 
1856 .some hardy and adventurous pioneers 
pushing their way beyond the settlements dis- 
covered the wooded shores of the lakes that 
are now famous summer resorts. Among the 
early families were Rowland Gardner, Harvey 
Luce, Jas. Mattocks, Joel Howe, Alvin Noble 
and later Joseph Thatcher, with their families, 
together with a number of single men, making 
some fifty persons in all. A few miles away 
other settlements were made, and though far 
away from the protection of their fellowmen, 
all were living in fancied security. 

The winter of 1856-7 was the coldest on 
record, snow covered the ground (o unusual 
depths and fierce blizzards swept over the 



country. Traveling from one settlement to 
another was almost impossible and seldom 
undertaken unless pressed by great emergen- 
cies. Ink-pa-du-tah felt that now the time was 
ripe to seek vengeance upon the countrymen 
of Henry Lott. 

The summer Iwfore this archdemon, with 
the Satanic craftiness of his race had visited 
the exposed settlements near the lakes and had 
decided that this was the place and that when 
the fatal hour had struck, he would be on 
hand. In February, 1857, he gathered to- 
gether about thirty warriors and started toward 
the doomed settlements. Houses were entered 
and guns, food and ammunition collected by 
threats, intimidation and sometimes violence. 
Wanton outrages were frequently committed 
and a reign of terror invoked. Settlers made 
their way to Fort Dodge seventy miles distant 
and reported the story of the invasion. 

On the morning of March 8th as the Gardner 
family sat down to breakfast, the door suddenly 
opened and the hideous Sioux, fourteen in 
number, led by Ink-pa-du-tah entered and be- 
gan to threaten the membei-s of the household. 
About this time two of Gardner's neighbors, 
Dr. Herriott and Carl Snyder, stepped in for a 
friendly chat. The Indians withdrew tem- 
porarily and Herriott and Snyder returned to 
their own cabins. 

The Indians remained around the Gardner 
cabin until noon and then withdrew to the 
home of Jas. Mattock. Warnings were sent to 
the neighbors by Gardner, Luce and Clark. 

The firing of guns and screams from the 
direction of the Mattock cabin were heard by 
others, who realized that an awful tragedy had 
begun. Five men were at the Mattock's cabin. 
They made a heroic resistance but were shot 
down. The savages returned to the Gardner 
cabin and the hofrible scenes were repeated. 
Mr. Gardner was shot and instantly killed, the 
women beaten to death with clubs and Abbie, a 
child of fourteen years, carried off a prisoner. 
Other cabins were visited and similar scenes 
enacted until all the settlements had been de- 
stroyed and more than fifty lives blotted out. 



34 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The Indians hurried away, taking with them 
Abbie Gardner, Mrs. Thatcher, Mrs. Marble 
and Mrs. Noble. One of the settlers, Morris 
Markham, was away from home at the time 
of the massacre in search of stray cattle and 
did not return until the next day. Almost 
worn out by his long march, he was horror 
struck by the fearful sights that met his gaze. 

The next morning before daylight, hungry 
and almost frozen, he started for the nearest 
settlement, Springfield, Minnesota, eighteen 
miles away and gave the alarm. The settlers 
made hasty preparations for defense. It was 
well they did so, for hai'dly were they prepared 
until the Indians appeared. Some of the 
settlers who had not had time to reach their 
friends were overtaken and killed. 

The Indians after a fruitless assault upon 
the protected settlers disappeared. The whites 
quickly harnessed oxen to a wagon and started 
southwest toward Fort Dodge. When the news 
of the massacre reached Fort Dodge, a relief 
expedition was formed under Major Williams, 
a veteran of advanced age but vigorous and full 
of courage, and the company immediately 
started to render what assistance they could 
and, if possible, to execute summary justice 
upon the murderers. When the fugitives were 
met it was learned that the Indians had escaped 
and that pursuit at that time was useless. 
Major Williams sent a party of twenty-six to 
the lakes to bury the dead. 

The hardships of these unfortunate refugees 
and the soldiers of the relief expedition were 
without parallel in pioneer history. Deep 
snows had to be waded, wagons drawn through 
deep drifts by the men, camps were made in 
the snow while the wind swept over the prairies 
chilling everything with its icy breath. When 
the stricken families were met heartrending 
scenes were witnessed; men, women and chil- 
dren hungry, cold and almost exhausted. With- 
out food, sufficient clothing or medical aid it 
is hardly likely they could have survived 
another night. 

The party who kept on in the direction of 
the lakes endui'ed untold sufferings. The 



bodies of the murdered settlers were collected 
and buried and then the homeward march 



Cyrus Carpenter, a member of this company, 
afterwards governor of Iowa, says in speaking 
of this trip: "I have since marched with 
armies from Cairo to Atlanta and up to Rich- 
mond, sometimes traveling continuously for 
three or four days. Under burning sun, 
through rain, sleet and snow, we endured great 
suffering; but never in all the weary years 
could our sufferings be compared with that of 
those terrible days and nights we endured on 
that trip to Spirit Lake in 1857." 

Two of the party, Capt. Johnson and Wm. 
Burkholder, wei'e frozen to death, their bodies 
not being recovered until eleven years after- 
ward. 

The remainder of this courageous band 
reached home, though many were badly frozen 
and permanently injured. The view of those 
who are familiar with the facts is that for 
severe' hardships, continuous toil, constant ex- 
posure, bodily and mental sufferings, the ex- 
perience of some of the actors in the scenes 
just described have never been surpassed. 

The captives had to suffer inconceivable 
hardships and indignities. Two of them, Mrs. 
Thatcher and Mrs. Noble, were murdered. 
Abbie Gardner and Mrs. Marble were finally 
ransomed and restored to their friends. The 
former has written a history of the massacre 
and her life among the Indians. 

The Sioux were never punished for their 
deed and the monument erected at Spirit Lake 
in 1895 recalls to mind the darkest tragedy 
in the history of Iowa. 

OUTLAWS AND HORSE THIEVES. 

In the early history of Iowa many disrepu- 
table characters were attracted within her 
bordei-s hoping to reap the benefit of honest 
men's toil. In 1857 a party of settlers headed 
by .W. W. Brown, a man of prepossessing' ap- 
pearance and intelligence, came to Bellevue, 
Jackson county, and took up their abode. The 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



35 



leader of this colony built a hotel and became 
one of the prominent men of the county. He 
was always foremost in works of charity and 
took an active part in public improvements. 
He had in his employment numerous men and 
gave personal attention to his various enter- 
prises. About' this time considerable counter- 
feit money was discovered in circulation. 
Horses were stolen and traced to Bellevue. 
Eventually it was learned that this town was 
one of the headquarters of a desperate gang 
of thieves and that the hotel presided over by 
the genial and public spirited Brown was one 
of the chief stations of this band. On Jan. 8, 
1840, one of the robbers was shot by an enraged 
citizen named Mitchell whose house had been 
broken into and the inmates assaulted. Brown 
and his gang determined to have the life of 
Mitchell and attempted to blow up his house 
with powder but failed in the attempt. 

Warrants were sworn out for Brown and 
some of his associates and in attempting to 
make the arrests desperate resistance was en- 
countered. Brown was shot dead and the 
building set afire. Thirteen of the outlaws 
were captured, the sheriff losing four men 
killed and several others wounded. A lynch- 
ing seemed imminent, but wiser counsel pre- 
vailed and the culprits were given an old 
fashioned beating and ordered to leave the state. 
This gang was a part of an organization of 
desperadoes that were extending their opera- 
tions over different states. Vigilance commit- 
tees were formed and stern measures adopted. 
Exasperated by the delays and senseless techni- 
calities of the courts by which justice was 
thwarted, the citizens took the law into their 
own hands and executed the criminals who had 
escaped conviction through the chicanery of 
shyster lawyers. 

In one especial case wherein a cold blooded 
murder of a man and woman was committed 
and the proof plainly evident, and the mur- 
derer tried to take the usual advantage of 
change of venue, a crowd of more than 2,000 
citizens gathered. When the .judge granted 
the change of venue a brother of the murdered 



woman made an impassioned speech to the 
audience. He reviewed the history of the 
murder, showing the certain guilt of the 
prisoner and stating that he had spent every 
cent he had in the world to bring the wretch 
to justice. "Now," he exclaimed dramatically, 
"that villain murdered my sister. His lawyer 
is going to get him cleared because I haven't 
the means to come back again to testify. Will 
you let that murderer get cleared when I can- 
not come to tell the story to the jury?" He 
paused a moment while a mighty shout went 
up, "No; never!" With a single impulse a 
mighty rush was made, the puny efforts of the 
officers to save the prisoner availing nothing, 
and in a few moments the struggling wretch 
paid the full penalty of his crime. As usual 
when bodies of men take justice in their own 
hands many excesses are committed and high 
handed acts of injustice perpetrated. Many 
persons were hanged or whipped by the hot- 
headed "regulators" that were afterward proved 
innocent. So long as the vigilance committee 
punished only those who were known to be 
guilty the movement had the support of 
popular sentiment; but when good citizens be- 
gan to be threatened and became the victims of 
the personal spleen of members of the organiza- 
tion, the committee was denounced and an 
effort made to break it up. 

While lawlessness is always to be deplored 
regardless of the motives that may prompt the 
act, the effect of the movement was to break 
up the thieving and counterfeiting bands and 
secure a freedom from the presence of these un- 
savory characters that had pursued such no- 
torious careers along the river counties. 

FINANCI.\L DEPRESSION. 

The result of so much land for purchase and 
the proposed development of so many railroads, 
led to a spirit of speculation that was very 
prevalent in 1856. Great bodies of land were 
held by speculators in other states who de- 
pended upon the labor of actual settlers to 
make their possessions valuable. Finally the 
policy of taxing the.se lands heavily for the 



36 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



purpose of internal improvements made the 
speculator's business in Iowa unprofitable. 

BANKING SYSTEM. 

At the first session of the Territorial Legisla- 
ture in 1836, an act was passed establishing the 
■'Miner's Bank" at Dubuque. This bank had 
a capital stock of $200,000 and was the first 
institution of this kind established in the 
limits of Iowa. This aroused considerable 
opposition and in 1855 its charter was repealed. 
When the new Constitution was proposed, 
banks were to be prohibited. 

The financial crisis of 1857 caused much 
hai'dship in Iowa. It was impossible to secure 
enough of the recognized circulating medium 
to carry on the necessary business and much 
of it was done on depreciated currency or per- 
sonal notes. 

At the constitutional convention in 1857 
provision was made for establishing banks 
under suitable restrictions. The general assem- 
bly in 1858 provided for two banking systems. 
The first was the incorporation of the State 
Bank of Iowa with a capital of not less than 
$50,000 nor more than $300,000, with not 
more than thirty branches. 

Under this act private banks could be 
established but the requirements were so rigid 
that bankers preferred to organize under the 
State Bank Law. 

This provision gave Iowa a safe banking 
system and established confidence. It was 
time something were done. The state had 
adopted the policy of having no banking system 
and the result was that Iowa was flooded with 
"Wild Cat Currency" from other states. The 
state of Nebraska had no limitation as to 
establishment of banks or issuance of currency. 
The "Nebraska Bank" by B. F. Allen of Des 
Moines began to put bills from this bank into 
circulation in Iowa. Others followed suit. 
When these banks began to fail, business was 
paralyzed and great distress experienced. Real 
estate became greatly depreciated and families 
found great difficulty in securing the ordinary 



necessities of life. The report of the state 
treasurer in 1857 showed that the amount due 
on assessment was $418,709.59. The new 
banking law was probably one of the best that 
had ever been devised and this system con- 
tinued in use until after the Civil War, at 
which time it was superseded by the National 
Banking system. 

CROP FAILURES. 

Hardly had the farmers begun to recover 
from the effects of the financial crisis, until 
they were called upon to face the effects of a 
crop failure. The season of 1858 was especially 
an unfavorable year. 

Cold rains were numerous all spring and 
many crops rotted in the ground. The small 
grain made a rank growth but was ruined by 
the hot weather following. The failure was 
general over two-thirds of the state and the 
fortitude of the people was tried to the utter- 
most. 

IOWA IN THE CIVIL WAR. 

Seerley & Parish's History of Iowa says: 
"The presidential campaign of 1860 was a 
remarkable one for Iowa and helped to make 
the civil history of the state." The people be- 
lieved in the principles as stated by Lincoln 
and the block of marble furnished by the state 
for the Washington monument had inscribed 
upon it the following words: "Iowa: Her 
affections, like the rivers of her borders, flow to 
an Inseparable Union." No state in the Union 
had more vital interest in national unity than 
Iowa. The people had a worthy leader in their 
War Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood. A loan 
of $800,000 was authorized to be used if found 
necessary for war and defense fund. Not more 
than $300,000 was required and these were 
bought up by Iowa people. Part of this fund 
was returned to the state by the general govern- 
ment and was used to restore the losses of the 
permanent school fund and to erect the Iowa 
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at the capital. 

The United States government asked Kirk- 
wood to furnish a regiment of soldiers. It 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



37 



seemed like a large demand to make on a new 
state, but 10,000 men responded to the call and 
offered their services. 

Col. A. P. Wood in his "History of Iowa and 
the War:" "Whether in the promptitude of 
her responses to the calls made by the General 
Government, in the courage and constancy of 
her soldiers in the field, or in the wisdom and 
efficiency with which her civil administration 
was conducted during the trying period covered 
by the Wtir of the Rebellion, Iowa proved her- 
self the peer of any Ioj'bI state.'' 

Though handicapped by reason of the 
financial crisis through which we had just 
passed, the state treasury being well nigh 
depleted, and lacking in guns, ammunition, 
etc., the martial zeal of Iowa's patriotic people 
overcame all difficulties. Governor Kirkwood 
pledged his personal property and borrowed 
money in this way to meet the emergency 
until arrangements could be completed for 
providing state bonds. Other citizens were 
equally loyal and banks throughout the state 
offered to honor the governor's drafts. 

The question of uniforms for the soldiers 
was a perplexing one. Orders were sent to 
Chicago for cloth, but the word came back 
that the supply was exhausted. Then the 
women of Iowa began to prepare clothing for 
the soldiers from whatever materials were at 
hand. Later when the extra session of the 
legislature had assembled and provided for a 
sufficient loan, a wealthy merchant, Ex-Gov. 
Merrill, undertook to provide proper uniforms 
and to take his pay in state bonds at par. This 
clothing was delivered to the regiment but sub- 
sequently condemned by the government be- 
cause the color was gray instead of blue, the 
color adopted by the national troops. 

Besides having to do her part in contributing 
men and means to support the national govern- 
ment, Iowa was compelled to protect her own 
borders from threatened invasions of rebels in 
Missouri and predatory bands of Indians. It 
must be remembered that Iowa was settled by 
people from varioiis states, and while loyalty 
to the "Flag" was the overwhelming sentiment, 



there were still a great many sympathizers with 
the South. Bands of ruffians in Missouri rode 
over the state, sometimes crossing into Iowa, 
committing acts of vandalism indiscriminately. 
Many of the outlaws that have disgraced 
Missouri in more recent years received their 
schooling during the "sixties" under the in- 
famous guerrilla, Quantrell. 

Confederate sympathizei's in Iowa were called 
"Copperheads" and were bitterly hated by loyal 
Union men. Keokuk county seemed to be the 
hotbed of "Copperhead" sentiments, and a 
riot occurring at South English in that county 
took on such a serious aspect that state troops 
were called out to suppress the disorder. Other 
counties suffered from "Copperhead" invasions 
and were inathlessly overran by these disreput- 
able characters. Peaceable people were waylaid 
at their homes by deserters, guerrillas and 
traitors and scenes of violence daily enacted. 

Such men as C. L. Vallandigham of Ohio 
and Henry Clay Dean of Iowa were especially 
active in denouncing the Union cause and in 
disseminating misrepresentation and falsehoods 
in order to create sympathy for the South. 

Societies called "Knights of the Golden 
Circle" and "Sons of Liberty" were organized 
to discourage enlistments. Governor Stone esti- 
mated that there were 30,000 members of these 
orders in the state of Iowa, actively engaged 
in promoting treason. Many of these after- 
wards renounced their allegiance to these or- 
ganizations but they never recovered from the 
odium attached to their actions during the 
days when the liberties of our country hung 
in the balance. 

So it has ever been in all ages. A pillar of 
historic infamy has been erected to the traitor. 
By whatever name he is known, renegade, 
apostate, tory or what not, he is, of all men, 
most hated. His name becomes a synonym 
for everything that is despised, a reproach 
for time everlasting. He may contritely 
acknowledge his error and beg to be restored 
to the good will of his fellowman, but it is use- 
less. His name is forever inscribed with those 
of Benedict Arnold. Brutus and .ludas Iscariot. 



38 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



As stated before, the prevailing sentiment in 
Iowa was for the Union ; 78,000 men were sent 
from Iowa for the support of the National Gov- 
ernment. Of these, nine regiments were 
cavalry and forty-eight infantry. In addition 
there were lour batteries, one regiment of 
colored infantry and a few sailors. When the 
war closed in 1865, 12,368 were dead, 8,848 
had been wounded in battle, and 9,987 dis- 
charged on account of wounds or ruined health. 

Of a population of less than 700,000 Iowa 
sent nearly 80,000 to the war. Every other 
able-bodied man in the state was in the army. 
Both officers and privates won distinction for 
meritorious conduct. The record shows the 
names of four major-generals, thirteen brevet 
major-generals, six brigadier-generals and 
thirty-six brevet brigadier-generals. Many who 
served their country witn distinction on distant 
battlefields afterwards gained signal honors in 
the more peaceful years that followed. Iowa 
h-oldiers took part m the battles of Wilson's 
Creek, Belmont, Pea Ridge, Shiloh, luka, 
Corinth, Prairie Grove, Helena, Missionary 
Ridge, Jenkin's Ferry, Winchester, Fort Donel- 
son, the March to the Sea and many minor 
engagements. 

Although it seemed for a time that the 
battlefields of Missouri would be transferred to 
Iowa soil, the tide of war was fortunately 
turned southward, and with the exception of 
the raids by irresponsible guerrillas and "Cop- 
perheads," the only recognized battle or rather 
skirmish, between the Union forces and the 
rebels that occurred within the limits of Iowa, 
took place at Croton in Lee county, on the 
Des Moines river opposite Athens, Missouri. 
The Union loss was four killed and twenty 
wounded, the Confederate much more. Col. 
Green of the Confederate forces had promised 
his men that they would breakfast at Athens, 
dine at Croton and sup at Farmington, but 
fortune ruled otherwise. 

Iowa paid no bounty on account of the men 
she placed in the field. In some instances, 
cities, towns and counties paid bounties, but 
only a limited amount. On only one occasion 



— that of the call of July 18, 186-4 — was a 
draft made in this state, and this was due to 
a temporary setting aside of a former rule 
of settlements and enforcing a draft in all cases 
where any sub-district in a state was found to 
be sufficient in its quota of men. 

The Iowa monuments erected to the heroic 
soldier dead in distant battlefields are testi- 
monials of the respect paid to the memory of 
the defenders of the nation's honor. 

Every year factional business and party 
strife is laid aside while the people from the 
farms, cities and villages gather to strew 
flowers over the graves of the departed soldiers. 

Eloquent speakers pay lofty tribute to the 
valor and patriotism of the Iowa soldier. 

Sharing equally with their husbands and 
sons in bravery and unflinching devotion were 
the loyal wives and mothers who performed 
their parts in the great struggle. Whether it 
was following out the path of duty at home 
or ministering to the wants of the sick and 
wounded in bloody battlefields they exhibited 
the same sublime courage. 

IngersoU's tribute to the nation's heroes, 
''Cheers for the living and tears for the dead," 
apply equally to the men and women who, 
during those "Days that rose in blood and set 
in glory," did their whole duty in preserving 
the honor of our country. 

No pen can describe the sufferings endured 
on battlefields, on wearisome marches or in 
foul dismal prisons ; neither can we adequately 
portray the heartache, the suspense, the hope- 
less misery of the women who remained at 
home anxious, yet fearful, to hear the news 
at the front. 

In the summer of 1870 it was determined to 
have a reunion of the soldiers at the state 
capital. Elaborate preparations were made 
and conducted on a magnificent scale. General 
William T. Sherman and other distinguished 
military men came from the east to extend a 
hand of greeting to the "Boys in Blue from 
Iowa." 

More than 20,000 soldiers and 30,000 citizens 
were present and enjoyed the reunion. It was 




COUNTY INSANE HOSPITAL 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



41 



a day never to be forgotten by those who were 
present. Stories of the former stirring times 
were retold around the camp fire. Associations 
that had been broken off by the parting five 
years before were again renewed. 

Many of the veterans bore evidences of dis- 
astrous, scenes through which they had passed, 
crutches and empty coat sleeves were seen on 
all sides but their eyes shone as brightly and 
their enthusiasm for the stars and stripes was 
as hearty as in days of yore. It was a proud 
day for all and kindled anew the veneration 
and respect for those who had made such 
sacrifices for their country's welfare. 

SEVERE STORMS. 

Eyewitnesses of the havoc wrought by the 
wind and attendant electrical phenomena at 
Camanche, Grinnell and Pomeroy recall those 
scenes with a feeling of awe and give authentic 
accounts of the devastating eff'ects that seem 
almost incredible. The greatest tornado that 
ever struck the state was in 1860 and made its 
appearance in Calhoun and AVebster countie.-^. 
The more recent ones at Grinnell in 1882 and 
at Pomeroy in 1893, seemed to have vented 
their greatest fury in Poweshiek and Calhoun 
counties, though they caused much destruction 
and some loss of life in passing through others. 

While the first great storm was more destruc- 
tive of life, the killed numbering 141, the latter 
were more destructive of property, the loss 
being estimated at more than a million dollars. 

The same general appearance of the funnel- 
shaped clouds was observed and similar efifects 
produced in each one. 

Trees were twisted into splinters, chickens 
stripped of feathers, houses hurled into the air 
and debris w'hirled in all directions with 
frightful velocity. 

One of the witnesses of the Grinnell tragedy 
gives his remembrance of it as follows: 

"A di.stant heavy roar was heard like the 
rumliling of a dozen heavy freight trains. AVith 
a dense dark cloud of dust the wind came 
sweeping leaves, branches of trees, chimneys. 



houses and everything in its awful pathway. 
Most of the terror stricken people fied to their 
cellars for such safety as they could afford. 
Houses were crushed into shapeless wrecks and 
their ruined rooms filled with the fragments of 
other buildings. A phaeton was taken from a 
barn and lodged in a tree thirty feet from the 
ground. The college building was struck with 
terrific force; the stone building unroofed and 
the upper story destroyed; while the brick 
building went down in a mass of ruins. Three 
of the students were killed and others severely 
wounded. One-fifth of the town was in ruins 
in less than ten minutes and scenes of destruc- 
tion and suffering imprinted on the memory 
that can never bs eradicated." 

The last destructive tornado in Iowa was in 
1893, at which time the town of Pomeroy in 
Calhoun county was almost totally annihilated. 
The iron bridge over the Sioux river, one 
hundred and twenty feet long, was blown down. 
Great masses of clouds were seen rushing to- 
gether with tremendous velocity. Everything 
in the path of the storm was hurled with great 
fury in different directions. When this great 
angry, whirling mass of black clouds struck 
Pomeroy the work of destruction seemed almost 
instantaneous. A great crash, frightful roar- 
ing, vivid flashes of the electric flame, shrieks 
of terror and agony and the storm passed on 
roaring with demoniacal fury. 

Out of a population of a thousand persons 
hardly two dozen families remained uninjured. 

No section of the country is immune from 
these storms and it is not improbable that his- 
tory will again record a repetition of some of 
these terrible scenes. 

GREAT DROUTHS. 

Iowa has long been noted for its certainty 
of crops. The rainfall is almost invariably 
sufficient and the blighting effects of the hot 
winds, as witnessed in the semi-arid regions, are 
practically unknown in Iowa. 

This record for Iowa was broken, however, 
in 1886, when a season of dry weather set in 



42 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



that had been unparalleled in the history of 
the state. The drouth set in late in the sum- 
mer and continued unbroken until wells, 
creeks, ponds and sloughs dried up und the 
crops for the year were well nigh ruined. 
Deep wells were dug and much expense in- 
curred in obtaining sufficient water for stock. 
The i^ainfall was noticeably light for a number 
of seasons after this until in 1894, when a 
period of drouth was experienced still greater 
in length and in its blighting effects than any 
that had ever preceded it. The prairies were 
swept by hot winds that caused the growing 
A'egetation to wither as if struck by fire. 
Almost a complete failure in all crops was 
experienced this year and such was the effect 
of the intense heat and lack of moisture that 
orchards, ornamental shrubs and large trees, 
already weakened by previous dry seasons, died 
m countless numbers. Horses, cattle and hogs 
were sacrificed at ruinous prices, nearlj- every 
farmer finding it impossible to secure the usual 
amounts of feed. 

Since that time the seasons have been more 
normal, but it was years before the fai'mers 
recovered from these periods of excessive dry- 
ness. 

THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE. 

Iowa has been generally free from the hot 
winds, drouths and hordes of insects that have 
so grievously afflicted her neighboring states 
on the west; but in August, 1867, the myriads 
of grasshoppers that had made their name so 
obnoxious in other places concluded to pay a 
visit to Iowa. - Their breeding ground seems 
to. have been in the Rocky Mountains and 
when ready to travel they collected in such 
innumerable swarms that it seemed like a 
cloud before the sun. 

Continuing their journey at a high elevation 
by day, they would frequently settle to the 
earth, and while remaining there would devour 
the green tender plants until the place where 
they feasted resembled a fire swept region. 
The counties most seriously affected were 
Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Calhoun, Page, Adams, 



Ringgold, Clarke, Adair, Madison, "Warren, 
Polk, Cherokee, Dallas, Boone and Webster. 
While many of the earlier crops had matured 
and were saved before the arrival of the pests, 
yet the damage to late crops was considerable 
and the millions of eggs deposited and hatched 
out the next summer presented the question 
in a more serious form. In some places this 
year crops were entirely destroyed and great 
damage was done throughout the state. To the 
relief of everyone, they brought their stay to 
a close and by the middle of summer had al- 
most entirely disappeared. The northwestern 
countiefe of the state were visited by this 
scourge in 1873 and even more serious destruc- 
tion experienced there. 

THE PETRIFIED GIANT. 

Fort Dodge, Iowa, is a city of enterprising, 
intelligent people, thoroughly imbued with the 
push and hustle so characteristic of the 
American spirit. The town has received con- 
siderable gratuitous advertising, not merely on 
account of it being the home of famous Iowa 
statesmen or by reason of its "Famous Marriage 
Ordinance" which required all marriageable 
bachelors and spinsters to get married at once 
under heavy penalties, but also for the more 
substantial and permanent reason that it is 
located in a region famed for the quality and 
worth of its gypsum. 

The demand for this for use in cement and 
hard plaster has become so extensive that more 
than a million dollars of capital is invested 
here in the manufacture of this product and 
it is shipped out in great quantities all over the 
country. 

In 1869 Fort Dodge gypsum gained a world 
wide notoriety in a novel and unexpected 
manner. Two years before this, a stranger, 
styling himself H. B. Martin, spent several 
days at Fort Dodge examining the mineral beds 
there. The next summer he returned with 
Geo. Hull and made arrangements for pur- 
chasing a block of gypsum twelve feet long, 
four feet wide and three feet thick, and ship- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



43 



plug it to Chicago. Iii October, 1869, it was 
reported in the newspapei-s that the petrified 
remains of an immense giant had been found 
near Syracuse, N. Y. 

A farmer, named William Newell, had some 
workmen digging a well on his farm. After 
going down a few feet they struck a rock of 
unusual size which when completely uncovered 
appeared to be the remains of a human body 
of enormous stature in a state of petrifaction. 

The news of the discovery naturally caused 
great excitement and crowds of spectators 
hurried to see the wonderful giant. 

Mr. Newell, with proverbial Yankee shrewd- 
ne.ss, placed a tent over the body and collected 
half a dollar from each of the numerous spec- 
tators. The newspapers of the country pub- 
lished lengthy descriptions of this remarlvuble 
find, many of these descriptions emanating 
from the fertile imaginations of the enterpris- 
ing reporters. 

Famous scientists, puzzled by the extra- 
ordinary reports, came and made careful ex- 
aminations of the exhibit. Dr. Jas. Hall, the 
most noted geologist of the country, gave a 
personal examination and published a report 
declaring it to be the most remarkable ar- 
chaeological curiosity ever discovered. He 
pronounced it to be a statue cut by some pre- 
historic race, its great age being clearly evi- 
denced by the erosion of the left side and 
back and the removal of its substance by water 
percolating for ages through the gravel stratum 
in which it was imbedded. 

The excitement grew and a syndicate offered 
Mr. Newell $10,000 for the giant but he re- 
fused to sell. He was ali-eady making more 
than $1,000 a day and apparently feeling very 
complacent over his good luck. A local com- 
pany was finally organized and a three-fourths 
intero.-t in the "American Goliath" purchased 
for $40,000. It is claimed that the receipts 
from this venture reached $240,000. 

When the accounts of this wonderful dis- 
covery reached Fort Dodge, a thousand miles 
away, some of the citizens recalled the shipment 
of a liuge block of gyp.-^um from their town 



the year before and began to make some in- 
vestigations. Step by step the block of gypsum 
was followed from Fort Dodge to Chicago, 
where it was carved into the form of a giant, 
thence to the station in New York near where 
the body was found. 

The fraud was exposed and the deluded 
public notified of the hoax. The promoters 
of the scheme strenuously denied the alleged 
"expose" and the gullible people came in 
greater numbers than before. 

Scientific magazines and reputable news- 
papers took sides and considerable wrangling 
ensued before the "exhibition" closed and the 
"Cardiff Giant" or "American Goliath" tem- 
porarily withdrawn from the list of attractions. 

The author of this stupendous hoax, Mr. 
George Hull, finally acknowledged that the 
story sent out from Fort Dodge was correct. 
Even after the fraud was admitted, people still 
refused to be convinced and the interest cen- 
tered upon the petrified giant at the Buffalo 
Exposition in 1901 where it was again placed 
on exhibition showed that it was still a vital 
attraction. 

THE GKANGERS. 

In the development of Iowa's resources the 
railroads were very important factors and a 
most liberal policy of encouragement was early 
adopted and carried out by the state. In the 
course of years, however, the farmers began 
to complain about exorbitant freight rates, 
which they declared were unjust and dis- 
criminative. Iowa's long distance from the 
eastern markets and manufactories made the 
cost of the long hauls in shipping produce 
and buying imported articles a question of 
serious moment. 

They attempted to obtain relief from the 
legislature, but failing in this, organized along 
the lines already adopted in the east, into 
associations called "Grangers" or "Patrons of 
Husbandry." The object of this society was 
to secure the co-operation of all who were in- 
juriously affected by the exorbitant charges 
and to try to advance their mutual interest. 



44 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



It was believed by many that the earnings 
of the railroad companies were not only large 
beyond all reason but that these companies 
were taking an offensive part in the politics of 
the state. The Grangers were very popular in 
the rural communities and in 1872 more than 
500 lodges were organized in Iowa. These 
associations were especially helpful, not only 
in elevating the social and intellectual life of 
their immediate localities but in moulding 
opinions in the matter of state policies. 

In 1874 the Grangers were influential 
enough to secure a law fLxing a reasonable 
schedule of rates. The railroads had main- 
tained a powerful lobby in Des Moines all 
winter and had made a vigorous fight against 
the passage of this law. Failing in this, they 
carried the case to the United States Circuit 
Court, where the fai-mers were again victorious. 

Ex-Governor Larrabee, one of the most noted 
■ champions of the rights of the people, said : 

"The Granger Laws have been and are still 
severely criticised by those opposed to the 
principle of state control and by the ignorant. 
It is nevertheless true that these laws were 
moderate and reasonably well adapted to 
remedy the evils of which the public com- 
plained. Its enactment was one of the greatest 
achievements in the history of the state. It 
demonstrates the far reaching principle that 
railroads are highways and subject to legis- 
lative control in the interest of the public wel- 
fare." 

The railroads were not the only corporations 
that demanded an unfair share of the farmers' 
earnings. 

The settlers on the prairies needed fences for 
their farms, but found it expensive and difficult 
to obtain materials. 

Fences of smooth wire were used to some 
extent, but they were found unsatisfactory as 
cattle fences. In 1861 Pembroke Freeman 
devised a barb to be attached that proved effica- 
cious and attracted considerable attention. A 
few years later this idea was taken up and the 
manufacture of barbed wire became an im- 
portant industry. 



Some shrewd schemers seeing the fai" reach- 
ing importance of this invention formed a 
"trust" for the control of this entire product. 
The price began to advance steadily and the 
farmers again prepared to fight this monopoly. 
They engaged A. B. Cummins, a rising young 
lawyer of Des Moines, to prosecute the case. 
The litigation was one of the most noted ever 
carried on in the state and continued five years, 
ending in an overthrow of the monopoly. 

The arrogant methods of selfish corporations 
have been rebuked time and again by the bet- 
ter class of citizens and needed reforms gradu- 
ally brought about. 

One of the eloquent advocates of the people 
in arraigning corrupt methods to control legis- 
lation in the interest of corporations has thus 
voiced the sentiments of the people: 

"Wealth gives to him who owns or controls 
it power for great good and for great evil; it 
gives him power to endow schools, found libra- 
ries and relieve want; but it also gives him 
power to seduce and coerce his fellowmen. In- 
corporated wealth has many rights; but among 
these is not the right to vote ; corporations have 
and ought to have many privileges, but among 
them is not the right to sit in political conven- 
tions or occupy seats in legislative chambers. 
The professional lobbyist who is for or against 
anything for hire, who haunts the chamber 
of legislation and taints the atmosphere with 
his corrupt designs, is a criminal whose ap- 
proach is an insult and to whom the doors of 
the capitol should never swing inward." 

BR.4^VERY OF KATE SHELLEY. 

Among the many incidents of personal 
heroism worthy of a place in Iowa history, the 
action of the brave Irish girl, Kate Shelley, on 
that wild stormy night in July, 1881, deserves 
a secure and permanent position. 

On the east bank of the Des Moines river in 
Boone county lived Kate Shelly, fifteen years 
of age, and her widowed mother. The North- 
western Railroad crossed the Des Moines near 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



45 



the Shelley cabin, extending southwest from the 
city of Boone to the river and then making 
an angle northwest through the station of 
Moingona a half a mile west of the river. A 
small branch called Honey creek flows into the 
Des Moines near here, emptying on the east side. 
The train coming from the west rushes down 
a sharp grade from the high banks to the val- 
ley of Honey creek. This latter stream, often 
carrying but little water during dry seasons, 
after heavy rains frequently becomes a raging 
torrent. On the night of July '6, 1881, the 
rain fell in torrents and the waters collecting 
rapidly from all sides flowed through this val- 
ley with a fury that threatened to sweep every- 
thing before it. The bridge over Honey creek 
near the Shelley cabin was weakened by the 
flood, and when a heavy loaded freight train 
dashed across it with its usual down grade 
speed, Mrs. Shelley and her daughter were hor- 
rified to hear the loud crashing of timbers and 
agonizing shrieks as the train was hurled into 
the seething torrent. Lighting a lantern, Kate 
Shelley hurried through the stoi'm to the scene 
of the wreck. So intense was the darkness and 
so furious the storm that it was with the great- 
est difficulty she could make her way. Reach- 
ing the bank she ascertained that the bridge 
had been swept from its foundations, carrying 
death and destruction with it. But one of the 
trainmen, the engineer, escaped death, and he 
was located on the opposite side of the river 
clinging to a tree comparatively safe. The 
midnight express from the west would soon be 
due and it was impossible for the engineer to 
warn the train. It depended upon this heroic 
girl of childish years to cross the Des Moines 
river to Algona and warn the approaching train 
of its impending danger. She was compelled 
to travel nearly a mile through a dense forest 
to the river. The driving wind soon extin- 
guished her lantern and it was only by oc- 
casional flashes of lightning that .she could 
distinguish her surroundings. Stumbling 
through the blinding storm and inky diU-kness, 
animated by the thought that upon her exer- 
tions hung the lives of many men, women and 



children, she at last gained the Des Moines 
river bridge, four hundred feet long and fifty 
feet above the river. The storm was now a 
regular hurricane, making it impossible to 
stand erect. Crawling over the ties upon which 
the rails were laid, guided by the sense of feel- 
ing, with hands bleeding and torn and tattered 
clothing, she crossed the river in safety though 
well nigh exhausted. Summoning all her re- 
maining strength, she contrived to reach Al- 
gona, the station a half mile away, where she 
related her story to the agent and then, suc- 
cumbing to the relaxation of the nervous strain, 
fell fainting on the floor. The message came 
barely in time to avert one of the most dreadful 
catastrophes of modern times. When the pas- 
sengers learned of the horrible fate from which 
they had been saved, they crowded about this 
courageous girl and poured out their heartfelt 
expressions of gratitude. 

Brave Kate Shelley became suddenly famous 
and her heroic deed was praised all over the 
land. The Northwestern Railroad made her 
a substantial gift and gave her a position on 
the road. The general assembly gave her a gift 
of money and a gold medal. Songs were com- 
posed descriptive of her act and wondering 
children of distant states have heard repeated 
again and again the story of the intrepid Irish 
lassie and how she saved the train. 



"Through the whirl of wind and water, 

Parted by the rushing steel. 
Flashed the white glare of the headlight. 

Flew the swift revolving wheel, 
As the midnight train swept onward. 

Bearing on its iron wings, 
Through the gloom of night and tempest 

Freightage of most precious things. 

"Little children by their mothers. 

Nestle in unbroken rest. 
Stalwart mep are dreaming safely 

Of their journey's finished quest. 
While the men who watch and guard them. 

Sleepless stand at post and brake, 
Close the throttle! draw the lever! 

Safe for wife and sweetheart's sake. 

"Sleep and dream, unheeding danger; 

In the valle.v yonder lies 
Death's debris in weird confusion 

Altar fit for sacrifice! 
Dark and grim the waters settle, 

Where the hidden perils wait; 
Swift the train with dear lives laden 

Rushes to its deadly fate. 



46 



•PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



"Still they sleep and dream unheeding 

Oh, Thou watchful One above, 
Save Thy people in this hour! 

Save the ransomed of Thy love! 
Send an angel from Thy heaven 

Who shall calm the troubled air, 
And reveal the powers of evil 

Hidden in the darkness there. 

"Saved! ere yet they know the peril, 

Comes a warning to alarm; 
Saved! the precious train is resting 

On the brink of deadly harm. 
God has sent his angel to them 

Brave Kate Shelley, hero-child! 
Struggling on, alone, unaided. 

Through that night and tempest wild. 

"Brave Kate Shelley! tender maiden. 

Baby hands with splinters torn. 
Saved the lives of sleeping trav'lers 

Swiftly to death's journey borne. 
Mothers wept and clasped their darlings 

Breathing words of grateful prayer; 
Men with faces blanched and tearful 

Thanked God for Kate Shelley there. 

"Greater love than this has no one; 

When the heavens shall unfold. 
And the judgment books are opened. 

There, in characters of gold. 
Brave Kate Shelley's name shall enter 

'Mid the pure, the brave and good. 
That of one who crowned with glory 

Her heroic womanhood." 



POLITICAL SKETCH. 

The vaxious epochs in Iowa's political de- 
velopment are events of more than ordinary 
interest. The seat of government has been 
moved west from Belmont to Burlington, from 
Burlington to Iowa City and thence to Des 
Moines to meet the demands of this rapidly 
growing commonwealth. 

On June 12, 1838, Congress passed an act 
establishing Iowa Territory and providing for 
the territorial government. The legislative 
body was to consist of a council of thirteen 
members and house of representatives of 
twenty-six members. 

The following appointments syere made: 
Governor, Robert Lucas; secretary, W. B. Con- 
way; marshall, Francis Gehon; chief ji:istice, 
Charles Mason; United States attorney, C. S. 
Jacobs ; register of land office, A. C. Dodge ; re- 
ceivers of land office, J. P. Van Antwerp, B. R. 
Peterkin and Thomas McKnight. Theodore S. 



Parvin, who afterwards became a prominent 
man in Iowa affairs, was private secretary to 
the governor. 

The legislature elected in 1838 met at Bur- 
hngton and this first session was noted for the 
amount of good work done. 

Its acts included the formation of a code of 
laws for civil and criminal practice, location 
of state capital and penitentiary, establishing 
the common school system and appropriating 
$20,000 for public buildings. 

The governor was appointed for three years, 
the other officers for four years. All laws were 
to be approved by the governor and he was 
vested with wide discretionary powers. Gover- 
nor Lucas was a wise and able man. He 
managed the arduous duties pertaining to his 
office in a way that was creditable to himself 
and the government he served. Broad minded 
and liberal in his views, he was yet of a nature 
like Andrew Jackson in refusing to be deterred 
from what he believed was right. 

The judicial power was vested in the hands 
of three judges, appointed by the governor. 
These judges were required to live in their own 
districts and hold court there, and were to meet 
at the seat of government once a yeai- and hold 
the supreme court. 

Considerable friction developed at the meet- 
ing of the first legislature between that body 
and the governor in regard to their respective 
rights. The governor freely exercised the veto 
right and in so doing was bitterly criticised by 
the members of the legislature, among whom 
was Jas. Grimes, afterwards governor of Iowa. 
A petition was sent to Congress asking to have 
the governor removed. 

While this request was not granted, some 
changes were made in the organic act limiting 
the powers of the governor and giving more 
authority to the people. 

The veto power has since been used very 
sparingly by Iowa governors in thwarting legis- 
lation. 

The dominant party in power at this time 
was of the Democratic faith. Governor Lucas 
and the other state appointive officers were 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



47 



therefore Democrats. The Whigs were success- 
ful and the next Iowa governor, John Cham- 
bers, was an adherent of this new party. 

STEPS TOWARD STATEHOOD. 

Governor Lucas had recommended before re- 
tiring from office that the necessary steps be 
taken to secure Iowa's admission into the Union 
as a state. The proposition was rejected by the 
people on the supposition that it would be more 
expensive. The governor again recommended 
that the territory should secure the privileges of 
statehood. 

This proposition was again voted down, but 
in 1842 was approved by the voters, and a con- 
stitutional convention called in October, 1844. 
This body framed a state constitution, fixing 
the boundary lines to include a part of the 
present state of Minnesota on the north, but 
excluding on the west more than a fourth of 
the present counties of the state. 

The boundary question aroused considerable 
interest and was widely discussed. The result 
was a defeat for the statehood project and the 
matter rested for a time. It was again sub- 
mitted, howevei", in 1845, and again lost out by 
a large majority. 

The last governor of the territory was James 
Clarke, a Democrat appointed by President Polk 
in 1845. 

Governor Clarke, like his predecessors, urged 
the adoption of the constitution. 

Congress was opposed to including so much 
territory in the proposed state as had originally 
been asked for. The people of Iowa were 
equally determined that the two great rivers, 
the Mississippi on the east and the Missouri on 
the west should mark the longitudinal limits. 
They were not so insistent now upon including 
Minnesota temtory, but realized the impor- 
tance of dropping some of their minor claims 
and arranging a compromise. 

The second constitutional convention was 
called to meet at the state capitol May 4, 1846. 
The boundary lines were fixed as they now 
exist, and the question again submitted to the 



people. This time the proposition carried by 
a small majority and was api^roved by Congress, 
and on the 28th of December, 1846, was ad- 
mitted into the Union. 

The Democrats were successful in electing 
Ansel Briggs as governor of the new state, 
though the legislature was pretty equally 
divided. 

FIRST DEAD-LOCK. 

The Whigs by some sharp practices had 
secured an unlooked for strength in the House. 
This with the assistance of some of the mem- 
bers, styled Independents, enabled them to de- 
feat all efforts of the Democrats to elect United 
State senators. 

Charges of bribery were made and investi- 
gated, and though the charges were not proved, 
the legislature adjourned without electing sena- 
tors, and for the first two years the state of 
Iowa had no representation in the United States 
Senate. 

ACTS OF FIRST STATE ASSEMBLY. 

The salaries of state officers were fixed as 
follows: Governor, $1,000; auditor, $600; 
secretary of state, $500 ; treasurer, $400 ; judges 
of courts, $1,000. 

One important act was to provide a system 
of common schools with the office of state su- 
perintendent and the election of directors. To 
make this law immediately effective it was 
ordered to be so announced by publication in 
the newspapers. The supreme court found some 
technical objection to the passage of the law 
and declared it invalid. To remedy this, a 
special session was called which remedied this 
and ])repared an authorized collection of the 
.statutes, called the code of 1851. 

ELECTION OF 1848. 

Considerable political activity was manifested 
in Iowa in the general election of 1848. 
Zachary Taylor and Lewis Cass were the respec- 



48 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



live candidates of the Whigs and Democrats 
for the presidency. The Whig-s and Democrats 
in Iowa were of about equal strength, the Mor- 
mons holding the balance of power, but voting 
with the Whigs. In Monroe county the clerk 
declined to receive the poll books from one 
stronghold of the Mormons on account of some 
irregularity and so close was the vote that this 
action saved the election for the Democrats, who 
were successful in electing the entire state, con- 
gressional and electoral tickets. 

The Democrats, having a majority in the next 
assembly, elected A. C. Dodge, of Burlington, 
and George W. Jones, of Dubuque, first United 
States senators from Iowa. 

ISSUES OF 1854. 

The question of slavery was the most ab- 
sorbing issue of this year. Old parties were 
divided and factions appeared under new 
names. The "Know Nothings," "Silver Greys," 
"Hunkers," "Free Soilers," and "Anti-Slavery 
Party" represented some of these divergent 
views on this momentous question. 

The Whig candidate, James Grimes, was 
opposed to the extension of slavery and by 
gaining support from the Democrats W'ho were 
opposed to slavery he was elected by a sub- 
stantial majority. 

With the election of Governor Grimes the 
Democratic party lost the power in Iowa which 
had been held from the beginning. 

The change in parties brought about a 
change in policies. The two parties differed 
on many questions affecting state matters and 
new legislation was soon secured in accordance 
with the policy of the new party in power. 

REMODELING THE COXSTITUTION. 

In accordance with the recommendation of 
Governor Grimes, a constitutional convention 
was called at Iowa City, January 19, 1857, and 
proceeded to make some important changes in 
the stat« constitution. Among some of the 
most important changes may be noted the fol- 
lowing, viz. : 



First — Changing the length of term for 
governor from four years to two years. 

Second — Increasing limitation of state in- 
debtedness from $100,000 to $250,000. 

Third — Providing for suitable banking law. 

Fourth — Organizing state board of education. 

Fifth — Locating permanent seat of state 
government at Des Moines, and the state uni- 
versity at Iowa City. 

The new constitution was submitted to the 
people and adopted in August, 1857. The new 
constitution still limited the right of suffrage 
to (wliite) male citizens. At a general election 
in 1868 this was amended by striking out the 
word white. 

NEW PARTY IN CONTROL. 

The election of James W. Grimes was the 
first victory of the anti-slavery forces in the 
state. James Harlan, an outspoken opponent 
of slavery, was elected United States senator. 

The various factions opposed to the exten- 
sion of slavery called a convention at Iowa 
City to form a new party to be called the Re- 
]jublican party of Iowa. This convention was 
largely attended and the organization of the 
new party completed. The resolutions de- 
clared unalterable opposition to the extension 
of slavery into national territory. An efifort 
was made to secure the indorsement of a pro- 
hibitory liquor clause, but this failed to receive 
the approval of the voters. 

The Republican party was successful in 1857, 
electing Ralph P. Lowe for governor. 

One of the most important provisions of this 
administration, aside from providing a safe and 
secure banking system, was the attention given 
to our public schools. A new system had been 
framed under the direction of Horace Mann 
and Amos Dean, and was now adopted. While 
many of the original suggestions were unwisely 
changed, yet the plan as adopted was a st«p in 
the right direction and did much to advance 
the cause of education in the state. 

The next campa.ign was a noted one, involv- 
ing important issues and personalities of noted 
men. 




PUBLIC LlliltAUY- L'KUUY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



51 



General A. C. Dodge, an able and prominent 
public man, was pitted against the Republicans' 
choice, Samuel J. Kirkwood. The Republicans 
were successful and Kirkwood was thus started 
on a career of many years' prominence in state 
and national politics. The events of this period 
are associated with the Civil War and include 
many separate volumes of Iowa history. The 
conduct of the Iowa patriots in those days both 
in civil and military affairs is a matter of 
pride today to every loyal resident of the Hawk- 
eye state. 

At the close of the war the question of suf- 
frage for the negro was widely discussed. The 
Republicans favored it and adopted it in their 
platform. 

A soldiers' convention was held and a fusion 
entered into with the Democrats by which an 
anti-negro suffrage ticket was named. 

The Republicans succeeded in electing their 
ticket, but by greatly reduced majorities. They 
continued in power until the prohibition ques- 
tion caused a temporary split in 1889, when 
the Democrats again regained control and 
elected Horace Boies. 

During the stormy days of President Andrew 
Johnson's impeachment, the Iowa representa- 
tives in Congress who voted against conviction 
were subjected to much vituperation and abuse 
at home. Regardless of former services to the 
state, these men were the victims of the un- 
reasonable prejudice of the passion that pre- 
vailed and invectives of the most scathing kind 
were heaped upon them. 

Iowa's favorite sons have been so numerous 
for many years that in the struggles for politi- 
cal preferment in their own parties there 
have necessarily been many disappointments. 
The strife in the fourteenth general assembly 
over the selection of the successor of James Har- 
lan, United States senator, was especially memo- 
rable. Senator Harlan was a candidate for re- 
election, as were also W. B. Allison and James 
F. Wilson. The inten.sity of interest mani- 
fested for months before the election was un- 
precedented. Influential newspapers and men 
prominent in politics took sides and made 



energetic efforts in behalf of their respective 
candidates. Allison was successful and began 
his long and distinguished career in the Senate 
of the United States. 

In passing rapidly over the events of the 
years of Iowa's political history the renomina- 
tion and election of Samuel J. Kirkwood is 
worthy of mention. 

The Republican convention met at Des Moines 
June 30, 1875. Among the prominent candi- 
dates for governor were Hon. John Russell, 
General James Weaver, John H. Gear, Robert 
Smyth and W. B. Fairfield. After the contest 
had seemed to narrow down to Russell and 
Weaver, Dr. Ballard, a venerable delegate of 
patriarchal appearance, arose and in tones that 
electrified the vast audience, nominated the 
"Old War Governor," as Kirkwood was called. 
When asked by what authority he made the 
nomination, "By the authority of the great Re- 
publican party of Iowa," retorted Dr. Ballard. 
Pandemonium then broke loose, and Kirkwood 
again became the standard bearer of his party. 

It was during the second administration of 
Kirkwood that President Grant came to Des 
Moines and was tendered a great ovation. In 
a speech made at that time he spoke in favor 
of education, but stated that church and state 
should be kept apart. This speech was variously 
distorted and was the source of much contro- 
versy. In order to place the matter right before 
the people, printed copies of the president's 
address were widely distributed and the mali- 
cious and unwarranted versions stamped as false. 

In 1884 the general assembly moved into the 
magnificent new state capitol, one of the finest 
in the United States. It was erected at a cost of 
$3,000,000, and is located on a beautiful ele- 
vated site overlooking the city of Des Moines. 
Some twenty years later, a fire broke out in one 
of the unused rooms which threatened to 
destroy this costly structure. Considerable 
damage was done, but the building was saved, 
made good as it was before. The eloquent John 
A. Kasson, at the dedication of this building 
paid the following tribute to the honesty of the 
builders: 



52 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



"Never was a corrupt or misspent dollar 
charged to their account. The prime principle 
of honesty which requires a dollar's worth for a 
dollar spent was their constant guide. Every 
farmer and mechanic, every merchant and 
patriotic citizen of Iowa, as he views the 
grandeur of its proportions, the massive time 
defying walls, the splendid legislative chambers, 
the beautiful library, the fireproof vaults and 
its general adaptation to the wants of an intelli- 
gent and advancing state, feels and expresses 
satisfaction over this home of his state govern- 
ment." 

DEMOCRATS ELECT BOIES. 

The disaffection of Republicans over the 
liquor plank in their party's platform gave the 
election of 1889 to the Democrats, Governor 
Boies receiving a plurality of 6,573. The main 
questions during hLs administration were those 
concerning the control of liquor and railroads. 
Governor Boies was re-elected in 1891, with an 
increased majority. Some of the most im- 
portant acts of his second administration were 
the adoption of the Australian ballot system of 
voting and the appropriation of $125,000 for 
the Columbian Exposition. 

It was during this administration that the 
town of Pomeroy was the victim of the destruc- 
tive tornado that swept through Calhoun county. 
Governor Boies called on the people of the state 
for aid and they made a generous response. 
Carloads of lumber, clothing, provisions and 
other needful articles, besides a sum of money 
amounting to nearly $70,000, were quickly sub- 
scribed and forwarded to the sufferers of the 
ill fated city. 

BUSINESS DEPRESSION IN 1894. 

In the year of 1894 the business of the coun- 
try was brought to a standstill. Factories closed 
down, wages were lowered, industries of various 
kinds suspended operations and many thou- 
sands were thrown out of employment. The 
national administration was blamed and the 



"Common Weal Armies," composed of men 
without work, began their famous march to the 
national capital to demand remedial legisla- 
tion. One branch under General Kelley passed 
through Iowa, the people along the route con- 
tributing food and money. From Des Moines 
this army of more than a thousand persons 
l^roceeded on its way by building boats and 
floating down the river to the Mississippi and 
then overland to Washington. Although these 
armies did not secure the relief that their ex- 
pectations justified, yet the movement caused 
great interest throughout the country and 
formed an object lesson for political "spell 
binders," who used this as an example of the 
disastrous results of the policies of the party 
in power. 

REPUBLICANS AGAIN IN POWER. 

In 1903 the Republicans were again success- 
ful, and have been retained in power through 
the administration of Governors Jackson, 
Drake, Shaw and Cummins up to the present 
time. 

The enactment of the "mulct" law satisfied 
the license Republicans and the political strug- 
gles since have been rather within the party 
than with anj- formidable opposition party. 

In the selection of a candidate for governor 
in 1901 the Republicans were divided into two 
opposing factions. A. B. Cummins, a lawyer 
of Des Moines, who in 1894 and again in 1900 
had been a candidate for the United States 
Senate against Ex-Governor John H. Gear, was 
now an active candidate for governor. Cum- 
mins was a brilliant orator, and had a lai-ge 
personal following in the state, but was op- 
posed by many other members of the party. 
Major E. H. Conger, who had distinguished 
himself by meritorious service in many public 
capacities, was put forth by the wing of the 
party opposed to Cummins. The latter was 
nominated, however, and elected by a plurality 
of 83,000 votes. 

The question of holding biennial instead 
of annual elections was favorably voted on by 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



53, 



the people, but the supreme court declared 
that not having been properly entered upon 
the House journal this amendment had not 
been legally submitted. 

It was again submitted, however, and again 
indorsed by the voters, and the elections now 
for state and county officers occur in the even 
numbered years. 

Governor Cummins was renominated with- 
out any serious opposition in 1893 and elected 
that fall ; but when he announced in 1 896 that 
he would seek a third term, the party was 
rent into two hostile factions, one side en- 
thusiastic in his support, the other violently 
opposing. Then began the memorable struggle 
to get a majority of instructed delegates. Hon. 
George Perkins, editor of the Sioux City 
Journal and a veteran of the Civil War, was 
selected to oppose Governor Cummins. Major 
Rathburn and John Herriott were also aspirants 
for the honor. 

Governor Cummins' views on the tariff and 
on the control of corporations, together with 
the third term idea made a formidable op- 
position. 

Factional feeling ran high in the state 
and the outcome for a long time was ex- 
tremely doubtful. The candidates themselves 
made vigoious campaigns and aroused their 
champions to the highest degree of enthusiasm. 
County conventions were contested and these 
contests carried to the state convention. Cum- 
mins was again renominated, being given the 
unprecedented honor of three successive 
)iominations for this office at the hands of the 
dominant party of the state. 

So much bitterne.ss had been engendered 
during the heated partisan struggle just waged 
that the election was somewhat pi'oblematical. 
'I'lii' Democrats nominated Claude Porter, a 
legislator of marked ability, and were hopeful 
of success. 

Cummins was re-elected, however, but with 
a greatly reduced majority. 

The chief events of his last administration 
have been the establishment of the two-cent 
railroad fare, a state primary law, an ajipropria- 



tion for preparing an elaborate and expensive 
roster of all Iowa, a law forbidding corpora- 
tions from contributing money or anything of 
value for campaign purposes, and a general 
law abolishing free passes on railroads. Taken 
as a whole, the thirty-second general assembly 
enacted notable legislation and it is believed 
that many of its laws will prove to be highly 
beneficial. 

AVAR WITH SPAIN. 

The barbaric cruelties practiced by Spain 
upon her colonists in Cuba and her inhuman 
methods of subduing insurrections there had 
become well nigh intolerable to Americans. 

The United States battleship Maine, while 
on a peaceful mission to Cuba was blown up 
on the night of February 15, 1898, and two 
hundred of her sailors killed. What caused 
the disa.?ter was not officially proved, but it wa* 
generally believed to be the work of the 
Spaniards, with the connivance of those in high 
authority. 

War with Spain soon followed and Iowa was 
asked to furnish four regiments of infantry 
and two batteries of light artillery. Camp 
McKinley was established at Des Moines, and 
the work of organizing the volunteers and mus- 
tering them into service began. 

In May, the Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer In- 
fantry under Colonel Jackson was sent to New 
Orleans, and a little later went into camp at 
Jacksonville, Florida. 

The Fifty-second Regiment went into camp 
at Chickamauga Park, Georgia, and remained 
there until August 28, and then returned to 
Des Moines. 

The Fifty-first Regiment was sent to the 
Philippine Islands by the way of Honolulu and 
participated in a number of engagements, 
being the only one of the regiments called into 
active service. This regiment returned October 
22, 1889, having lost one killed and forty who 
died of disease. 

The Forty-nintli RegiinenI was sent to Cul)a. 
reluming to the United States in April, 1889. 



54 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The losses from disease of the three regiments 
that were not called into active service were 
one hundred and twenty-two men, most of 
whom died from typhoid fever. The two bat- 
teries of light artillery were organized and went 
into camp at Des Moines. But the war coming 
suddenly to a close they were soon mustered 
out. 

STATE INSTITUTIONS. 

STATE UNIVERSITY. 

The general assembly in 1847 decided to es- 
tablish a state university, the main institution 
to be located at Iowa City, with branches at 
Dubuque and Fairfield. Normal schools sup- 
ported by the state were to be established at 
Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mt. Pleasant, respec- 
tively. Afterwards these plans were changed 
and it was determined to apply all the funds to 
the main institution at Iowa City. 

This was opened in March, 1855, but was 
closed from 1858 to 1860 on account of lack 
of funds. The value of the original endowment 
was not sufficient to maintain this school, and 
and legislative appropriations are now made 
to meet the annual demands. The value of 
the permanent improvements in 1905 was 
$1,250,000, the stat€ appropriation for that 
year being $239,000. 

The yearly attendance reaches nearly 2,000 
and the institution compares favorably with 
the best in other states. 

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

In 1858 provision was made for establishing 
the "Agricultural College and Model Farm." 
$10,000 was appropriated for its purchase. It 
was located in Story county, and in 1868 a col- 
lege building was completed. 

The object of this school was stated by its 
founders, "to advance and conser\'e the interests 
of agriculture and the mechanic arts." In 1862 
Congress granted large tracts of public lands to 
the various states for the support of such colleges 



and Iowa received 204,309 3-10 acres. The 
value of its permanent improvements in 1905 
was $1,354,064. Its attendance is some larger 
than at the State University. 

The general assembly of 1897 appropriated 
$300,000 (three hundred thousand dollars) to 
carry out the plans in view for the next two 
years. 

The Experiment Station established in con- 
nection with this sends out bulletins of 
practical and useful advice to the farmers. 
High class authorities on seed corn, stock rais- 
ing, feeding, etc., are sent out from this school 
to lecture at farmers' institutes and a great 
impetus has been given towards scientific farm- 
ing. 

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 

This institution, founded in 1876, has for its 
special purpose the training of teachers. More 
than two thousand students attend annually 
and receive training in efficiency in this line 
of work that is having an appreciable influence 
upon the school work of the state. The value 
of its permanent improvements is estimated at 
$700,000. 

The thirty-second assembly made provision 
for appropriation of $112,500 annually to meet 
the necessary expenses incurred in maintain- 
ing this school. 

PENITENTIARIES. 

Congress appropriated $20,000 for the build- 
ing of a penitentiary in Iowa Territory, and the 
main building was completed at Fort Madi- 
son in 1841. In 1872 an additional peniten- 
tiary was erected at Anamosa, with a depart- 
ment for the criminally insane. 

Labor of convicts is let out to contractors, 
who pay the state a stipulated sum for the 
services rendered, the state furnishing shops and 
necessary supervision. The labor of criminals 
is also employed extensively in erection and 
completion of buildings connected with these 
institutions. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



55 



STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. 

These reformatory schools are located at 
Eldorado and Mitchellville. These are not 
prisons for criminals, but are schools where 
incorrigible boys and girls between the ages of 
eight and sixteen are brought under proper 
discipline and are trained for useful citizenship. 
Here the moral, intellectual and industrial 
education of the child is carried on at one and 
the same time. The rules permit the return 
upon parole of any boy or girl after one year's 
training who gives satisfactory evidence of ref- 
ormation. 

HOME FOR THE BLIND. 

This institution is located at Knoxville. The 
object of this institution is to. instruct the 
adult blind of the state in some suitable trade 
or vocation. Broom making is one of the 
principal industries. Hammocks and nets are 
also made. Each works at that for which he 
is specially fitted and is paid what he earns — 
a regular scale of wages being paid for all 
labor done by the inmates. 

COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND. 

This school, located at Vinton, was founded 
to provide special methods of training for that 
class of children who by reason of their mis- 
fortune cannot profitably receive instruction 
in the ordinary .schools. It has cost the state 
over a million dollars to maintain this school, 
an instance of one of the many contributions 
made to assist those in affliction and distress. 

In the industrial department the girls are 
required to learn knitting, crocheting, fancy 
work, hand and machine sewing; the boys, 
knitting, mattress making and cane seating. 

SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. 

The state has provided at Council Bluffs a 
school for the deaf. This is free to all mute 
children between the a9;es of nine and twentv- 



five that are sound in mind, free from immoral 
habits and contagious diseases. 

INSTITUTION FOR THE FEEBLEMINDED. 

Formerly the state maintained an institution 
at Cedar J''alls for the care of orphans and 
feeble minded children, but later these build- 
ings were used for the State Normal and the 
Home for Feeble Minded Children located at 
Glenwood. 

This institution aims to provide approved 
methods of training for children who, by 
reason of their physical and mental condition 
cannot be properly cared for in the public 
schools. Here the pupils receive the care 
adapted to their particular needs and, in many 
cases, make surprising progress. It further 
aims to provide a home for those who are not 
susceptible to mental culture, relying wholly 
upon others to supply their simple wants. 

Pupils here are given instruction in the 
ordinary In-anches of knowledge and also in 
those industrial arts best suited to their capac- 
ities. Girls learn to perform the ordinary 
duties pertaining to the household, while the 
boys are detailed to work in the shops or on the 
farm. 

soldiers' orphans' HOME. 

This home was organized by the patriotic 
citizens of Iowa in 1863, and opened for recep- 
tion of children the next year. It was called 
at first the State Orphan Asylum. The "Home" 
was supported by private subscription until 
1866, when the state assumed charge. 

Several such "Homes" were established at 
first in different cities, but in 1876 these were 
united in one such institution at Davenport. 
Indigent children are cared for here at the ex- 
pense of their home counties. Soldiers' 
orphans are provided for at the expense of 
the state. 

HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE. 

The state has four hospitals for the insane, 
located at Mt. Pleasant, Independence, Clarinda, 



56 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and Cherokee. The establishment and main- 
tenance of these institutions is a high tribute 
to the charitable and sympathetic spirit of Iowa 
citizenship. Thousands of afflicted persons 
have been cared for at these hospitals and re- 
turned to their homes with their faculties again 
restored to reason, or if permanently incurable, 
to the counties of their residence, who make 
provision for their care. 

soldiers' home. 

The twenty-first general assembly established 
the Iowa Soldiers' Home by making an ap- 
propriation of $75,000 for grounds and build- 
ings, and $25,000 for its maintenance. 

This institution was located at Marshalltown, 
where the first building was erected in 1887. 
Soldiers who have honorable records of service 
in military duty and who are now incapacitated 
from earning a living or being cared for are 
received here. The number cared for during 
the year of 1905 was 729. 

The United States government pays to the 
state of Iowa the sum of $100 a year for each 
male inmate of the Soldiers' Home who served 
in any war in which the United States was 
engaged, which amount is used as a part of 
the support of the institution. 

HOSPITAL FOR IXEBRI.\TES. 

The state has provided at Kno.xville a hospi- 
tal for those who by reason of into.xicants and 
drugs have lost their will power to reform 
unaided. Female inebriates are cared for at 
Mt. Pleasant. 

Many persons of brilliant powers of mind 
and body who have become so addicted to the 
use of stimulating liquors and poisonous drugs 
as to become confirmed drunkards or drug 
fiends have received treatment at these places 
provided for by the state and returned entirely 
cured of their depraved appetites. 



BOARD OF CONTROL. 

The Board of Control, created by act of the 
twenty-eighth general assembly, has charge of 
the state institutions. 

This board has full power to manage, con- 
trol and govern, subject only to the limitations 
contained in the original act and amendments 
which may be made by the legislature. 

The board is required to investigate the re- 
ports of the regents of the State University, 
trustees of the State Normal and the Agricul- 
tural College, and to visit and inspect the 
several state institutions at stated intervals. 

STATE SOCIETIES. 

Various societies have been formed to further 
the interests of the people and are receiving 
substantial encouragement from the state. 

The State Agricultural Society was organ- 
ized in 1854, and in October of that year held 
its first fair. This was held at Fairfield, and 
was attended by no less than 8,000 visitors 
from different parts of the state. 

Since 1878 the Annual State Fair has been 
held at Des Moines and is attended by enor- 
mous crowds. The buildings and grounds are 
now owned by the state and embrace a valu- 
able tract of ground and suitable equipment. 

The legislature of 1907 appropriated $75,000 
for a swine barn with a show ring upon these 
grounds. The state has taken the position that 
inasmuch as Iowa is pre-eminently one of the 
greatest agricultural states of the world, provi- 
sion should be made and suitable encourage- 
ment given to exhibiting her resources. 

The Horticultural Society has for its object 
the collection and dissemination of correct and 
practical information concerning the cultiva- 
tion of such fruits, flowers and trees as are best 
adapted to the soil and climate of the state. 

Statistics are gathered from all parts of the 
state and annual reports published at the ex- 
pense of the state. 

Rooms in the State House are furnished for 
the use of its officers, and for the safe keeping 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



57 



of the library and other property of the society. 

The Historical Society was organized in 
1857. This society gathers and preserves in- 
teresting data in regard to the history of Iowa, 
and has now a large and valuable collection of 
material. 

Since its organization it has published the 
Annals of Iowa, Historical Record, and the 
Iowa Journal of History and Politics, besides 
many numerous special publications. 

In 1892 the Historical Department was 
created by the twenty-fourth general assembly 
and the Hall of History erected on lots north- 
east of the State House. 

This building occupies a full half block, 
with a frontage on Grand Avenue of 260 feet. 
It was erected at a cost of $200,000 and is con- 
ceded to be one of the most imposing and 
beautiful edifices in the state. 

Early in the history of the state a law library 
was formed which has since developed into a 
library for general reference. A State Travel- 
ing Library has been built up and countless 
numbers of books of various kinds loaned to 
communities on easy conditions. 

The accession list of the State Library on 
the first day of July, 1905, included 88,156 
volumes, exclusive of the volumes of the His- 
torical Department, with which the miscel- 
laneous portions of the State Library was con- 
solidated by act of the twenty-eighth general 
assembly. 

The State Teachers' Association, Academy 
of Sciences, Pioneer Lawmakers' Association, 
Improved Stock Breeders' Association and many 
other societies of various aims and objects have 
annual meetings to promote the interests of 
these special organizations. 

IOWA AT THE ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION. 

In 1902 arrangements were made to celebrate 
the hundredth anniversary of the purchase of 
Louisiana Territory. Iowa had been well rep- 
scnted at various fairs held previous to this, 
but this last one at St. Louis was of more than 
ordinary interest to the people of the Hawk- 



eye state. An appropriation of $125,000 was 
made in 1902, and an additional $20,000 in 
1904 to have Iowa fitly represented at this great 
meeting, which was formally opened April 30, 
1904. W. W. Witmer, Senator James H. 
Trewin, S. M. Leach, George M. Curtis and 
L. A. Palmer were appointed members of the 
executive committee to carry out this work. 
Senator Trewin voiced the sentiments of the 
commission when he said: "Iowa must take a 
leading part in this great enterprise. Within 
her boundaries are 55,000 square miles of the 
choicest land of the entire Purchase, and two 
and a quarter millions of as intelligent and 
progressive people as can be found anywhere. 
A state pride should induce every citizen to 
encourage a proper showing for Iowa. We are 
first in education, agriculture, stock raising, 
butter producing and in many other things we 
are too modest to mention. We should show 
the excellence of our manufacturing industries, 
our public schools, churches and other institu- 
tions, and that as an abiding place, Iowa has 
no superior on earth, and thus invite good 
people to come and help us develop our almost 
limitless resources and share our prosperity and 
many other blessings." 

A building was erected on the southeast 
grounds of the Exposition costing $55,000. 
Among some of the different departments or- 
ganized were the agricultural, dairy, apiary, 
educational, insurance, historical, horticultural, 
live stock, manufacturing and mining. 

Iowa Day at the Fair was set for June 17, 
1904, it being just 231 years since the eyes 
of white men first looked upon this state. 

The attendance from Iowa was very large 
and the Iowa Building was crowded from early 
morn till late at night. 

It is estimated that the total number of 
lowans who visited the Exposition reached 
127,000. 

Iowa received from the St. Louis Exposition 
13 grand prizes, 53 gold medals, 111 silver 
medals. 383 bronze medals, 263 premiums, and 
4.") ciiniuK'niorativc ini'dals. 



58 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



This Exposition was the greatest of its kind 
ever undertaken and carried out. Chicago's 
Fair in 1893 cost eighteen millions and covered 
633 acres, while the St. Louis Exposition cost 
nearly twice this amount and covered 1,200 
acres. Nineteen millions of people visited the 
St. Louis Exposition and countries from all over 
the civilized world were represented. 

President Roosevelt said: "I have but one 
regret, and that is a deep regret — that these 
buildings could not be made permanent; that 
they can not be maintained a.s they are for our 
children and our children's children and all 
those who come after, as a permanent memo- 
rial of the greatness of the country. It is a 
credit to the United States to have had such an 
Exposition carried on so successfully from the 
beginning to its conclusion." 

A RETROSPECT. 

Gue's Hirtory of Iowa says : As the pioneer 
l^eriod began to give way to the advancing tide 
of immigration coming into the Mississippi 
Valley with the progress of railroad extension, 
Iowa experienced many of the advantages of 
incoming capital and gladly welcomed the 
luxuries brought by material progress. 

But among the new settlers there were re- 
grets over the innovations which banished in 
some degree the universal hospitality of the 
early days of common poverty, when every 
cabin was a house of entertainment for the 
white top wagon loaded with "new comers," 
men, women, and bright-eyed, bare-footed 
children seeking new homes. 

The early settlements in Iowa were largely 
made by men and women with little of worldly 
possessions beyond youth, health, industrious 
habits and a determination to better their con- 
dition in a new country where most of the 
people were similarly situated. 

It was not from the well-to-do classes that 
the pioneers set forth on their westward 
journeys to explore new and unknown coun- 
tries. The middle-aged man with a family, 
who from some misfortune had found it a hard 



struggle in the East to accumulate any sur- 
plus over a bare subsistence could not endure 
the thought that his sons must be left with 
only an inheritance of industry; that his 
daughters must serve as servants in the families 
of strangers; that the long years of toil for a 
frugal living must go on among his descendants 
through the succeeding generations. He looked 
ai'ouud among his neighbors and saw boys no 
brighter and girls no worthier than his own 
enjoying the advantages of education, the best 
society and all that wealth could bring. His 
sons and daughters were as dear to him as 
those who were highly favored by fortune were 
to their parents. There were no class divisions 
in America to exclude his children from aspir- 
ing to higher positions; no exclusive circles 
which they might not enter ; the field was open 
to all. Misfortune or poverty alone kept the 
ambitious from paiticipation in the luxuries 
of life. There were great unsettled regions in 
the far West where industry, perseverance and 
privations for this generation would give all 
these advantages to the children of the poor. 
It was hard to sever all social and kindred ties 
and seek among unsettled regions a place to 
make new homes; endure the stern privations, 
slavish toil and long, slow waiting for the com- 
ing in late yeai's of life of the advantages that 
the children might some distant day enjoy. 
The whole West of fifty years ago was dotted 
over with log cabins, where amid hardships, sick- 
ness, want and unending toil the best years of 
the lives of brave self-sacrificing men and wo- 
men were given to the building up of a new 
civilization from little more than nature had 
provided. 

The younger generation of the closing years 
of the Nineteenth Century can know little of the 
slow progress of evolution which has trans- 
formed the bleak prairies of fifty years ago into 
beautiful farms of unsurpassed fertility, adorned 
with shady groves, fruitful orchards, large 
barns, modern homes and generous equipments 
of the best labor-saving implements. They can 
not realize that our net work of railroads, tele- 
graphs and telephones ha? so recently displaced 




Ol'EKA Ilor.SE— rERRY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



61 



the stage coach, the emigrant wagon drawn by 
oxen, the weekly horseback mail carrier. That 
our cities and thriving villages with their 
modern homes, imposing business blocks and 
public buildings with factories, banks, elegant 
churches and stately schoolhouses have, within 
the memory of the older citizens, crowded out 
the Indian's wigwam and the pioneer's log 
cabin and sod hoiise. 

Looking back upon a picture of pioneer life 
as it was in the years beginning with the early 
";jOs, '40s and '50s, we find a land where 
the Indians, buffalo, deer and elk were reluc- 
tantly retiring before the invasion of the 
hunter, trapper and pioneer farmer. The well 
worn paths of these early inhabitants of the 
wild groves and boundless prairies were founded 
among the wooded banks of the rivers and 
creeks. 

Before the deadly rifle of the hunters and 
the snares of the stealthy trappers the Red 
men and wild animals rapidly but most reluc- 
tantljr retreated. Next came the resounding 
echoes of the wood chopper'? -axe as the lofty 
walnut, oak and hickory trees were converted 
into cabins and fences for new homes of the 
pioneer and his family. 

Toil had no teiTors for the early settlers. 
All were workers. There was a charm in choos- 
ing a home in the wild, unsettled country — as 
the family journeyed on day after day in the 
solitude of the vast rolling prairies, fording the 
streams, winding along the trackless ridges, 
exploring the fringe of woodland that bordered 
the creeks and rivers; passing beautiful groves 
that in the distance slowly loomed up like 
islands in the ocean, where earlier immigrants 
had camped and staked off their claims; the 
finding of a spring in an unoccupied grove and 
taking possession for a home; getting ac- 
quainted with the neighbors who had preceded 
them : exploring the thickets for wild plums, 
gra|)es. crabap])les, hazel and hickory nuts; 
ciioosiiig the site for the cabin, cutting the logs 
which the neighbors helped to raise into a nide 
liouse: hunting the deer, elk. wild turkeys, 
])rairi(' chickens, ducks and geese for sub- 



sistence until sod corn could be raised; going 
two or three days' journey to mill or market 
and camping out nights on the way ; construct- 
ing tables, bedsteads, stools and shelves; break- 
ing the prairie with five or six yoke of oxen 
and the huge breaking plow and planting sod 
corn. The women of the household were among 
the constant toilers. In addition to the ordi- 
nary housework of later times, living remote 
from towns, stores or factories, they were arti- 
sans and manufacturers as well as housekeepers. 
They had to spin, weave, cut and make the 
clothing for the family, and often were the 
teachers of the childi-en. 

There were compensations for the privations 
and hard toil. Hospitality was nowhere more 
general and genuine than among the early 
settlers. Entertainment of "new comers" was 
generally free and cordial., The one room of 
the cabin was never too full to furnish shelter 
and food for the traveler. Neighbors gathered 
together for miles around at corn huskings, 
which ended with a frolic for the youngsters 
in the evening. 

Shooting matches were made where the win- 
ners went home loaded with turkeys. 
Camp meetings were held by the light of blaz- 
ing log piles where old and young assembled 
to listen to the rude eloquence of the uncul- 
tured preachers, lurid with fire and brimstone 
and endless wrath for sinners, which suited the 
sturdy pioneers. All joined in singing the 
grand old hymns with a fen'or that raised en- 
thusiasm to the highest pitch. The annual 
Fourth of July celebration appealed to the 
patriotism of every citizen old and young. The 
oration of the young lawyer from a distant 
town was listened to with rapt attention and the 
national songs resounded through the grove. 
A picnic dinner spread beneath the sheltering 
trees, and a country ball in the evening made 
up a day of general enjoyment for the entire 
population. 

Wolf hunts in the winter were occasions of 
wild excitement and political meetings in the 
country schoolhouse at long intervals brought 
the widely separated .^eUlfrs together and served 



i'>2 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



to vary the monotony of their lives of rugged 
toil. 

The malaria generated from the decaying 
vegetation brought fevers and ague, and when 
sickness came, often no doctor was within reach, 
but neighborly kindness and help were never 
lacking and good-will and sympathy were the 
substitutes for skilled physicians. When death 
cast its shadow over the home, willing hands 
ministered to the stricken family and tenderly 
performed the last sad offices for the dead. A 
iiide box inclosed the lifeless form borne by 
neighbors to the lonely grave. Often there was 
no minister, music or flowers. No carved marble 
or granite shaft told the name of the dead; the 
sturdy oak or lofty elm cast a grateful shadow 
over the grassy mound that alone marked the 
last resting place of the departed pioneer. 

This period in Northwestern Iowa lingered 
along well into the '"60s, as that portion of 
the state was the last to be settled, owing to 
the general absence of forests. The prairies 
were vast in extent, generally inclined to be 
level and in many places defective in surface 
drainage, with frequent ponds and marshes, the 
home of the muskrat. It was not until the 
homestead law was enacted by Congress that 
people began to venture out upon the great 
blealc prairies of Northwestern Iowa to make 
homes. Mostly destitute of timber for cabins 
and fencing, with few deep ravines for shelter 
from the fierce blizzards that swept over them 
in winter, they long remained unoccupied after 
other portions of the state were fairly well 
settled. But when the time came in which the 
head of the family could secure a hundred and 
sixty acres of government land, as a home, for 
$14.00, the hardy pioneers began to venture out 
upon the treeless plains and devise ways to live 
without timber. Then it was that sod houses 
were invented. They were made by running 
a broadshire breaking plow over the wet prairie 
where the tough fiber of the sod of generations 
had accumulated, cutting it into long strips and 
turning them over. These strips of sod were 
then cut up ^^•ith the spades into lengths suit- 
able to handle and laid up like bricks into walls 



for houses and stables. A few poles brought 
from the nearest timber supported a roof of 
slough hay, skillfully placed on like thatching, 
and a comfortable shelter was made for man 
and beast. The ground was smoothed off for a 
floor and until boards could be procured for 
doors, the skins of deer and wolves shut out 
the wind and snow. Then it was that the 
swarms of muskrats which inhabited every pond 
were utilized to supply the family with grocer- 
ies. Muskrat pelts were always saleable for 
cash at the nearest town, where buyers had 
agents to gather up all kinds of fur and hides 
of wild animals. During the first year of life 
on the prairie, before crops could be raised for 
market, thoi:isands of homestead families were 
dependent upon trapping muskrats for the cash 
they must have to buy bacon and coffee. The 
homestead was exempt from taxes; deer and 
prairie chickens furnished meat for portions 
of the yeai'; with industrious mending and the 
skins of wild animals the clothing v.'as made 
to do long service; but some money was in- 
dispensable for fuel and such scant groceries as 
were indulged in. 

]Most of the homesteaders were many miles 
from timber or coal. Their teams were usually 
oxen, which could live on prairie grass and 
wild hay and break the sod for cultivation. 
It was always a perilous journey in the winter 
to the nearest town or timber, or coal bank, for 
fuel or other supplies. It must be made gen- 
erally by one man alone, over a trackless prairie 
covered with deep snow. No human foresight 
could guard against danger from the fearful 
blizzards of flinty snow driven vnth an ever- 
increasing wind and an ever-falling temperature 
that were so common in early days. With the 
sun obscured, nothing was left to guide the 
l^ewildered driver toward his destination, as 
the changing wind often misled him and left 
him utterly bewildered. No condition could 
inspire a more perfect idea of lonely desolation, 
of entire discomfort, of helplessness, and of 
dismal forebodings, than to find one's self lost 
on the snow-covered prairies, with no object 
in sight in any direction but the cold, undu- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



63 



lating SHOW wreaths, and a dark tempestuous 
winter night fast closing around his chilled 
and exhausted frame. With what longing 
the lost one reflects on the cozy fireside of his 
warm cabin, surrounded by loved ones, whom 
he fears he may never see again; and when 
finally he sees over the bleak expanse a faint 
light in the distance which the hand of 
affection has placed in the window to lead the 
lost one home, his heart i^ stirred with a joy 
that can not be described. Many settlers can re- 
member such experiences, while some never 
reached the home they sought, but chilled to 
a painless slumber, they found the sleep that 
knows no waking. 

iVnother danger that was encountered by the 
first settlers on the prairies came from the 
annual fires. Early in the fall frosts killed the 
wild grass and in a few weeks it became dry 
and would readily burn. Many of the recent 
settlers were not aware of the danger and 
neglected to take the proper precaution for . 
safety of their buildings, stacks and even the 
families. 

Emigrants crossing the prairies and camping 
at night where water could be found, late in 
the autumn, were often the victims of careless- 
ness or ignorance of danger. There can be no 
more fearful sight or situation than the ap- 
proach of a prairie fire before a strong wind 
in the night. The horizon is lighted up in the 
distance with a vivid glow, and dense columns 
of black smoke ascend in darkening clouds as 
the long line of fire circles far to the right 
and left. At first the sight is grand beyond 
description as the rays of the glowing red rise 
higher and higher and the smoke rolls upward 
in increasing density. But soon an ominous 
roar is heard in the distance as the hurricane 
of fire is driven mth an ever-increasing wind, 
exceeding the speed of a I'ace horse, and the 
stifling atmosphere glows with the smothering 
heat of a sirocco from a parched desert. 
Escape for man or beast is impossible unless 
a back fire has been started in time to meet the 
advancing tornado of resistle.ss heat that can 
only be stayed by a counter fire. Houses, barns, 



stacks, fences, bridges and all animals are 
quickly destroyed as the hot blasts strike them 
and in a moment the ground is left a blackened, 
blistering waste of desolation. The ruin of the 
camp or farm is as complete as the wreck of 
a burning town or the track of a tornado. 
Scores of people and hundreds of homes were 
annual victims of these fires in the early years 
of scattered farms on the great prairies before 
experience brought to emigrants and settlers 
the wisdom to protect their lives and property 
by timely back-fires as soon as the frost had 
killed the grass. 

It was during these years of hard winters 
when the homestead settlers ventured far out 
on the wild prairies at great distances from 
timber and before railroads had penetrated the 
great plains, that they began to use corn and 
slough hay for fuel. There was no market 
for corn within one or two days' travel and 
when the market was reached, eight or ten 
cents a bushel was all that the farmer could 
get for his load. A large load would some- 
times bring him from four to five dollars. 

This was the pay for raising forty bushels 
of corn on an acre of his farm, husking it and 
transporting the load a journey of two or three 
days with his team. The proceeds of his load 
would pay for about a ton of coal, which he 
must draw back to his home and which would 
furnish about as much heat as the load of 
corn sold. It did not take the settler long to 
see that he might far better burn the corn at 
home and save a perilous journey in midwinter 
over the bleak prairies, often at the risk of his 
life. 

He learned to twist the long coarse slough 
hay into ropes with which to start his corn 
fire and utilized a home grown vegetable pro- 
duction to furnish heat in place of the expen- 
sive foreign mineral production of the same 
earth upon which he lived. Persons of the 
luxuriant homes of distant countries and states 
read of the burning of corn in the morning 
paper by a comfortable grate fire, and were 
horrified at the reckless destruction of food by 
the western prairie farmers. 



64 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Iowa stauds next to the top in the literacy 
of its population, 99.63 per cent of those from 
ten to fourteen years of age being able to read 
and write, although there was no compulsory 
law prior to 1902. .V half million children 
attend school each year. 

Twenty-three thousand teachers are em- 
ployed and it costs the state ten millions of 
dollars annually to maintain the schools. 
Twenty millions of dollars has been invested 
in public school buildings and countless mil- 
lions are being expended each year in carrying 
on the religious, charitable, fraternal and 
benevolent work that means so much for the 
betterment of civilization. 

Men and women living today who remember 
the early experiences of pioneer days can ap- 
Ijreciate, perhaps, more fully than others the 
marvelous development of Iowa. The story of 
its progress in a half century seems almost in- 
credible to those who have actively participated 
in bringing it about. 

It is characteristic of an lowan that no 
matter where he may go he recalls with pride 
the days when he was a resident of Iowa. No 
grass seems so green, no water so pure, no 
flowers so fragrant, no fields so fertile, no cattle 
so fat and sleek, no people more sociable as 
when he lived in Iowa; nothing gives him 
more genuine pleasure than to meet former 
Iowa residents at reunions and talk over inci- 
dents of former days. 

The following poem, written by Allen 
Pai'kinson at an Iowa reunion in California, 
fittingly represents this sentiment : 

W'hafs that, neighbor? Did you say 

That you came from Iowa? 

Well, that's where I got my start, 

Down in the southeastern part, 

Father's folks were pioneers, 

Settled there in early years, 

Down near Fairfield I was born, 

■VS'ent to school and hoed the corn. 

Plowed and harrowed, planted, sowed, 

Fished and hunted, sw-am and rowed. 

Iowa, old Iowa! 

I'd like to go back and stay. 

Over river, mountain, plain. 

Memory goes back again; 

Seems now to me like a dream. 

Fishing there along some stream, 

■Watchin' till I get a bite 

Cork goes down clean out of sight. 



Catfish bitin,' I should guess, 
Swallowed hook and all, O, yes, 
Beats a flshin' in the Bay, 
Down the streams in Iowa. 

Berry picking in the wood. 
Plums, too, in the neighborhood, 
Through the tangled bushes tall, 
Hazelnutting in the fall. 
Hickory nuts and walnuts too; 
Yes, sir. I'll allow it's true 
English walnut's good — but they 
Ain't like nuts from Iowa I 
Vegetables don't taste the same; 
Fruits are not as good, I claim; 
And if I the truth must tell. 
Folks here arn't so . sociable. 

Then those big corn palaces. 

Finest show that ever w-asi 

Even seen them building one? 

Well, I'll tell you how it's done. 

Corn and cobs and shucks and sten 

Palace all made out of them. 

Red and yellow, brown and white, 

Any color that you might 

Wish to mention lookin' all 

But like paint upon the wall; 

Hear the band and see the crowd 

It's enough to make you proud 

'Tis for me at any rate. 

That I'm from the Hawkeye State. 

Climate did I hear you say. 
And the sunshine every day! 
Well sir, I prefer the rains 
I'm not scared of hurricanes. 
Like them better than the shakes! 
I'm no friend of these earthquakes. 
Lightning. I don't mind at all, 
But to feel the floor and wall 
A-shakin" — well, that's "goin' some,'" 
Then I'd rather be back home. 
California climate is 
Maybe good for rheumatiz. 
But give me a bracin' day 
Back in good old Iowa. 

Now, this is a picnic day. 

Let your troubles blow away, 

Makes no difference where you're from. 

Council Bluffs or Burlington 

Chickasaw or Cherokee, 

Polk or Pottawattamie. 

Any place that you can name 

You are ■welcome just the same. 

Take your baskets, hunt the shade 

Cat the pies that mother made 

Eat and drink and shake the hand 

Of the proudest in the land 

Eat and drink and some fine day 

We'll go back to Iowa. 



OTHER D.\YS IN ICWA. 
(By T. J. Holmes.) 



I will take a? a foundation for this article 
forty years ago and now. the difference now 
and then, especially in the great stat^ of Iowa. 
I emigrated from Summit county, Ohio, in 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



65 



April, 1857, to the city of Davenport, this 
state, being a builder by trade and thinking 
that city would be just the place for me to 
carry on building with a gang of say twenty or 
thirty men, as that city had erected some twelve 
hundred buildings the year before. Houses 
for rent being scarce, I bought a very plain, two 
story house, put up an addition to it and made 
other improvement that season, and lo and 
behold when I got ready to begin jobbing the 
bottom had fallen out of the building business 
in Davenport, as well as all other river towns. 
In short, the balloon that it had taken some 
years to inflate, burst, collapsed, and with this 
collapse went the fortunes of hosts of men west 
of the Mississippi river. The money matters 
were in very bad shape. The main currency 
then in circulation was issued by Messrs. Cook 
and Sargent, at their bank at Florence, up 
the Missouri river a few miles above Omaha, 
Neb., as this state did not allow any banks of 
issue at that time. At the time the bubble 
burst Cook and Sargent went up and the bank 
of Florence went down, except a few thousand 
of the bank of Florence that was guaranteed 
by B. F. Allen, then a banker of Des Moines, 
that finally went by the board. Finally all 
branches of business in the west were completely 
demoralized, over done. I managed to hang 
on until the ne.xt season, no work to do and 
but little ambition left after such experience 
in a new country. Railroads were only built 
at that time as the country became settled up 
near the line. The terminal of the Rock Island 
was at Iowa City. This company concluded 
to build west into Poweshiek, fifty miles west 
of Iowa City. Mr. John E. Henry was super- 
intendent of construction and a firm friend of 
mine. We met one day at the depot in Daven- 
port and I said to him: "I believe I will start 
a lumber yard west of Iowa City, if you will 
take out a car of lumber for me. If not I 
will go to California and help build up San 
Francisco." Mr. Henry replied: "Holmes, 
there is nobody out there that wants pine lum- 
ber, and if they did, have no money to pur- 
chase it. Still we do not want vou to "o to 



California, and while we do not want to take 
freight, you get your car loaded by such a 
day and be ready to go, as we expect by that 
time to have a side track where the first station 
will be west of Iowa City." I said to him, 
"I am going to put up a little building to han- 
dle wheat and ship." "All right," said he. I 
had my car loaded and put my tool chest in 
same car. The next day we started west. This 
was the first time I was west of Iowa City. 
When we struck the newly laid track we found 
it terribly rough. We bumped and thumped 
along for some time and finally came to a halt. 
Mr. Henry called me out and said: "We are 
a mile and a half from where a side track is 
to be laid. What will you do with the lumber, 
unload it as we lay track or will we take it 
back to Iowa City?" I looked over the vast, 
grass covered prairie, not a house in sight and 
remarked: "This is a strange place to start 
a lumber yard, still there is no use looking 
back. I vfill unload it as you lay track." So 
the first board shoved out of that car to the last 
was three-quarters of a mile apart. Mr. Henry 
went up the line and stuck the stakes for me 
to erect what we called the first elevator, so 
far west of the Mississippi river. As seventy 
miles on the line of a railroad in any state 
where the little building was to be erected was 
in a grove of native timber, I found several 
families living in the grove. I finally got two 
teams to haul the car of lumber up. The first 
thing to do was to erect an office. This was 
speedily done by putting a scantling in the 
forks of a couple of trees and standing the 
boards up on end, the ends on the ground being 
set apart eight feet, the tops nailed to the 
scantling, and a girt on the inside at the 
bottom. The Indians, whom I entertained 
often, said it was a good wigwam. I got the 
foundation and floor of the building done as 
the sun was about setting. A man drove up 
with a large load of wheat, hauled by two 
oxen, and asked what I was building, I 
answered, an elevator. I wish it was done, 
he said, my team is about played out as well 
as myself. He had slept under the wagon for 



66 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



live Dights. Drive under that tree and feed 
the oxen, and by and by there will be some 
farmers along and you get them to look at 
your wheat and tell you what j'ou would get 
in the city for it, and I will pay you what they 
say, less three cents per bushel. But said he, 
I have to take back a load of salt, this wheat 
is from a country up at Ft. Dodge. I have the 
salt over there in the brush, this you will get 
at city price adding ten cents. This pleased 
him for it would save him two days' travel. 
The next morning he asked, where is your 
scales? I have none yet. Well, said he, I am 
hauling this wheat and we weighed it at Ft. 
Dodge on a platform with steelyards and there 
is, or was, some seventy bushels. All right, I 
will take you at your word. Where am I to 
unload? On that floor, said I. Oh, said he, 
if it gets wet it will be a pity. Put it on the 
floor, said I. This building will have its sides 
up and roof on before the sun sets. Not alone, 
said he. Yes, I will do it alone. He dumped 
the wheat on the floor. He claimed to have 
hauled the wheat one hundred and eighty-five 
miles, having to go around sloughs miles out 
of his course, and ha\dng to unload and reload 
twice and carry the sacks on his shoulder 
several rods to hard ground. This was the first 
load of wheat ever bought to be shipped by rail, 
west of Iowa City. I soon made. up the car 
load and shipped it to Chicago. The returns 
netted me about $8.00. The price paid was 
sixty to sixty-three cents per bushel. 

By the next season the ties and iron were 
extended to Marengo, ten miles west, the 
county seat of Iowa county. Taking the advice 
of Mr. Greeley, "go west young man," I sold 
my little grain house to the German colony. 
This was the commencement of the present 
town of Homestead. At Marengo I erected 
another grain house, just twice the size of the 
first one, this one being 16x32 feet. Business 
began to look up. Another lumber yard was 
started by Chambers Bros., of Muscatine, the 
lat« James Ketcham, of Chicago, salesman. I 
sold a bill for a house and in part payment 
was a $100.00 treasury note, on the back of 



which was written, in a nice, Spencerian hand, 
"Pay to the order of O. S. Couch." This note 
was the first ever seen in Marengo and attracted 
great interest among business men. The 
question came up, "is this note good without 
the name of 0. S. Couch upon it," which it 
had not. All of us took the ground that it 
^^•as all right except Mr. Ketcham, who con- 
tended that it must be signed by Mr. Couch. 
I sent it into the State Bank of Davenport, 
B. B. Woodward, cashier. It went to New 
York and was thrown out at the sub-treasury. 
It came back to me, and it was enclosed in a 
letter to the treasurer, Salmon P. Chase, at 
^^':l<hington. He sent it back to me with a 
letter stating that it was a genuine bill, one of 
five, same denomination ; the first ever issued 
by the government, and written pay to the 
order of 0. S. Couch, for safety in transmission 
through the mail to him. In Iowa this 
treasury note must have the signature of O. S. 
Couch to make it all right. I put it in my 
pocket as worthless, for where is Mr. Couch? 
Pos-ibly in Mexico, Canada or some other land. 
A few weeks after I stepped into the depot, and 
just unloaded, I noticed a pile of boxes marked 
0. S. Couch, Newton, Iowa. The bill was sent 
to him, asking him to put his name on it if he 
was the man to whom it was sent from Wash- 
ington. In a conversation with Mr. Couch at 
Colfax a few years ago, he stated that the one 
he signed for me was the only one he signed 
out of the five. One man told me aften\^ards 
that he put Couch's name to one of the bills 
himself. 

The winter of fifty-nine and sixty as well 
as the next winter was extremely cold and 
stormy. My family still living in Davenport, 
and being acquainted with Mr. Antoin St. 
Clair, the original owner of a section of land 
where the city of Davenport is situated, his wife 
being a daughter of a former chief of the 
Musquakee Indians residing in Tama county. 
This Mr. St. Clair and some others sent supplies 
to me to distribute to the poor creatures in some 
of these terrible storms. These people, men, 
women and children came over frequently in 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



67 



large numbers, sometimes filling the little 
building, among them was a couple soon to 
be married, the girl's name was Jennie Daven- 
port, named I suppose after that city. She 
got a complete wedding outfit in gay colors. 
Among the things he got was a plug hat. 
Next time he came over and after he was mai'- 
ried, the hat was ornamented with wild turkey 
feathers except in front was a peacock feather 
flanked by the turkey feathers. 

In order to advertise I had cut out of a tin 
plate good sized letters, from T. J. Holmes, 
Marengo. One evening two span of horses and 
a ■ft'agon drove up, and the driver asked is this 
Holmes' lumber yard? I said it was. Can I 
unhitch my team here? Of course you can. 
I am from Webster City, one hundred and 
fifty-five miles northwest of this place. We 
saw your name on some wide inch and a half 
plank, dear stuff for counter tops. Have you 
such lumber now? I have lots of it as nice 
as was ever sawed in the great Saginaw Valley. 
That is what I am after a part of a load for 
AVebster City and a part for Ft. Dodge. Next 
morning I loaded him up a full load of first 
clear lumber the load amounting to between 
seventy and eighty dollars, at sixty dollars per 
thousand feet. One year ago last summer I 
visited Webster City a friend called my atten- 
tion to the store building I had furnished 
lumber for the counters thirty-six years before, 
which was hauled over the vast prairie by 
team and wagon, where now is seen trains of 
cars running a mile per minute, three hours 
would take that lumber to Webster City, that 
the teamster told me would take him five days. 
His lodging place at night would be on the 
grass under the wagon. Now after two winters 
spent at Marengo, the road being tied and 
ironed twenty miles further west to a grove in 
the edge of Poweshiek county, then called 
Snooks' Grove. The officers of the road in- 
formed me that this would be the terminal 
for some months. They put in a turn-table to 
liu'n the engines and a plug switch for me to 
unload lumber and to load wheat. I being the 
onlv business man at the end of the road. 



Here I erected another wigwam, as the Indians 
called it. This one I built on a larger scale 
for the great Rebellion was on and the soldier 
boys were flocking to the railroad on their way 
South. Those who were married brought their 
wives and children with them. Thus far my 
office was the only shelter here where the last 
kiss was given and taken by husband and wife, 
father and children never to be repeated by 
them again on this side of eternity, for many 
of them gave up their lives for their country 
and the honor of the stars and stripes. Sup- 
posing the road would soon be finished to 
Brooklyn, I had a grain house framed at 
Davenport. It was finally loaded on cars and 
brought out and hauled by teams three miles 
to Brooklyn, put a man there to take in wheat, 
where the people did not wish to haul it further 
east. The price per bushel was thirty to thirty- 
five cents. This house was 32x80 and was 
filled so full before the iron was laid to it that 
several timbers were broken. The war waxed 
hot and severe. In the first place the boys 
rushed in so fast that the governor could not 
take them, and they went to the adjoining 
states and enlisted for three years. The war 
lasted so long, with such fearful results, that 
by and by a draft had to be resorted to in order 
to fill the required number of men called for 
from Iowa. Recruits in cases were put in as 
high as from five to seven hundred dollars. 
As time went by a second draft was ordered 
and the day set to the consternation of the 
people. A few days before this draft was to 
take place, Governor Wm. Stone met the 
governors of the western states, by appoint- 
ment, at the city of Columbus, Ohio, in order 
to settle the question of enlistment. The set- 
tlement was made on a one year plan and 
credited to the state where the soldier resided. 
This settlement .showed patriotic Iowa some 
thirteen thousand ahead of all calls, and there- 
fore the second order for a draft was annulled 
by the governor, to the great rejoicing of the 
people. 

And now it is time, to finish this lengthy 
communication. The last forty years have 



68 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



been full of interest to nie. I have seen the 
broad, beautiful, grass covered prairies of Iowa 
changed to beautiful, well tilled farms, her 
deep, rich soil yielding sufficient for man and 
beast. Whether wet or dry, cold or hot, the 
people of beloved Iowa have never been obliged 
to ask for help from other states. The prairies 
of Iowa were settled by the young, energetic 
Iioys of the grand families of New England and 
the middle states, and they have made Iowa 
great, and in the first rank of states her 
churches and her schools give evidence of her 
morality and leai'ning, showing the lowest per- 
centage that can neither read nor write of any 
state or territory in the Union. The people of 
Iowa have a goodly heritage and the blessing 
of God has been lavishly poured out upon the 
people and the state. AVhile doing business in 
that lonely grove, for several months I boarded 
at Brooklyn. There being no banks, I, of 
course, carried my money in my pocket, and 
often the express messenger handed me a 
package containing from one to two thousand 
dollars. This was deposited in mj' pocket to- 
gether with money taken in for lumber. Then 
all took the stage and rode up to the station, 
three miles, for supper, after which I walked 
back to unload a car of lumber. Here I shoved 
out the lumber by the light of a lantern, not a 
person within sight or hearing, not a sound but 
the whistling steam of the locomotive or the 
hoot of the timber owl, and I was never held 
up or lost a dollar. Where is the office in the 
state today where a man could have one to two 
thou.sand dollars in his pocket and sleep as 
soundly as I did after the car was unloaded? 
I think he would be held up. 

I will close this communication by giving 
.some of the highest and lowest prices of some 
of the produce of Iowa during the time I have 
written about, and at the points where I was 
in business: 

Wheat per bushel 30c to $2.50. 

Corn per bushel 13c to $1.25. 

Oats per bushel 10c to 70c. 

Barley per bushel 25c to $1.90. 

Beef cattle gross per 100 lbs. $2.50 to $6.50. 



Hogs gross per 100 lbs. $1.50 to $12.25. 

Horses per head $50.00 to $250.00. 

Lumber, 1st and 2d clear $30.00 to $60.00. 

Lumber, No. 1 fencing, $14.00 to $46.00. 

Lumber, No. 1 clear shingles, $2.50 to $9.00 
per thousand. 

And now I, being over eighty years of age, 
lipgin to think I hear the noise and roar of 
the bounding billows of that one stream that 
encircles the world, as the current so rapidly 
flows toward eternity ; but, thanks be to God, all 
will be well with me if so be it that when or- 
dered to step into that cold stream I may be ac- 
counted worthy to be met by Him who held 
up poor Peter on the sea of Galilee. And 
when loved ones can go no farther, and I lay 
down the cane that has supported my tottering 
steps, when the last kiss is given and taken, 
the la.st good bye said, then may I be permitted 
to take that sure support, the hand of Christ, 
who will conduct me safely across that stream 
to our Father's mansion on the other side, 
where I hope to meet and greet the loved ones 
that have preceded me, and finally be forever 
at rest in that house and home, the house not 
made with hands, eternal in heaven. 

DALLAS COUNTY. 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

Dallas county is situated near the center of 
the state and contains 576 square miles. The 
pojjulation, as given by the census of 1905 was 
23,035. 

The county was, named in honor of Hon. 
George M. Dallas, vice-president of the United 
States, and is divided into sixteen townships 
named as follows: Dallas, Spring Valley, 
Beaver, Des Moines, Grant, Sugar Grove, 
Washington, Lincoln, Linn, Colfax, Adel. 
Walnut, Boone, Van Meter, Adams and Union. 

The county has a moderate elevation, being 
on the east slope of the great watershed thut 
traverses the state in a southeasterly direction 
from Dickinson county in the north to Clarke 
county in the south. The elevation as given 



DALLAS COnsT\. W^^^' 




PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



71 



by engineers is 1,128 feet near Dexter and 1,074 
feet at Adel. 

The surface is generally level, intei-spersed 
with rolling, broken and bluffy lands, in the 
region of the large streams. 

The South "Coon" river flows through the 
southern tier of townships from west to east, 
forming many deviations in its course. Middle 
"Coon" enters the county in the southwest part 
of- Linn township and joins South "Coon" 
south of Redfield. North "Coon" flows 
through the county from the northwest corner 
of Dallas township in a southeasterly direction 
to Van Meter township, where it joins South 
"Coon" neai' the town of Van Meter. 

Mosquito creek flows south through Lincoln 
and Linn townships, entering Middle "Conn" 
north of Redfield. 

Panther creek extends through Lincoln, 
Colfax and Adams townships, uniting with 
South "Coon" in Adams township. 

Beaver creek takes its beginning in Boone 
county and flows through Dallas, Beaver and 
Grant townships into Polk county, where it 
joins the Des Moines river. The Des Moines 
river pa.sses through the northeast corner of 
Des Moines township on its way to the Mis- 
sissippi. 

Dallas county formerly had numerous small 
lakes, the largest being Pilot lake in Lincoln 
and Swan lake in Dallas town.ships. These 
were harbors for fish, ducks, geese and other 
game of various sorts and were favorite resorts 
for hunters. 

This lake was drained in 1876 into Panther 
creek and the land is now highly productive. 
Numerous buffalo bones were found imbedded 
in the soft mud in the bottom of the lake. 

Swan lake is now being drained and will 
soon be numbered with the landmarks that are 
past and gone. 

Many other smaller lakes and ponds have 
been drained as the land has become more val- 
uable until there is very little wet land left. 

Some springs of salt and sulphur water are 
found which were visited in early times by 
luimerous wild animals. Some of these springs 



contain medicinal waters that ure probably val- 
uable, though they have not been utilized for 
this purpose. 

Considerable native timber is found along 
the streams and on nearly every farm on the 
prairie lands fine groves and orchards may be 
seen. With the exception of the bluffs along 
the creeks and rivers, the land is mostly roll- 
ing prairie. No better description of the prairie 
country can be given than the following lines 
from William Cullen Bryant: 

"These are the gardens of the desert, these 

The unshorn fields, lioundless and beautiful, 

For which the speech of England has no name, 

The prairies. I behold them for the first, 

And my heart swells, while the dilated sight 

Takes in the encircling vastness. Lo! they stretch 

In airy undulations far away, 

As if the ocean, in his gentlest swell, 

Stood still, with all the rounded billows fixed. 

iVnd motionless forever. Motionless? 

No — they are all unchained again. The clouds 

Sweep over with their shadows and, beneath, 

The surface rolls and fluctuates to the eye; 

Dark hollows seem to glide along and chase 

The sunny ridges. Breezes of the South! 

Who toss the golden and flamelike flowers. 

And pass the prairie hawk, that, poised on high, ' 

Flaps his broad wings and yet moves not — ye have 

played 
Among the palms of Mexico and vines 
Of Texas, and have crisped the limpid brooks 
That from the fountains of Sonora glide 
Into the calm Pacific — Have ye fanned 
A nobler or lovelier scene than this?" 

The climate of Dallas county is healthful 
and invigorating. On account of its elevation 
and drainage it is free from the many diseases 
peculiar to low and swampy regions. While 
subject to considerable variation in temperature 
in the course of the year, and sometimes expe- 
riencing extremely sudden changes, yet on the 
whole the climate is much more equable than 
other portions of the state not so favorably 
located. 

Situated midway between the extreme cold 
of Minnesota and the excessive heat of Mis- 
souri, it is naturally possessed of some decided 
advantages that are highly appreciated by its 
residents. 

No period of the year is more delightful than 
the balmy, dreamy spell that comes in the fall 
and is known as "Indian Summer." The pe- 
culiar hazy appearance of the atmosphere at 
this time of the year was supposed by the early 



72 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



settlers to be caused by the Indian fires. This 
peculiar phase of the weather is not confined 
to this country, however, though in other places 
it bears different names. Thus in England it 
is known as "Martinmas Summer;" in France, 
as "I'Ete de St. Martin ;" in Germany, as "Alte 
AVeiber Sommer;" and along the western coast 
of South America, bs "St. .John's Summer." 
One who has lived a quarter of a century in 
Iowa, and passed from the Atlantic to the Pa- 
cific, says that nowhere between the two oceans 
can be observed so many magnificent spectacles 
at the risings and settings of the sun as in an 
Iowa autumn: "Golden clouds, dark clouds 
with silver lining, atmosphere full of delicious 
haze — sometimes like floating gold and silver 
dust — great bands of rosy light shooting up- 
ward to the zenith, mark these grand pano- 
ramas and make them so beautiful and bril- 
liant that no one who has been entranced by 
their grandeur can ever forget them! It is 
seldom that these free exhibitions of the sub- 
limities of nature are even equaled in any land 
and it is doubtful whether they are ever sur- 
passed in Italy." 



Comparatively few persons pause to question 
Nature; and fewer still are they who stay to 
question the inanimate rock. On the land- 
scapes and beneath the surface are indications 
of a history that challenge investigation; on 
everj' hill and in every valley are facts waiting 
to be noticed and interpreted, and whether 
the mass of men notice them or not. the story 
they illustrate still has its charm. 

The hills were here when men came; the 
rills and oreeks bubbled as merrily on their 
way to the sea then as now; the broad I'ich 
acres of prairie land were as promising then 
as now. Why then stay to study these familiar 
rocks? Or why pause to discuss their origin? 
Let the following partially answer these ques- 
tions, and answering arouse intelligent interest. 

The geological history of Dallas county is 
one of importance and affords some very sug- 
gestive facts relative to its past vicissitudes. It 



extends in point of time over many thousands 
of years, and embraces periods of repose and 
periods of remarkable change. 

The first geologist who visited Dallas county 
was O. H. St. John, who in 1867 made a 
hurried exploration of this and neighboring 
counties. It is devoted mainly to a description 
of the various exposures along the Raccoon 
river and its chief tributaries. 

GENERAL RELATIONS OF STRATA. 

Two great systems of strata are represented 
in Dallas county, the carboniferous and pleis- 
tocene. The loose deposits belonging to the 
latter system are made up of clay, sand and 
gravel, and cover the indurated rocks to the 
depth of one hundred feet or more. At no place 
are the indurated rocks exposed except along 
streams. The upper carboniferous beds are 
divided into an upper and lower division. 

The strata of the upper or Missourian stage 
occur only in the southwestern corner of the 
area, the larger part of the county being 
covered by the beds of the Des Moines stage. 

The pleistocene deposits are also divisible 
into an older and a newer drift. The former 
or Kansan drift with its covering of loess ap- 
pears only to the south, since over the greater 
portion of the county it is covered by the 
younger Wisconsin till. The following table 
will show the relations of the strata. 



Group 


System 


Series 


Stage 




Pleistocene or 
Quaternary 


Recent 


Alluvial 


Cenozoic. 


Glacial 


Wisconsin 


lowan 




Kansan 


Paleozoic 


Carboniferous 


Upper Carbon- 
Pellns'ylvlni'an 


Missourian 


Des Moines 



The sections which follow are given with 
view of showing the general characteristics of 
the coal measures as they occur within the 
county. 

The best exposuras are found along, the Rac- 
coon river. 

In a small ravine on the south side of the 
vallev and about one and a half miles from the 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 73 

Polk county line (township 78 north, range The Marshall artesiaia well passed through 200 

26 west, section 35, northwest quarter), the fol- feet of bituminous shale. Near De Soto a well 

lowing section occurs: showed four veins of coal varying from one 

Ft. In. foot to three feet. 

7. Drift Massive sandstones are exposed at numerous 

6. Shales, black 8 points along the river from the bend at the 

5. Shales, gray, sandy below 2 site of Cottonwood mill to the mouth of the 

4. Sandstone 4 Middle "Coon." 

3. Shales 6 At Hanging Kock near Redfield the layers 

2. Limestone, dark, blue 2 4 of shale, sandstone, coal and limestone are 

1. Shales, exposed 2 similar to those seen at De Soto and Van Meter. 

The Marshall coal vein is noted near Redfield, 

BOONEViLLE SECTION. j^_ j^ j^^^^^ ^^^^ Waukee. Observations at High 

12. Drift 30 Bridge in Des Moines township and at Dawson 

11. Sandstone 10 show coal and fire clay exposed in layers vary- 

10. Shales, black 1 ing from a few inches to four feet. 

9. Shales, gray and red 10 The coal measures are divided into the 

8. Shales, black 1 Upper, Middle and Lower divisions, the two 

• 7. Shales, gray 3 divisions of the Upper Carboniferous, namely, 

6. Coal 10 the !Missourian and the Des Moines, being the 

5. Shales, gray 9 most imjiortant. The beds of the Missourian 

4. Limestone 2 underlie a portion of Adams and Union town- 

3. Shales, gray 16 ships. The rock is blue or buff- in color, very 

2. Sandstone 3 compact and non-crystalline. The indurated 

1. Unexposed to river 20 rocks of Dallas county are concealed beneath 

a heavy covering of drift. 

VAN METER SECTION. trt T^ rri ■ j u r i j i i i i-.. 

bt. in. Ihis deposit of clay, sand and gravel, left 

17. Drift by the ancient ice sheets, everywhere conceals 

16. Sandstone, soft, gray 8 from view the underlying coal measures, ex- 

15. Shales, sandy, gray 15 c'<'pt at certain points along the stream ways. 

14. Limestone, fossiliferous 1 2 The olde.-t drift exposed anywhere within 

13. Shales, bituminous 1 4 the county is the- Kansan. This covers the 

12. Shales, gray 4 southern half of Boone, Van Meter and Adams 

11. Sandstone 4 townships, the greater portion of Union and 

10. Shales, sandy 6 the southwest corner of Linn, the thickness 

9. Coal 6 varying from sixty to one hundred and twenty- 

8. Shales, gray and red 12 five feet. 

7. Limestone 1 The Kansan drift is covered in most places 

6. Shales, bituminous 8 by a sheet of loess. This deposit often con- 

5. Shales, gray 2 tain.< numerous lime concretions and fosf3ils. 

4. Limestone 4 In some places this thins out and disappears. 

3. Shales, blue 6 while in Union township it is exposed to a 

2. Shales, bituminous 2 depth of ten feet. North of Redfield two layers 

1. Shales, blue exposed 5 of loess are noticed, one six feet and the other 

Observations at De Soto, Panther creek and thirteen feet in thickness. < 

Cottonwood show marked diff"crence?. especially A large portion of the county is covered by 

in the excess of sandstones at the latter jmint. lln' newer nr Wisconsin drift. It is of a buft' 



-4 PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 

or light gray color and its pebbles and boulders That deeper coal veins are present in the south- 
do not show the extensive weathering exhibited ern part of the county is shown by the record 
by those in the older drift. The thickness of of the deep well near De Soto. At that point 
this drift over the northern portions of the four veins of coal were encountered as follows : 
county varies from eighty to one hundred feet, Depth. Thickness. 

possible more. 98 feet 1 foot 

Many of the streams of the county are 239 " 2 feet 

bordered by alluvial bottoms. The small 255 " l^/^ " 

streams have flood plains along the lower por- 350 "' 3 

tions of their coui'ses, while in the larger rivers The mines near Dawson, Linden, and along 

this is widened out to a considerable extent, the Des Moines river are being mined exten- 

Gravel terraces are found along the North, sively, while some in the southern part of the 

South and Middle "Coon"' rivei-s, good sized county have been temporarily discontinued, 
boulders often being found in them. These 

terraces owe their formation to the streams clays. 
flowing from the melting ice sheet. 

Dallas county contains an abundance of good 

DEFORMATIONS. clays. The coal measures, shales and clays, 

which outcrop at numerous points within its 

The strata of the county have been for the Ijorders, furnish the best material for the manu- 

most part but little disturbed from the nearly facture of clay products. The drift clays are 

horizontal position which they occupied when utilized to a good advantage at several localities, 

deposited. They have a gentle dip to the as ai-e also the alluvial deposits found along 

southwest, but this is so slight as to be scarcely many of the streams. 

noticeable. The most marked deformation Considerable attention has been paid to the 

noted is in the southwestern corner of the manufacture of brick at Van Meter, De Soto, 

county, in the vicinity of Redfield. The beds Adel, Redfield, Minbum, Dawson and Scandia. 

here have been forced into an anticline, whose Great improvement in the manufacturing 

axis appears to have a direction approximately processes have been made within recent years 

north and south. and Dallas county brick are in great demand. 

The last few years have witnessed an un- 

COAL. precedented demand for drainage tile and most 

of the plants engaged in making brick are also 

Dallas county ranks as one of the important producing large quantities of tile. Wet land 

coal producing counties of the state and for has been reclaimed in all parts of the county 

over forty years this mineral fuel has been and the value of lands greatly enhanced by the 

mined within its borders. The county is practi- use of tile and it is becoming more appreciated 

cally all underlain by the lower coal measures, each year. 

At ^'an Meter two veins have been mined at 

depths of 285 and 305 feet, each one averaging koad materials. 
three feet in thickness. 

Coal occurs at a number of dififerent hori- At a time when the movement toward the 

zons. Some of the veins outcrop along the improvement of countrj- roads is beginning to 

streamways and others lie some considerable assume considerable importance the question 

distance below the surface and are reached of good road material is one of special interest, 

only by sinking shafts. They range in thick- Dallas county is well furnished with such 

ness from a few inches to three and four feet, material. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



75 



The Missouri limestones and the calcareous 
beds of the coal measures afford rock suitable 
for crushed stone, while along many of the 
larger streams there are terraces from which 
gravel may be secured in abundance. Stone 
quarries in Adams, Union and Linn townships 
have been used quite extensively for ballast 
on the railroads. Almost any of the lime- 
stones of the county would furnish suitable 
material for macadamizing the roads. The 
gravel of the terraces can also be used for the 
improvement of the highways. These beds 
have been opened at numerous points along 
the county, and worked on an e.xtensive scale 
by the railroad for ballast. Eastern states have 
taken the initiative in macadamizing the roads. 

The introduction of the rural mail and the 
automobile has been an important factor in 
building up a sentiment for good roads and it 
is safe to say that Dallas county will soon have 
the main thoroughfares so improved that they 
can be readily traveled over at all times in the 
year. 

WATER SUPPLY. 

Dallas county has an abundance of good 
water. The supply is derived chiefly from the 
sands and gravels of the drift, though in some 
instances water is obtained from the coal 
measuras. 

There are several artesian wells in the 
county. The well at Redtield was put down to 
a depth of 1,500 feet in the hope of finding 
gas and oil. A flow of water was struck at a 
depth of 280 feet, and other veins were found 
at various depths below this. A well was bored 
on the farm of Mr. Marshall near Redfield that 
threw a stream of water nineteen feet high. 
Flowing wells have been active in some parts 
of the county, some of them .strongly impreg- 
nated with minerals. The layers of sand and 
gravel favorable for artesian waters are espec- 
ially noticeable in Lincoln. Dallas, Spring 
Valley, Wa.-^hington and Colfax town.ships. 



The soils of the county are formed almost 
entirely from the two drift sheets that cover 
the region. Over a portion of the southern 
tier of townships the Kansas drift with its 
covering of loess has given rise to a very 
productive soil. Wherever the loess forms the 
surface the soils have a buff or light gray 
color and do not have the appearance of great 
fertility, though as a matter of fact they are 
well supplied with plant foods and are well 
adapted for fruit raising and for com. These 
loess soils have the property of absorbing mois- 
ture very readily and of retaining it for a con- 
siderable period. 

They are free from pebbles and boulders, 
often so abundant in the drift soils. 

The Wisconsin drift forms the surface 
material over much the larger portion of the 
county and gives rise to a soil of much fertility, 
as the prosperous appearance of the farms 
bears ample testimony. In many parts of the 
region the surface ha? until lately been un- 
productive on account of insufficient vinder- 
drainage. 

Though it covers but a comparatively small 
part of the area of the county the alluvium 
probably forms as rich a soil as any in 
the region. The old flood plains along the 
streams have been covered by the sediment car- 
ried in the waters of the rivers and deposited 
along their courses. In many cases thase bot- 
toms are now occupied by rich pastures that 
furnish grazing to numerous herds of cattle. 
In other instances the rich fields of waving corn 
give evidence of the fertility of these bottom 
lands. 

It is thus seen that the soil of Dallas county 
is composed of three kinds of geological forma- 
tion. These are (1) the soils of the Wisconsin 
drift, (2) the loess of the Kansan drift, and 
(3) the alluvium. 

INDIAN AFFAIRS. 

Dallas county was originally owned l)y the 
Sac and Fox Indians and was ceded to the 



76 



PAST -\2s^D PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



United States government October 11, 1842. 
It was stipulated in the treaty that the Indians 
were to be removed from the county at the 
expiration of three years and all who remained 
after that were to remove at their own expense. 
Part of them were removed to Kansas in the 
fall of 1845. and the remainder in the spring 
of 1846. 

In consequence of this aiTangement the 
eai'ly settlers of Dallas county experienced no 
difficulties with the Indians. 

For lands received from the Sacs and Foxes 
$80,000 per year was paid by the United States 
government. 

Although history does not record any san- 
guinary struggles on Dallas county soil be- 
tween the Indians and white settlers, a rehable 
account is given of the massacre of a party of 
Delaware Indians by a band of Sioux warriors 
in 1841 on the "Coon" river near Adel in 1841. 

The Delawares, twenty-four in nimiber, were 
on a hunting expedition and had camped on 
the banks of the "Coon" river a short distance 
from the present site of Adel. Here they were 
surprised by a large band of Sioux warriors, 
w-bo killed all but one of them. The Delawares, 
led by their chief, Neowage, made a horoic fight 
against overwhelming numbers and twenty-six 
of their enemies fell to rise no more. The body 
of Neowage, the brave Delaware chief, was 
found lying at the foot of a tree. The trunk 
of the tree was gashed with tomahawk blows, 
and around it were four dead Sioux whom he 
had killed. The one who escaped carried the 
news to the main body, who were in camp at 
that time on the present site of Des Moines. 
Pashepaho. the chief, who was then eighty 
years old, mounted his pony and. selecting five 
hundred of his bravest warriors, started in pur- 
suit of the Sioux. He followed the trail from 
where the bodies of the Delawares lay un- 
buried for more than a hundred miles up the 
valley of the "Coon" river, where the Sioux 
were overtaken. 

Raising their fierce war cry and led by their 
old chieftain, the Sacs and Foxes charged on 
the enemy's camp. The battle was one of the 



bloodiest ever on Iowa soil. Hand to hand the 
savages fought with a desperation never sur- 
passed in Indian warfare. The Sioux were 
fighting for life and their assailants to revenge 
the slaughter of their friends. The conflict 
lasted many hours. The defeat of the Sioux 
was overwhelming. More than three hundred 
of their dead were left on the field of battle. 
The Sacs and Foxes lost but seven killed. 

The new purchase was not formally opened 
for settlement by the whites until midnight of 
April 30, 1843. For many weeks previous 
to this settlers came in great crowds in order 
to be early on the ground and pei-sonally inspect 
the new country. 

By the time set for opening multitudes were 
on the ground and by evening of May 1st the 
eastern portion of the purchase was dotted all 
over by claim stakes. 

From 1843 until 1845 the Indians remained 
in the new territory on friendly terms with 
their white neighbors. 

They gradually disappeared toward the set- 
ting sun and the country soon began to take 
on the appearance of the older countries in the 
east. Farming lands were taken up rapidly, 
homes, schools and churches built and a gen- 
eral improvement of the country made. Set- 
tlements at first were made near the timber, 
as that was indispensable for fuel, fencing and 
shelter. Settlers, however, soon began to push 
out on the fertile prairies, preferring these 
lands in spite of the inconveniences of going 
several miles to the timber to secure their 
needed supply. 

Those that obtained claims containing part 
timber and part prairie were especially fortu- 
nate, as they had the advantage of the smooth 
black farm land with all needful timber at 
hand. 

EARLY SETTLEMEXT. 

After the departure of the Indians in 1845 
the way was opened up for the settlement of the 
lands up the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. 
Many prospective settlers began to explore this 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



new region preparatory to making permanent 
filings. 

THE FIRST SETTLERS. 

Early histories and reports from old settlers 
differ as to who was the "First Settler" in Dal- 
las county. 

From the most reliable sources now available 
it is believed that two brothers, Daniel and 
Lewis Stump, who came and staked out claims 
in Van Meter township in the fall of 1845, 
were the first bonafide settlers of the county. 
In February of 1846 -their sister Mary and 
brother John came out to make their home with 
them. John Wright also came out early in 
the winter of 1845 but returned to the East 
and moved out with his family in March, 1846. 

In January, 1846, Samuel Miller, William 
Miller and Eli Smithson took claims on the 
opposite side of the river, east from the present 
town of Adel. John Miller, a son of William 
Miller, came in March, 1846, and selected for 
his claim the land now occupied in part by 
the county seat. He finally turned over to the 
county the town site upon which was built the 
first town of the county. In Febniary, 1846, 
Levi Wright and his brother James Wright, 
the latter a deaf mute remembered by many 
of the old settlers for his fun loving proclivi- 
ties and his ability as a mimic, took claims on 
section 16, township 78, range 27, now owned 
by Jacob Van Meter. 

Tristram Davis and John Longmire selected 
claims in the present limits of Adams town- 
ship in February, 1846. Several other settle- 
ments in other parts of the county were made 
in the spring of this year. Settlements were 
made on the North "Coon" by George and 
Shubal Haworth, John and William Ellis. 
About the same time came Noah Staggs, Henry 
Garner, Mr. Clark, Henry Stump, Greenbury 
Coffin, William McCubbin, James .W. Black, 
John Juvenaugh, Henry Busic, George Gres- 
ham, John Johnson, William Brown, James 
Moore, John Crane and Nathan Moore. 

In Adams township besides Tristram Davis 
and John Longmire, already mentioned, were 



John Davis, Levi Davis and George S. Hills. 

The settlement near the present town of Adel 
was soon joined by Eli, Isaac, Martin and Jesse 
Miller, Isaac Trilby, William Galway and 
Joseph Corbell. 

In the northeast part of the county near the 
Des Moines river, 0. D. Smalley settled in May, 
1846, and for some time was the only settler 
in that part of the county. In the fall of that 
year he had for near neighbors, John and 
David Spear, Jerry Evans, Judge McCall and 
Samuel Ramsey. By the close of the year 
1846 it is estimated that some sixty or sixty- 
five persons were living in the county. 

During the years of 1847 and 1848 many 
new settlers came to the county. 

J. C. Goodson and William Boone settled 
near the river in Boone township. S. K. 
Scovell, Horatio and Barney Morrison, Chelsea 
Shelton, Isaac Magart, James and Thomas 
Butler, Chris. Fowler, Jeff. Jones, Rud. Lath- 
rop, Thomas Drummond, William and Daniel 
James, Anderson Kelley, E. J. Fowler, Ira Sher- 
man, John and Valentine Cline and Benja- 
min Greene settled near Penoach, now called 
Adel. In 1847 George Garroutte, Harvey 
Adams, Zebin Babcock and Judge Burns set- 
tled in what is now Sugar Grove township. 

In 1848 settlements were made in the pres- 
ent limits of Washington township by John 
Sullivan, James McLane, Jacob Winters, Sam- 
uel Mars and John S. Samies. 

Union township was also first settled in 1848. 
Humphrey Smith and Henry Owens settled 
there in the spring of 1848, and erected a mill 
near the mouth of Cottonwood creek. Follow- 
ing them came Leroy Lambert, David Daily, 
.John Hayes, Elisha Morris, Mr. Wilcox, John 
F. Willis and Uriah Stotts. 

In 1850 Samuel Carpenter, James Brooks, 
W. W. Hai-per and others located in what 
is now Linn township. 

The land on which the town of Redfield 
now stands was entered by Patrick, Thomas 
and Michael Cavenaugh, who laid out a town 
on that site in 1852-5?!, which they called New 
Ireland. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



EARLY EXPERIENCES AND CHARACTER SKETCHES. 

Although the early settlers of the county 
were de^jrived of many of the present day con- 
veniences of modern life, yet they found much 
enjoyment mixed in with the hardships. Many 
of the things that we regard today as neces- 
sities were considered by the pioneers as 
luxuries. 

As there were no railroads here then the 
settlere depended upon horses and oxen to make 
trips from place to place and carry on needed 
transportation. 

The neai'est trading point and postoflice was 
Fort Des Moines. Trips to Oskaloosa for flour 
and meal were often made, these journeys 
often occupying several days going and com- 
ing and tedious delays in "waiting their turns" 
at the mill. 

The cabins of the fii-st settlers were of logs 
daubed with mud and covered with clapboards. 
Puncheon floors were laid and a chimney of 
split sticks plastered with clay erected. 

The furniture was necessaiily of the most 
primitive kinds. Beds of poles and bark were 
made, chairs and tables of the rudest kind 
constructed and the home was complete. 

Over the door hung the rifle and the powder 
horn. The stove was the fire place. The food 
consisted principally of corn cooked in a vari- 
ety of ways, hog meat, wild game and garden 
products. 

Oiled paper was often used instead of glass 
and most of the articles were made by the 
settlers themselves. 

The tough prairie sod had to be broken be- 
fore a crop could be put in. Often several 
yoke of oxen were hitched on to the large 
plows called "prairie breakers." These plows 
were large and cumbeisome and sometimes re- 
quired a cross ^piece nailed to the beam with 
a wheel attached to the end to maintain an 
upright position. 

"House raisin's," as they were called, were 
very popular and participated in by all the 
near neighbors. Before the day set for the 
"raisin'" logs were cut and notched. 



At first the cabins were built from round 
logs, but later it was customary to hew the 
sides and pay more attention to elegance of 
structure. 

The crowds at the "raisin's" made a merry 
day of it and amid much good natured chaff- 
ing and hearty eating the needed work was 
accomplished. Weddings were occasions of 
much hilarity. Dances and feasting followed 
the wedding ceremonies. 

The first marriage ceremony performed in 
Dallas county was that which united George 
llaworth and Mai-y Stump in 1847. 

The first death recorded among the early 
white settlei-s was that of William Coffin, who 
died in 1847 and was buried in the Clayton 
graveyard in Boone township. 

Quiltings, wood choppings, shooting matches 
and racing were popular gatherings. Suprem- 
acy was more a question of physical than of 
intellectual strength. Occasionally someone 
whose opinion of himself had been strength- 
ened by frequent indulgence in "cornjuice" 
or hard cidor would declare himself champion 
of the neighborhood. The ceremony of vin- 
dicating this statement resulted in blackened 
eyes and bloody noses. 

Hunting and fishing were indulged in both 
for profit and pleasure. The buffalo had de- 
parted before white men came, but deer, elk, 
bear, panther, wild cat, otter, beaver, raccoon, 
wolf, fox, wild turkeys, ducks and geese were 
found, many of them in large droves. 

The rivers were full of fish, prairie chickens 
were numerous and many of the trees rich in 
honey. 

John Wright was especially devoted to the 
pleasures of the chase — also somewhat partial 
. to the "little brown jug," he used to say. 
However strong his liking for ardent spirits 
may have been, it did not seem to impair his 
skill as a hunter or cause him to give up his 
trips with gun and rod. 

It was thought at first that the elk could be 
made as serviceable as their near- relatives, the 
reindeer, but repeated attempts to make them 
useful as beasts of burden proved futile. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



81 



The early settlers of Dallas county -were, as 
a rule, men of energy and rugged character. 
Poor in purse, they were open handed and 
hospitable. The stranger who came to their 
door was sure of a wai'ni welcome and an in- 
vitation to partake of the best they had to offer. 
The use of intoxicating liquors fifty years ago 
did not receive the disapproval of societj^ so 
strongly as now. It was considered the polite 
thing in order to give reality to hospitality 
extended to pass the bottle frequently. Even 
ministers were no exceptions, their arduous 
labors apparently justifying them in partak- 
ing liberally of stimulants. Friendships newly 
made as well as those long existing were sup- 
posed to be made more permanent by cement- 
ing them with fiery drinks. 

The following as related by Judge Burns, 
one of the most prominent of the early pioneers, 
illustrates the convivial tendencies of the times : 

"We and Zebin Babcock, better known as 
Squire Bab, were returning from a business 
trip to the Fort in the winter of 1847-48. We 
met Corbell on the ridges east of the site of 
Waukee, going to the Fort on horseback. We 
had never seen Corbell before. Babcock had 
seen him only once, but had no acquaintance 
with him at all. They stopped mutually and 
eyed each other for a moment. Squire Bab- 
cock addressed Corbell thus: 'It seems to me, 
sir, that I have seen you before.' 'No doubt of 
it, sir,' replied Corbell. 'I'm Squire Corbell, of 
Dallas county, have just been appointed post- 
master in Penoach by the Commissioners of 
the General Land Office, sir, and I am going 
down to the Fort for the mail matter. What 
might your name be?' 'My name, sir, is Squire 
Bab. I have just come to your county to seek 
a little rest. I have held many official places 
of honor and trust in my day. I was appointed 
by the legislature of the state of Indiana one 
of the relocating commissioners to relocate the 
scat of justice of Fountain county. Indiana, 
and, sir — ' By this time Squire Bab was out 
of the wngon and Corbell was off his horse. 
Tliey rushed toward each other, clasped hands 
and tangled congratulations followed. Squire 



Bab had brought with him from the Fort a 
jug of pretty large capacity, well filled with 
sweetened homiletic elaborator, and in order 
to cement the friendship just formed with Cor- 
bell, it was gracefully given to the latter ac- 
companied by this laconic sally: 'Squire, let us 
drink to a better acquaintance in Dallas 
county.' Corbell taking the jug replied, 'I will 
never refuse a friend, sir, in such trying times 
as these.' Bab then politely turned his back, 
and Squire Corbell proceeded to flood his epi- 
glottis. Squire Bab now took the jug, saying, 
'Here's to my friend, Squire Corbell, great 
Jupiter pritthee.' He then threw his head back, 
poised the jug on his lips, a long gurgling cur- 
rent coursed its way toward his plastic epigas- 
trium, and the jug was grounded. Squire Bab 
then continued the colloquy: 'Now, Squire 
Corbell, I beg of you not to mention my name 
in connection with any office whatever. I have 
come to Dalla.> county with no such purpose. 
I want the good people of Dallas county to let 
me enjoy the sweets of private life on the 
mellifluous waters of the classic "Coon," the 
one great object I had in coming here. Yes, 
sir, yes, let me hunt the bear, the elk, the deer, 
and trap the pretty fur coated tribes of the 
woods and waters, and office may go begging 
for me.' Squire Corbell could hardly see how 
it was possible to comply, and would not 
promise Squire Bab. They drank again, then 
mounted and departed with a wave of the 
hands." 

."Deaf Jim" Wright, who has been men- 
tioned as a star mimic and funmaker, is thus 
described by Mr. Greene in the Dallas County 
News : "Deaf Jim's powers of mimicry and imi- 
tation were a constant surprise and would have 
made the fortune of a stage actor. Scarce a 
man of his acquaintance but he could so ac- 
curately impersonate that the subject would be 
readily recognized. Steve Scovell, with his head 
thrown back, his lips pursed up, protruded 
and puffing the vacant air — one hand com- 
placently stroking his beard, the other his capa- 
cious stomach. Judge Burns — so quietly roll- 
ing and caressing his hands while 'smiling a 



82 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



smile so childlike and bland/ And the gal- 
lant young swell — mincing and prancing by 
the side of his girl and indignantly throwing 
away the soiled and offensive pocket handker- 
chief (after wiping his mouth with it) that 
some envious scamp had stealthily stuck into 
his pocket, and many more — all were "painted 
lively as the deed was done.' " 

Dutch Henry was an eccentric settler who 
came to Sugar Grove township in 1847, and 
soon after settled on a claim west of the river 
near Perry. He is described as a lugubrious 
individual of awkward physical contour, with 
a peculiar scar above his eye and with a brogue 
worthy of his distinguished ancestor who, he 
claimed, was prominent in the Revolutionary 
War. Upon one occasion, at a cabin raising, 
a stranger came by who thought he recognized 
"Dutch," and said to him: "Is not your name 
Henry Johns?" Henry looked as if ho were 
about to collapse, but finally stammered out: 
■'Nix, my name ish not dot but ish Dutch 
Henry all der time, yaw." Henry was soon 
taken violently ill and made an excuse to 
leave. He hurriedly left the countrj' to return 
no more, leaving his land, live stock, etc., which 
were never afterward called for. 

It was believed that his real name was Henry 
Johns, a criminal who had committed burglary 
in Pennsylvania and had fled to the West. He 
was seen many years afterward in Kansas, so 
it is pr^umed he was never called to account 
for his crime in any earthly court. 

Judge Burns used to tell many incidents in 
which his neighbor, Squire "Bab," took a 
prominent part. 

In the early years of Sugar Grove town- 
ship Adam Vineage lived on a farm now known 
at the Kimry farm. His wife having died and 
left him disconsolate, he began to pay court 
to a handsome young miss, and made an earnest 
effort to win her. Adam possessed many manly 
attractions that ought to have made him invin- 
cible in an affair of this kind, but the maid 
seemed cold and unmoved. 

Being considerable of a strategist, he took 
another course and determined to dazzle her 



with a rejiort of his extraoi'dinary wealth. 
He gave out the news that he must make a 
trip of indefinite length to Oskaloosa. He 
called on Squire Bab and pledging him to 
secrecy, informed him that he might never 
return from his proposed trip and that he had 
a large box of gold which he would intrust to 
no one but Squire Bab, stating further: "If 
I never return, it is yours." The squire was 
considerably touched at this proof of the con- 
fidence in which he was held by his neighbor, 
and promised secrecy. The box came, its weight 
indicating an immense fortune, and was se- 
cretly buried in the squire's cellar. 

The squire, in a burst of confidence, made 
Judge Burns a confidant of the matter, enjoin- 
ing, of course, the utmost secrecy. Some time 
later he told the same person that out of curi- 
osity he had opened the box and had found it 
full of old broken iron, bits of steel and worth- 
less rubbish. 

The report of the box of gold got out and 
Vineage returned expecting to find the girl's 
heart softened. She could not be bought with 
gold, however, and the disconsolate lover called 
in his famous box and left the country. Squire 
Bab did not reproach ^'ineage with deceit, 
though his confidence in humanity was greatly 
shaken. 

The following from the Dallas Center Local 
illustrates the propensity of the early settlers 
for practical jokes: 

"Away back in 1848 B. P. Allen and his 
jiartner, Lyons of Des Moines, offered to start 
a clerk they had in business. The clerk was 
familiarly known as Billy Moore. Billy came 
to Penoach, but was not suited here. He con- 
cluded to go over into Warren county to put 
up a store and did so, taking with him the 
well known carpenter, Tom Stevens. Now 
every one who knows Tom Stevens is aware that 
in his earlier days he must have liked a joke, 
and moi-e than one of these he had probably 
played on Billy Moore. Stevens worked on the 
new store building, in which there was not a 
single planed board except the top of the coun- 
ter, which Wcis of black walnut. When it was 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



83 



ready for occupancy Billy brought down from 
Des Moine.s some brandy — the rc-^t furnishing 
the eggs, sugar, etc. 

"They had a revival meeting to celebrate the 
grand opening of the emporium of styles. Billy 
Moore in some accidental manner emptied a 
part of the contents of the Huid with which they 
had rubbed down the counter top, which fluid 
happened to be linseed oil, into Tom Stevens' 
drinking vessel. The carpenter drank the con- 
tent? without tasting until they were stowed 
away in his interior. Then he told Billy that 
he thought there was a strange taste about the 
stuff, but was persuaded that it was owing to 
the new method of compounding the eggnog. 
The result may be guessed at, but the Local 
ventures to say that eggnog has never since been 
a steady article of diet at the residence of Thos. 
Stevens, Esq. of Dallas county." 

FROZE TO DEATH IN 1856. 

One of the most interesting characters of 
the early pioneers, whose day is past but who 
still linger to give us glimpses of early days, 
is John Kaylor, now living at Bloomington, 
Illinois. 

He recalls vividly some of his early experi- 
ences as stage driver through Dallas county 
during the years from 1854 to 1857. The old 
stage road led from Des Moines through Adel 
and on west to Council Bluffs. He was well 
acquainted wath everyone along this route and 
remembei-s well Cole Noel, Van Meters, Stumps, 
Harpers. Col. Redfield, Jim Jordan and others. 
He os])ecially remembers an early meeting with 
Col. Pvedfield. It seems that Mr. Redfield 
wanted him to drive through Wiscotta, a place 
some distance out of the regular route, and 
gave him ten dollars as extra compensation. He 
did so. but when directed to put off the Wiscotta 
mail there, refused to do su. Redfield then de- 
manded a return of the ten dollars. This Kay- 
lor refused to do and drove on. He was reported 
at headquarters and an effort made to have him 
discharged. The result of it was that Kaylor 
got ordere not to drive through Wiscotta again, 



which order he says he strictly obeyed, unless 
he got ten dollars for violating it. 

Kaylor was on the road all through that 
memorably cold winter of '56 and '57. When 
asked if he remembered the stage driver who 
was frozen to death on the route that winter, 
he said he remembered it well, in fact he was 
the man himself. He laid out along the line 
from five in the afternoon until the middle of 
the next morning and the report was circulated 
all over the state that the stage driver was frozen 
to death. He said he did not freeze in any 
place except upon his cheek. 

He met a girl along the route with whom 
he got well acquainted and finally concluded 
to get married. Clerk Cole Noel issued him the 
license. He said in those days they didn't issue 
high falutin certificates or licenses, so he had 
no document to show for it until years after- 
ward liis children wrote out to Adel and in- 
vested fifty cents to secure a copy of the author- 
ity granted at that time. A Presbyterian min- 
ister by the name of Johnson performed the 
ceremony at Adel. 

Kaylor made Mr. Frush, the station agent at 
Adel, his banker, and when he concluded to 
leave this coimtry, thinking it was too cold 
and inhospitable to ever be fully settled, he 
had two hundred and fifty dollars in money, 
which would have bought a goodly portion of 
Dallas county soil in those days. 

Mr. Frush told him he was a fool, an opin- 
ion that was shared in by Mrs. Kaylor. When 
he was back here in 1904 at the time this inter- 
view was obtained he was convinced that the 
views of Mr. Frush and his wafe were correct. 

Since this man's time, Wiscotta and the 
name of Irishtown have faded away. Perry and 
Alton, its predecessor, Xenia and Swede Point, 
were known to Kaylor. He said there was a 
two horse line running up to Fort Dodge, but he 
had never gone out on any of those little side 
lines. 

Among those whom he distinctly remem- 
bered was the .Joy family, that lived up above 
.Vdel. They had a daughter who liked to ride 
with him down to town and he liked to carry 



84 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



her without charge. The stage made but three 

trips a Week and Miss had to do shopping 

in Adel only three times a week. 

Few such characters are left as John Kaylor. 
As he rode over the prairies of Iowa he little 
thought what they were destined to be worth. 
"W^hen he returned fifty years later it seemed 
to him, that the country had been touched by 
the hand of magic. He was on his way to 
Yankton to register for a claim in one of the 
land lotteries. It was but the irony of fate 
that he should be crossing such a magnificent 
state to get a chBnce to draw land at four dol- 
lars an acre for which he would not have given 
four dollars for the whole country when he 
first saw it. 

YEARS OF 1848-9 AND 1856-7 EXTREMELY 

COLD. 

These years are historic on account of the 
heavy snowfalls and unusually low tempera- 
tures. 

Nathan Moore of Van Meter township 
states that in 1848 the snow came in the fall 
and covered the ground to the depth of three 
feet on the level and remained until nearly 
spring. A brother of Mr. Moore living in 
Greene countj'^ determined to make him a visit. 
He aimed to reach George Garoutte's place by 
night, but his rate of progress was so slow 
that night found him far away from any habi- 
tation with nothing in sight but great wastes 
of snow, dotted here and there with clumps of 
trees. Struggling along in snow that came 
nearly breast high, he managed to reach a 
hollow log, into which he crawled and spent 
the night, resuming his journey the next day. 

Necessary trips for fuel, flour and other in- 
dispensable supplies were made at the risk of 
being lost or frozen. 

For months the settlers were practically pris- 
oners at home. Fortunate were those who had 
stored up an abundance for the year, and many 
were the calls made upon them for provisions 
by those who were not so well provided. 

The settlers did not have much stock about 



them at this time; a yoke or two of oxen, a 
cow and one or more horses, a -few pigs and 
chickens were all the average settler could 
boast of. The cold weather and the long con- 
tinued hardships were general throughout the 
state. Many who had just come the fall before, 
discouraged with the outlook, left the country 
and returned East. 

The winter of 1856-57 was the most se- 
vere one ever experienced in the history of 
the state. Snow fell almost continuously for 
weeks. This was covered with occasional sleets 
that freezing rendered one solid mass that would 
bear the weight of horses and cattle. Though 
better prepared for cold weather than in former 
years, there was still a great amount of suf- 
fering. Cattle perished by the hundreds. Those 
that, took shelter in the timber browsed on the 
branches of trees which they could pull down 
or which had been cut for them. 

This was the winter of the Spirit lake Indian 
massacre, and will never be forgotten during 
the lives of those who took part in the relief 
expedition. With the thermometer down be- 
tween thirty-five and forty degrees below zero, 
snow everywhere covering the ground and the 
wind at times blowing a regular fury, it is not 
to be wondered at that this year is permanently 
fixed in the minds of those who passed through 
it. 

These were certainly days that "tried men's 
souls" and many of the stories of privations 
and hardships endured, of journeys made in 
face of terrific blizzards, seem almost incredible. 

FLOODS OF 1849 AND 1851. 

The melting of the excessive amounts of 
snow that had accumulated during the preced- 
ing winter caused all the lowlands to become 
flooded. 

Many people had settled along the streams 
and as the river bottoms were easily worked 
and extremely fertile, much of this land was 
in cultivation. 

This experience was repeated in 1851. The 
floods began in Mav and heavv rains fell almost 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



85 



continuously until July. The entire state was 
flooded. When the waters receded and the 
decaying vegetable and animal matter became 
exposed to the hot sun, the atmosphere became 
laden with poisons, and chills and fevers af- 
fected all communities. Nathan Moore says 
in this connection that in an extended trip of 
many miles which he made at this time nearly 
every fartiily that he passed had some of the 
members afflicted with this prevailing disorder. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The organic act by which Dallas county 
was formed was approved by the Iowa state leg- 
islature February 16th, 1847. The officers 
necessary to be elected under this act were 
three county commissioners, one county com- 
missioner's clerk, one clerk of district court, 
one treasurer and recorder, a sheriff, surveyor, 
judge of probate, prosecuting attorney, coroner, 
sealer of weights and measures and a school 
fund commissioner, with the required number 
of justices of the peace and constables. Eli 
Smithson wa.s appointed organizing sheriff, to 
hold office until his successor was chosen, on 
Monday, the 5th day of April, 1847. 

In March of that year a proclamation for 
the first election to be held in the county was 
made by Organizing Sheriff Smithson. The 
two polling places selected were at the house 
of W. W. Miller, located about two miles 
east of Adel and at the house of Henry Stump 
in Van Meter township, on the site of which 
now stands the house occupied by the family 
of Eli Golden. At the Miller voting place, 
April 5th, there were eight voters present. 
Samuel Miller, Wm. Miller and Win. Galway 
were judges of election; Isaac Trilby and John 
Miller, clerks. The votes were cast as follows : 

District clerk, Samuel Miller, two votes; 
George Hills, six. Commissioners, William 
Miller, seven votes; Tristram Davis, six; John 
Wright, three; Greenbury Coffin, five. Sher- 
iff, Eli Smithson, five votes; Jesse Miller, three. 
Assessor, Isaac Miller, two votes. Commis- 
sioner's clerk, John Miller, four votes. Sur- 



veyor, Martin W. Miller, four votes. Justice of 
the peace, J. C. Corbell, four votes; William 
Ellis, three. 

At Henry Stump's, April 5th, there were 
seventeen voters present. Henry Stump, George 
S. Hills and Archibald Growl were judges of 
election; William P. McCubbin and L. A. 
Davis, clerks. The votes cast here were ,as fol- 
lows : 

District clerk, Samuel Miller, ten votes; 
George S. Hills, seven. Commissioners, Tris- 
tram Davis, seventeen votes; Henry Stump, 
nine; Greenbury Coffin, seven; William Miller, 
twelve. Sheriff, Jesse Miller, ten votes; Eli 
Smithson, seven. Recorder and collector, L. A. 
Davis, thirteen votes; Samuel Miller, one. As- 
sessor, Isaac Miller, twelve votes. Commission- 
er's clerk, Samuel Miller, nine votes ; John Mil- 
ler, five votes. Constable, George Haworth, 
sixteen votes. Justice of the peace, William 
Ellis, fifteen votes; J. C. Corbell, nine. Sur- 
veyor, Samuel Miller, one vote. 

The following were therefore declared 
elected : 

District clerk, George S. Hills. Commission- 
ers, William Miller, Tristram Davis and Green- 
bury Coffin. Assessor (office to be provided 
for), Isaac Miller. Commissioner's clerk (de- 
cided by lot), Samuel Miller. Sheriff, Jesse 
K. Miller. Recorder and collector, L. A. Davis. 
Surveyor, Martin W. Miller. Justice of the 
peace, William Ellis. Constable, George Ha- 
worth. 

The office of assessor not having l)een author- 
ized, the duties that ordinarily pertain to that 
office were performed by the sheriff. The office 
of school fund commissioner was not filled at 
the first election. 

Reports of those who participated in this 
first election indicate that some of the offices 
were contested for with the same vigor that 
characterizes the races for political preferment 
today. Probably the most strenuous strife of 
this election was that for sheriff between Jesse 
Miller and Eli Smithson. The old records say 
that this was a spirited contest — spirited in a 
double sense, as .shown in the earnest desire 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



of each candidate to win out and also in the 
free use of ardent spirits to bring about the de- 
sired object. 

If these hardy pioneers who laid the foun- 
dations for local government could revisit the 
county today and see what had been accom- 
plished in sixty years they would certainly be 
amazed. The contrast between the first log 
courthouse and the present magnificent struc- 
ture is typical of the progress that has been 
made in all lines. 

PEKSONNEL OF FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS. 

The first county officers were elected in April, 
1847, to hold until their successors were elected 
in August of the same year. 
- George S. Hills, the first district clerk, came 
to Dallas county when it had but a half a 
dozen settlers, and made his home in what is 
now Adams township. 

He died in Stuart in February, 1907, having 
reached the advanced age of eighty-three years. 
The story of his life would cover almost the 
entire history of Dallas county. 

He continued to reside on his farm in this 
county for more than fifty years. 

He married Miss Minerva Davis in 1846, 
and the young couple soon took possession of 
their claim in Dallas county and began to 
build the home that they were to enjoy so 
many years. Household furniture, clothing, 
tools, etc., were all made by hand. 

Here their eight children were born and 
educated and sent away to such distant col- 
leges as Simpson and Ann Arbor. Their 
daughter, Sarah, the first white girl born in 
the county, is now a practicing physician in 
Stuart. 

George S. Hills was a clear, vigorous thinker 
and a man of sterling character that favorably 
impressed all with whom he came in contact. 

The Millers, as has been said, were, with the 
exception of the Stumps, the first white settlers 
of the county. One of their descendants, 
George Miller, is still living on his farm, a 
short distance south of Adel. 



The Millers were progressive and public 
spirited citizens and were prominently con- 
nected with the early history of the county. 
It was AV. W. Miller who provided at his own 
expense a free school for the public, and who 
mortgaged his farm to advance the money nec- 
essai-y to secure the county seat site. 

Eli Smithson was a son-in-law of W. W. 
Miller and came to this county about the same 
time as the Miller families. Newton L. Smith- 
son, son of Eli Smithson, was the first white 
child born in the county. 

Eli Smithson was the first organizing sheriff 
and was regularly elected at the second elec- 
tion , i-eceiving the highest vote cast. His son, 
Eugene, who has lived practically all his life 
near Adel, relates that the first election for 
sheriff was a spirited one — spirited in a double 
sense, as the successful candidate, Jesse Miller, 
not only made an ardent campaign to get 
votes to espouse his cause, but also strengthened 
his chances by liberal donations of ardent spir- 
its. Eli Smithson died in August, 1851, a 
short time after his second marriage. His son 
Newton was the first white child born in Dalla.'^ 
county. 

George Haworth had the honor to participate 
as one of the contracting parties in the first 
marriage ceremony and to be elected first con- 
stable of the county. He lived to see many 
important changes take place and to enjoy 
the many advantages that came with the de- 
velopment of the county. He died at his home 
north of Adel in November, 1883. 

Tristram Davis settled within the present 
limits of Adams township in 1846, where he 
lived for many years, enjoying the respect and 
confidence of all who knew him. All of the 
first elected officers of the county are now 
dead, but many of their descendants are still 
living, some of them having been honored by 
positions of trust and confidence in later days. 
Greenbury Coffin, one of the first members 
of the board of supervisors, settled in the south- 
west part of the county in 1846 and after- 
wards moved to Mahaska county. He was a 
brother-in-law of the famous hunter, John 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



87 



A\'right, aud relates that on one occasion while 
on a hunting trip with Mr. AVright on Panther 
creek they suddenly came face to face with a 
large panther. 

Mr. Cofhn felt that the task of ministering 
to the demands of a querulous constituency 
would be more congenial to him just then than 
hunting wild animals. John Wright, however, 
w^as not dismayed and, with a coolness for which 
he was noted, killed the panther wnth a well 
directed shot from his infallible rifle. 

This hunting trip resulted in giving the 
name "Panther creek" to this stream, which 
name it still bears. 

Wm. Ellis settled in Van Meter township in 
the spring of 1846. The following reference 
to the Ellis family is taken from the Dallas 
County News : 

"The EUises had been on their claim but 
a f e\\- months when it became necessary to go 
to mill, for, though hominy is a pretty good 
substitute for bread, the corn they brought 
wdth them was about out, and not only had 
they to go a hundred miles to mill, but they 
had first to work to buy the grain when there. 

"It was common to be gone three or four 
weeks on such a trip. At the outset, in this 
ca*e. North Raccoon, then 'out of its banks,' 
had to be crossed. They had as yet no ferry 
boat, not even a canoe, and wagons, yokes, 
chains and camp furnitui'e had to be taken 
over on a log raft. 

"The central current, too deep for setting 
poles, swept them a long vcny down stream. 
The wagon had thus been crossed and debarked 
in shallow water, the four oxen driven across, 
yoked and chained together, the 'traps' were 
being loaded upon the wagon, when the oxen, 
with bovine stubbornness and stupidity, took 
it into their heads to return. When they struck 
the main current it swept them irresistibly 
down stream. They soon became entangled in 
their chains and the floodwood. 

"Thus they struggled and strangled for sev- 
eral hours, till all but one gave up and seemed 
to have a through ticket for the Mississippi. 
'Old Ben' (they can scarcely refrain from 



both laughing and crying when they relate it) 
would paddle for the west bank whenever he 
came round in sight of it. Thej^ finally got 
fast in some drift and made no efifort to get 
loose. Isaac Ellis (next younger than Wil- 
liam) stripped and swam a long distance to 
them, and with a pocket knife he carried with 
him, cut the bow keys, unyoked the oxen and 
got them all safe to land. 

"Late at night, naked, hungry, tired and 
scratched, he called at the cabin for the boys 
to bring him out some clothes. 

"Isaac Ellis went west of the Missouri, hunted 
with the Indians, and supplied for some time 
se-veral stations of the Overland Stage Company 
with deer, buffalo and other mid meat. When 
last heard from he was with the Indians in 
British America. 

"Of William Ellis — sound, joyous, whole- 
souled Will — little need be said. Who that 
lived here within twenty-five years of the first 
settlement did not know him? Who has not 
shouted at his uproarious merriment? Who 
was not gladdened by his constant cheerful- 
ness? And let cynics say, 'Every man has his 
price ;' those who best knew the subject of these 
comments will point to him and answer, 'There 
is an honest man.' " 

Joseph Corbell, who was appointed justice of 
the peace until the organization of the countj'^ 
was effected, was an important man in the com- 
nnuiity and performed many acts of public 
service Avith honesty and fidelity. He was first 
postmaster at Penoach — now Adel — having 
built the first house in the town. He was elected 
treasurer and recorder at the second election, 
receiving, next to Eli Smithson, the highest 
vote cast. His roystering good nature and social 
]iroclivities have already been related by the 
early historian of the county, Judge Burns. 

The judge relates one of the incidents con- 
nected with one of his trips to the postoffice 
kept at that time by Squire Corbell. The 
building in which Uncle Sam's business was 
carried on was of the rough and ready style 
of architecture with no excuse for lack of ven- 
tilation. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



"S. K. Scovell was deputy postmaster under 
Squire Corbell, chief. In June of 1848 we 
called at the postoffice at Penoach for a maga- 
zine we were taking at the time. We found the 
deputy postmaster sprawling on the dirt floor 
of the office, with hi.? leonine head pillowed on 
a rick of session laws, fast asleep. 

"In time the deputy got up, yawning and 
scratching his head, and began to look through 
his pillow, in which the uncalled for mail mat- 
ter was interlaid, for the magazine asked for. 
It could not be found and the deputy remarked 
that, 'It must be here somewhere for I have 
certainly read it. Maybe possible it has blown 
out through these tarnal cracks, for it's power- 
ful windy here sometimes. I'll look and see.' 
He went outdoors, and, on looking around in 
the tall grass, found it some thirty feet away, 
where sure enough it had been blown." 

Stephen Scovell was a man of more than 
ordinary ability and made quite a record as a 
school teacher and public officer. At the sec- 
ond election he was made clerk of the district 
court as well as clerk of the board of super- 
visors. The first efforts of Scovell to make a 
record of the proceedings of the first district 
court of the county formed the basis of a joke 
which the old settlei-s never tired of repeating. 

It seems that there was a '"girl in this case" 
living in the vicinity of the Des Moines river, 
a number of miles from the county seat, whose 
personal attraction and superior worth — in the 
estimation of the district clerk — proved to be 
the cause of this peculiar mishap. Indeed, 
Scovell had become so intensely interested in 
that direction as to fondly entertain the firm 
conviction that the pleasure derived from a 
few hours passed in her company under her be- 
witching smiles was well worth the tramp of 
twenty miles on foot through sloughs and 
marshes, over the pathless prairies and wood- 
lands. Soon after the adjournment of the dis- 
trict court, impelled by his heart longings, he 
set out on such a trip to fulfill a previous en- 
gagement with his fair one. There being no 
book or desk yet procured in* which to record 
or keep the minutes of the court, and as the 



entire proceedings only filled a few pages of 
common foolscap paper, the clerk found it 
most convenient to drop this document in his 
pocket, among other papers, for safe keeping, 
and at once dismissed the matter from his 
mind, to meditate on much more endearing 
themes, and so started off for that cherished 
spot on the banks of the Des Moines, where the 
sunlight of love beamed most fondly for him. 

He is described as a person who was gal- 
lant and prompt in all his engagements with 
the fair sex; no special friend of hard work; 
but a fine sleeper, an excellent judge of good 
victuals and the butt of many practical jokes 
among his various associates. In his manner 
and general appearance he was impulsive, yet 
inoffensive ; tall, slender, high-headed, with lips 
pursed up and protruding as if puffing vacant 
air: always wearing a '"plug" hat perched on 
the back of his head, with one hand stroking 
his beard and the other the front part of his 
waistcoat. He was rather excitable, a trifle 
giddy and not a little absent minded on cer- 
tain occasions. 

Imagine then, such a man trudging along 
over these wild prairies on such an enrapturing 
mission as his, with the ideal of his heart en- 
grossing his mind. What room could be left 
for a thought of district court records under 
such circumstances'? The subject paramount 
with Scovell now was the preparation of an 
acceptable docket for another court of a very 
different character. 

He traveled along successfully with the 
records of the first district court in his pocket, 
happy in his meditations, and finally became so 
absorbed in thought over the probable recep- 
tion that awaited him by his sweetheart as to 
grow utterly oblivious to all his immediate sur- 
roundings. 

Thus neglecting to watch his route, and mis- 
sing his foothold, he suddenly found himself 
sprawling in a deep water drain, with his cher- 
ished aircastles scattered to the four winds. 
With some difficulty he gathered himself up 
and regained the dry land, thoroughly 
drenched, not a little chagrined, and minus an 




CK.MKNT 



.!•: ACROSS BUTLKK CUKKK M.AK ADEL 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



91 



important portion of the caudal appendage of 
his best courting coat. Under such circum- 
stances, a great many people would find quite 
a natural desire to express their disapprobation 
of the situation by the use of rather strong 
language ; and it is said that the unfortunate 
Scovell did actually give vent to a "dod drat it" 
or two (perhaps still stronger) and then went 
on his way a little more cautiously as to his 
footsteps with one coattail drying in the wind, 
while the other part still soaked in the ditch. 
He reached his destination by nightfall, per- 
haps a little dampened in ardor as well as in 
clothing, but furnished with an additional topic 
of interest for the evening's conversation; 
transacted all the important business on the 
docket of that session of circuit court, and the 
next day returned home to Penoach to medi- 
tate over the general results of his wonderful 
adventure. 

In a day or two, when he came to himself 
again, and began to take an invoice of his gen- 
eral effects as stored in his pockets, to his dis- 
may he discovered that the important docu- 
ment that was to perpetuate in memory the 
proceedings of the first district court held in 
Dallas county was gone and the most diligent 
search of the clerk failed to secure the lost 
records. 

He retraced his steps over his former adven- 
turous journey (and doubtless improved this 
favorable opportunity of having another cir- 
cuit court session with his loved one), scanned 
the treacherous brook and winding way with 
the utmost care, but all to no avail. 

The records were gone, and could only be 
restored by substituting a copy from memory, 
which the clerk did at once, giving all the par- 
ticulars, but could not restore the signature of 
the court, and they now appear spread on the 
minute-book without signatures of judge or 
clerk. 

The writing, though sixty years old, is still 
perfectly legible and bids fair to last through 
several more generations. 



EARLY RECORDS. 

The old court records show that the first dis- 
trict court, which was held at the house of Wil- 
liam Miller, had no case on the docket. 

Judge James Charlton of Iowa City presided 
at this first session, with S. K. Scovell clerk and 
Eli Smithson sheriff. The first grand jury 
drawn consisted of John Longmire, Levi 
Wright, Uriah Stotts, Archibald Growl, Henry 
Stump, Shubal Haworth, James Black, David 
Spear, 0. D. Smalley, John Spear, John 
Wright, Green bury Coffin, Henry Garner, 
John Miller, George Haworth and Eli Miller. 
David Spear was foreman, Martin Miller, bailiff 
and William McKay, prosecuting attorney pro 
tern. 

The first jury room was large enough to meet 
the needs of a more populous country, being 
out in the open air, the only covering being the 
foliage of convenient trees near by. They es- 
tablished the precedent of finding no cases for 
indictment and the old records in the clerk's 
office indicate that no cases of any nature were 
on hand for the first district court. It was 
ordered by the court that the eagle side of a 
twenty-five cent piece of America be used tempo- 
rarily as the seal of the county until a proper 
seal could be provided for. 

THE FIRST DISTRICT JUDGE. 

Dallas county was formerly in the fourth 
judicial district and the first judge to preside 
in this county was Hon. Jhmes P. Charlton of 
Iowa City. 

He appears to have been a well informed 
man, an accomplished musician and popular 
among his associates. 

Judge Burns, who was well and intimately 
acquainted with him, says: "Judge James P. 
Charlton had a good, big heart, overflowing 
with wit, humor, benevolence and magnanim- 
ity. He was withal a very fine performer on 
the violin, as was also Jefferson and the great 
astronomer, Herschel. He used to while away 



92 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



many happy, fleeting moments in the bosom of 
friends, with his favorite instrument in hand, 
while on his rounds of official duty. He and 
old Jerry Church often met at the house of 
their mutual friend. Doctor Brooks of Polk 
county, to play together. They were a trio of 
amateur performers on the grand old instru- 
ment, that would cause the hearts of miserable 
misanthropes to beat with a momentary phi- 
lanthropy." 

FIRST CASE IN COURT. 

The old court docket in the clerk's office 
has case No. 1 of the Dallas county courts 
described as follows: 






State of Iowa, ] 
Dallas count 
William D. Boone 
vs. John Wright. 

No. 1. Appeal from the decision of Samuel 
Miller, justice of the peace of Penoach town- 
ship, judgment on note. 

The parties now come and thereupon the 
said defendant files a motion for dismissal of 
case. Thereupon by agreement of said parties 
a change of venue to the county of Polk in 
this judicial district is hereby granted. 

William McKay, judge. 
S. K. Scovell, clerk. 

The outcome of this ca^e is not recorded here, 
but it is presumed that the Polk county court 
was enabled to dispose of it justly and equi- 
tably. 

THE FIRST PETIT JVRY. 

The first petit jury drawn, according to the 
most reliable information, was in the case of 
Jas. Huston vs. Wm. C. Huston. 

This was in September, 1852, the jury con- 
sisting of the following persons : Samuel Miller, 
W. W. Miller, Chelsea Shelton, Stephen 
Blount, .James Laverton, M. C. Thomas. Enos 
Williams, Isaac Ellis, John Mount, Elijah 
Miller. 0. D. Smallev and L. D. Burns. 



This first jury was composed of representa- 
tive men of the county peculiarly well fitted 
for their duties. 

Although not familiar with the theories of 
Blackstone or with the statutes of the state in 
the abstract, yet they had clear cut ideas of 
practical conditions and were able to deal justly 
with their fellowmen. 

All of these men rendered much assistance 
in the early affairs of the county and for 
many year.-< were actively identified in its de- 
velopment. 

JUDGE L. D. BURNS. 

. Lloyd D. Burns was a man whose abihties 
and strength of character would have made 
him prominent in any age or community. Born 
in Clark county, Ohio, in 1825, he went with 
his parents to Indiana when he was about 
fourteen years of age, and remained there until 
1840. In the fall of that year he went to Ver- 
milion county, Illinois, where he was engaged 
for some time in the milling business. He 
came to Dallas county, Iowa, in 1848. 

He is especially worthy of prominent men- 
tion in a Dallas county history on account of 
his participation in its development and his 
many contributions to its history. He had a 
very retentive memory and could recall inci- 
dents of early times in a way that would make 
the most commonplace events seem intensely 
interesting. 

He held many positions of honor and trust 
in this county in a manner that reflected credit 
upon himself and his constituents. 

His wife, formerly Minerva J. Adams, still 
lives on the farm originally entered by her 
husband, enjoying the peace and contentment 
of a serene old age. 

THE FIRST PROBATE. 

It appears from the old records that there 
was nothing to probate during the first five 
years of the county's historj'. A careful re- 
view of the records at hand now fails to bring 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



93 



to light any evidence of anything being done 
in this line. The oftice of probate jndge, seem- 
ing to be a supernumerary one, was abolished 
in 1851, and the business of this office turned 
over to the county judge. L. D. Burns was the 
first county judge, being elected to this office 
in August, 1851. The first matter of record of 
a probate nature was the appointment of W. 
W. Miller guardian of the minor children of 
Eli Smithson, deceased. Solomon Runj'an was 
appointed administrator of the estate and Rice 
Turner executor. 

The first will admitted to probate waa that 
of Masson Bildei-back. It was made October 
14th, 1851, and filed for record in November of 
that year. 

THE FIRST FERRY. 

Dallas county is crossed by numerous large 
and small streams. Before any bridges were 
built the settlers had to cross the rivers with- 
out the advantage of these necessary accessories. 
The streams were generally forded safely dur- 
ing dry seasons, but after heavy rains and melt- 
ing snows this method was rather precarious. 
In order to facilitate travel along the stage 
road especially, a license was granted by the 
board of county commissioners in March, 1850, 
to Horatio Morrison, to keep a ferry across 
North "Coon," where the state road crosses the 
river at the town of Adel. This was granted 
for a term of five years, an annual fee of two 
dollars being required by the county. 

The following January the ferry was turned 
over to Eugene Smithson. The rates estab- 
lished were: For footmen, five cents; man and 
horse, ten cents; one horse carriage, twenty-five 
cents; two horses and wagon, thirty-five cents: 
cattle, per head, five cents; sheep and swine, 
three cents. 

THE FIRST DEED. 

The first recorded deed was in February, 
1850. The property thus conveyed was by 
Judah Leaming and wife to Martin Tucker and 
is described as follows: The southwest quarter 
of section 23, township 81, range 'ij, continu- 



ing 160 acres, for the consideration of $100. 
This land is now owned by J. P. Oglevie and is 
probably worth close to $100 per acre. 

Dallas county land was certainly reasonable 
in price in those days and a person reading this 
might wonder why the first settlers did not buy 
up great tracts of this land and take the advice 
given in the "Hoosier Schoolmaster," to "get 
. plenty while they were gitten ;" but the facts 
were that most of the settlers were persons rich 
in ambition and hope but poor in purse. Even 
one dollar and a quarter an acre represented a 
small fortune in those days. And besides, no 
one could foresee that within a half a century 
prairie land in Dallas county would sell for 
$125 an acre and still advancing. 

ELECTIONS OF 1850. 

The voters at this time had the opportunities 
of taking part in numerous elections. The rec- 
ords show that five elections were held this year, 
some of them being special elections called to 
fill vacancies caused by resignations of officers 
who joined the mad rush to the California 
gold fields. The discovery of gold on the Pa- 
cific slope in 1848 caused intense excitement 
throughout the entire country. 

People rushed there in great crowds. The 
start was made in 1849, though the frenzy con- 
tinued sonic years. Some made fortunes, 
others returned to their homes impoverished 
and broken in health, others left their bones 
bleaching on the desert, alkali plains and in 
the region of the fever-haunted Isthmus of 
Panama. Dallas county lost about thirty citi- 
zens that she could illy spare at this time. 

At the election in 1850 the voting places 
were, as before, at Penoach, Boone and Des 
Moines townships. In Febi-uary, 1850. Horatio 
Morrison was elected sheriff in place of Samuel 
Mars, resigned. 

Morrison is remembered as a good mixer, 
a "hail fellow well met," but too much inclined 
to "look upon the wine when it was red." He 
caught the gold fever and resigned, being .suc- 
ceeded by William Ellis. M the April election 



*J4 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



there was some question about the regularity 
of the Penoach returns and they were rejected 
by the canvassers. 

The matter was taken before Judge McKay, 
who decided that the Penoach vote should be 
counted. This order aroused the ire of the 
pompous and dignified clerk, S. K. Scovell, 
who straightway resigned his offices of district 
and commissioner's clerk. Benjamin Greene, 
who had been elected school commissioner, was 
appointed to fill the places vacated by Scovell. 
The August election was the time for voting 
both on state and county tickets. 

The following county officers were elected 
at that time: Andrew Schouten, district clerk; 
Irvrin Hughes, sheriff; J. C. Corbell, county 
commissioner; S. K. Scovell, county survej^or. 

The election of William Thompson to con- 
gress had been contested by Daniel Miller, the 
result being that Thompson was unseated. A 
new election was called in September, 1850, 
Dallas county gi^dng Daniel Miller thirty-eight 
votes and 'William Thompson thirty-three. Mil- 
ler received a majority in the district and was 
duly installed as congressman. 

About this time Andrew Schouten, clerk, 
Samuel Dilly, treasurer, and S. K. Scovell, sur- 
veyor, resigned their offices and a special elec- 
tion was called November 19th, 1850. 

The ubiquitous Scovell was elected to fill 
the offices of clerk, treasurer and recorder: O. 
D. Smallev. sur\'evor. 



The first mill was a crude affair constnicted 
by Samuel Miller and operated for some time. 
It was called a "stump mill" and nm bj' horse 
power. Doubtless similar ones could have been 
found in other parts of the county soon after. 

The first water-power mill in the county was 
erected by Buel Lathorp in 1848. This was on 
Hickory creek, a short distance north of Adel. 
He purchased Samuel Miller's "stump mill" 
and fitted up a mill that was several steps in 
advance of anji;hing of the kind to be found 
in the county. Old settlers say that it would 
take in grain at the astonishing rate of a bushel 
and a half an hour. This ran a short time and 
was then sold to Chris Fowler. It filled a short 
life of usefulness, soon becoming worn out. 

Some time later in the same year the Owens 
mill was put up near the mouth of the Cot- 
tonwood creek. Judge Burns relates that the 
occasion of raising and christening this mill 
was a scene of frolic and convi\aal hilarity long 
remembered by old settlers for many miles 
around. Some of the members on the way 
home that evening got into such an animated 
discussion of the pleasurable events of the day 
that bloody noses and blackened eyes resulted. 

This mill lasted but a brief season, but the 
occasion of its raising and the subsequent festive 
scenes were not soon forgotten. 

THE OLD STONE JUG. 



IXCONVEXIEXCES OF EARLY DAYS. 

The farmer of Dallas county today, whose 
daily mail is brought to his door, who calls up 
his friend in the next county by telephone and 
states that he will come over in the afternoon 
in his new automobile, or, perhaps, if the roads 
are muddy, on the interurban, who enjoys the 
thousand and one luxuries of modern life, is 
going through experiences vastly different from 
those of the early settlers. 

Sixty years ago there was not a public high- 
way established and worked in the county. 
Going to mill, postoffice, school and church was 
often a pretty serious proposition. 



We watched a har\-ester being set up Friday, 
and as the parts were being assembled our 
thoughts drifted back to the first one we ever 
saw. And, dropping off into a trance, we again 
bound grain as of old. There were five bind- 
ers and two shockers in this trance and we had 
one of the "stations." It was the first round 
and the ragweeds were heavy and the fool ma- 
chine put the bundles just so far apart, regard- 
less of our wet shirt, the heavy grain and hot 
day. We lacked forty-nine bundles of being 
out as the four horses, with a boy straddle of 
the leader, hove in sight. We would never be 
caught if we died, for that meant disgrace and 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



95 



the entire neighborhood would know of it in 
two days. Fortunately, a hornets' nest was 
struck and we got out before the driver over- 
hauled us. The water jug was on the fourth 
station, hid in a shock and we spit cotton and 
tied weeds, while the sun burned holes in our 
straw-pile hat before we got to it. How the old 
thing "guggled" when we got there. How the 
grasshoppers and green-legged katydids waded 
in the sweat on that old stone jug. How deax 
to my heart was that dripping old jug. Only 
those who have drank from one after binding 
once around without it know or can feel the 
comfort concealed in its stony old hide. We 
can feel yet the drip running down our solar 
plexus as we held her steadily on a forty-nine 
degree angle and shut our eyes and let 'er run. 
We saw Mary bringing out the lunch basket 
at eleven a. m., and the shout from Bill and 
Jim and the rest of the boys came cheerily to 
us over the yellow heads of the waving grain. 
Then, soon we sat in the shade of a cottonwood 
and the things mother had fixed for our com- 
fort were speedily destroyed, and again the 
old McCormick self-rake shoved the half-ton 
bundles to one side and the sun raised blisters 
on our suspenders once more. This was forty 
years ago. Today the binder of those days sits 
dreamily in the shade of a brick block and ever 
anon goes up for a glass of beer, while the Mc- 
Cormick self-rake is comfortably resting in a 
dime museum. Now the machine of today 
does what Jim and Bilf and Tom did forty 
years since and no one kicks. But the memory 
of the old stone jug in the shock kind o' hangs 
around us yet and we can feel the trickle of the 
overflow at times in memory still. 

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. 

The first school was taught in 1847-8 in a 
log cabin which stood a few rods northeast of 
the present site of No. 7, Adel township. The 
expenses of this first institution of learning were 
borne by W. W. Miller, who engaged Stephen 
K. Scovell to teach the first term. The school 



was free to all who mshed to attend. The 
teacher received eight dollars per month and 
board. 

The schoolhouse is thus described: "In keep- 
ing with the average improvements of that date 
in these parts, this first schoolhouse was a log 
cabin, perhaps sixteen feet square, with a clap- 
board roof, puncheon floor, puncheon seats, 
jjuncheon desks and a sod and stick chimney 
which stood out.side the building. 

"In this fire place, which occupied nearly one 
end of the building, a great fire was built of 
logs and dry limbs of trees, which was kept 
blazing all the day long for the comfort of the 
inmates, some of whom had come, perhaps, for 
long distances through the cold and snow to 
lay the foundation of their future education in 
this pioneer school-cabin and by those very 
trials and hardships learned lessons of experi- 
ence which proved eminently useful to them 
during all their lives. 

"In order that it might not be all darkness 
within, a log was cut out on either side and a 
kind of elongated window was formed about one 
bj- ten or twelve feet in size. 

"A row of small pins placed in the logs around 
to hang their hats and bonnets and exti-a wrap- 
pings constituted the wardrobe. 

"A door made of puncheons and hung on 
wooden hinges closed the entrance against the 
rain and cold, and the new schoolhouse was 
finished, furnished and ready for use." 

Pupils attending school in the early days 
often had to go considerable distances. Oc- 
casionally they would get glimpses of deer, 
turkey, wolves and wild cats. 

Books were as dififerent as the colors of 
Joseph's caat and represented various ages and 
conditions of servitude. The children took to 
school whatever books were available and con- 
sequently few of the volumes were alike. 

The branches taught were chiefly reading, 
writing, ai'ithmetic, grammar, spelling and 
geography. The course prescribed was some- 
times called "Lickin' and larnin.' " 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Spelling was especially popular on account 
of the social opportunities the spelling matches 
offered. 

If word was sent out that a "spellin' school" 
was to be held at a certain place, young people 
would flock in from various localities regard- 
less of distance. After the crowd had assembled 
and had been called to order, someone wotdd 
propose the names of two popular persons to 
choose up sides. 

The teacher would sometimes open a book 
and announce that the one of the leaders 
guessing nearest the page of the book opened 
should have the first choice. 

After the sides had been chosen then came the 
trial of spelling down. Sometimes famous spel- 
lers from different districts were pitted against 
each other, each one backed by an enthusiastic 
coterie of friends who shouted themselves 
hoarse in the event of their champion's success. 

A recess was then declared and all turned out 
to indulge in games, "Wee^dlly wheat," "Black- 
man." "Skip turn a loo," "Drop the handker- 
chief." etc. 

School would then be called and spelling 
agiiin indulged in. It was considered quite an 
honor to spell the whole school down and the 
winner was quite a hero in the eyes of his 
schoolmates. 

Schools of those days were as good as oould 
have been expected and compared favorably 
with other conditions of advancement at that 
time. 

Little attention Avas ]>aid to classification. 
Each scholar went ahead as fast as he could and 
the teacher helped him over the hard places. 

The teacher would receive a stipulated sum 
with the provision that he would board around. 
One week one family would entertain him and 
the next week he would go to some other home. 

The teacher was not averse, if occasion re- 
quired, to assist in some of the chores and in 
other way.? to be very common. 

Some of the teachers were persons of superior 
ability and exercised much influence in the 
neighborhoods in which they w^orked. 



The J' did not hesitate to join in all the games 
at recess and noons and took in good part the 
rough usage attendant upon snowballing and 
other similar sports. 

It was a decided advantage if the teacher 
could demonstrate his superiority in these rough 
and tumble games, since it created respect 
among the big boys, who thought it great fun 
to run the teacher out of school. 

On the whole, the educational system pros- 
pered and many men and women who after- 
wards took high rank in the councils of power 
and influence owe their successes largely to the 
training received in these primitive schools. 

The office of county superintendent was es- 
tablished in April, 1858. The first superinten- 
dent of the county w^as James 0. Reed, who 
held office about a year. The superintendent 
who was best known and who held office longer 
than anyone else was Captain Amos Dilley, who 
was first elected in 1867. Mr. Dilley was not 
only a practical school man but was also a 
broad minded citizen and a shrewd politician. 
He had an extensive acquaintance with the 
people of the county, both old and young, and 
for many years was a prominent factor in the 
affairs of the county. 

He was deeply interested in the welfare of 
the schools and rendered valued service in im- 
proving the schools. Mrs. Whinnerj^ has the 
honor of being the only lady superintendent the 
county has had. She gave much attention to 
visiting the different schools and did not hesi- 
tate to make drives through mud and snow 
drifts in order to be present and assist the 
teachers in their work. 

Formerly the county superintendent issued 
certificates and was the sole authority to deter- 
mine an applicant's fitness. But in 1906 the 
law was changed, giving the state the power to 
issue all certificates. 

Under the old law a certificate in one county 
was not valid in another and there were as 
many different standards as there were county 
superintendents. 

By the operation of the present law the su- 
pervising, officer is relieved from the importuni- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ties of teachers and, their friends and is given 
more time and freedom for supervision. 

By means of institutes, teachers' meetings and 
personal visits he is able to direct the work of 
education in such a way as to constantly increase 
the efficiency of the schools and enlist the co- 
operation of the parents. 

For many years two normal schools were 
maintained at Dexter and Perry. The Perry 
normal is still in operation, but the one at 
Dexter has been absorbed by the public school. 

THE GREGG FUND. 

In the early history of the county a wealthy 
landowner lived in Adel township and owned 
considerable land near the town of Adel. In 
September, 1866, he deeded to Dallas county, 
in consideration of one dollar, 160 acres of land, 
the same being situated in township 79, north 
of range 27, west of the fifth principal meridian, 
Dallas county, Iowa. 

This conveyance was made to aid in establish- 
ing in Dallas county a seminary of learning 
wherein studies of a higher range than is con- 
venient to be taught in common free schools 
may be included in the course of instruction 
and wherein attention shall be given to training 
teachers for primary schools. 

The board of supei-visors at their next ses- 
sion, October 16, 1866, accepted the donation 
in the name of the county and pledged the 
people of the county to faithfully carry out the 
wishes of the grantor. The board took occasion 
to tender the gratitude of the citizens of Dallas 
county to Thomas Gregg and expressed the hope 
that this liberal benefactor would be preserved 
to a green old age and that the charity by him 
so munificently, nobly and generously bestowed 
upon the people of Dallas county be like "bread 
cast upon the waters, to be returned after many 
days," and that future generations would arise 
and call him blessed. 

It was further resolved by this board that at 
the earliest time practicable the people of Dallas 
county will erect a suitable building for carry- 
ing out of the intentions of the donor, Thomas 



Gregg, which building shall be known as the 
"Gregg Seminai'y." 

In January, 1867, the Gregg Normal School 
Association was incorporated, the object being 
the establishment and maintenance of a normal 
school at Adel and the erection of suitable 
buildings for that purpose. The business was 
to be under control of a board of twelve trustees, 
nine of whom were to be appointed fi-om the 
members of the incorporation, the state su- 
perintendent, county superintendent and chair- 
man of the board of super\'isors to be ex officio 
membei'S. The members chosen were; F. S. 
Graham, T. J. Caldwell, John Maulsby, William 
Campbell, E. Williard, L. M. Holt, Benjamin 
Greene, Cole Noel and J. R. Reed. 

At their January meeting in 1867 the board 
of supervisors directed that the lands donat«d 
by Thomas Gregg be put on the market, the 
proceeds to be used for the Gregg Normal 
School. 

J. W. Redfield, J. R. Reed and T. J. Cald- 
well were appointed as commissioners to effect 
the sale of said lauds. 

The commissioners were further instructed 
to negotiate with the independent school district 
of Adel for the construction of a suitable room 
or rooms in the school building proposed to be 
erected bj' said independent district, for such 
system of instiniction as was contemplated by 
the said T. D. Gregg in making the said 
donation. 

It was further provided that in making 
such contract the county should receive a con- 
veyance in fee simple for one-third interest in 
the real estate on which said building shall 
be con.structed and one-third interest in said 
building. 

If the proceeds of the land did not amount 
to five thousand dollars the deficiency was to 
V)e met by a sufficient sum appropriated from 
the swamp land fund belonging to the county. 

The amoiint of ■ four hundred dollars was 
apj)ropriated from the swamp land fund and 
paid to Adel school district for one-third in- 
terest in real estate on which school building 
was erected. 



98 



PAST AJSfD PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Five thousand dollars were paid Adel inde- 
pendent district for the one-third interest in 
building and grounds, and the top story was 
erected to be used as a normal school. 

Benjamin Greene was appointed director of 
the normal school building for the year 1871. 

Thomas Gregg died in King William county 
in the state of Virginia in December, 1876. 

It was believed that by his last will the 
greater portion of his vast estate was left to 
Dallas county. 

When he died- a will dated 1850 was pro- 
bated at Indianapolis and it appeared that the 
city of Indianapolis was to receive the bulk of 
his property. Dallas county through her 
county attorney, D. W. Wooden, filed a 
memorandum of a will which had been 
executed in 1875 or 1876, the original being 
lost, in which Dallas county was the principal 
beneficiary. The courts decided against the 
county and the only money it received was 
the original donation. 

By the last will which was lost nearly four- 
fifths of the entire estate of Thomas Gregg 
was given to Dallas county, but as the orig- 
inal will could not be produced, the only 
part of the Gregg estate coming to Dallas 
county was the proceeds from the lands sold 
near Adel, amounting to $9,837.55. 

In May, 1889, the district court ordered 
that the Gregg fund be turned over to a board 
of trustees and that bonds of $20,000 be given 
for the faithful performance of their duties. 
J. W. Russell, Lem Warford and T. A. Thorn- 
burg were appointed trustees of this fund and 
are still serving in that capacity at this time. 

The amount on hand at this time was 
$12,424.50 (twelve thousand four hundred 
twenty- four dollars and fifty cents). 

The bond of the trustees is now fixed at 
$50,000. Each member is paid a salary of 
one hundred dollars per annum, the secretary 
receiving fifty dollars additional. 

The funds on hand as shown by report 
January 1, 1907, amount to $34,065.81 
(thirty-four thousand and sixty-five dollars 
and eighty-one cents). 



It is intended that when the funds increased 
by accumulations of mterest or by additional 
donations from any source shall have reached 
an amount that the yearly earnings wdll be 
sufficient to maintain such a school as Mr. 
Gregg had in mind, then the money will be 
devoted to such purpose. 

Several towns in the county have at various 
times made overtures to have the Gregg fund 
turned over to them, but the consent of the 
trustees could not be obtained, they deeming 
it the better part of wisdom to keep the sum 
intact until the int-erest would be sufficient 
to maintain a school. 

The records pertaining to the original be- 
quest, the probating of the Gregg will, sale of 
lands, receipts and disbursements, order of 
court appointing trustees and the minutes kept 
by Secretary J. W. Russell are all clearly set 
forth and the matter has evidently been 
handled carefully and the interests of the 
county safely guarded. 

The Gregg fund is now increasing at the rate 
of $1,500 a year. 

An attempt was made at one time to tax 
this fund for state and county purposes but 
after the matter had been thoroughly investi- 
gated by competent attorneys it was found that 
it was exempt from taxation. 

School statistics for 1907 : Number of sub- 
districts, 113; rooms in rural schools, 137; 
rooms in graded schools, 88; average number 
months taught, 8.6; teachers employed, males, 
38; females, 305; average compensation, 
males, $61.41 ; females, $38.75 ; pupils between 
ages of five and twenty-one — males, 3,623 ; fe- 
males, 3,573 ; schoolhouses, 157 ; value of 
schoolhouses, $226,560.00 ; volumes in libra- 
ries, 8,549. 

The amount levied for schools is the largest 
item of taxation the people are called upon to 
meet. 

Each town in the county has a good high 
school, many of them having courses of study 
sufficiently strong to place them on the ac- 
credited list with the best advanced institutions 
of the state. 










FIRST COURTHOUSE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



101 



The ruriii schools have a couree prepared by 
the state department that fits their graduates 
to enter the ninth grade of the town schools. 

Examinations for the schools of the county 
are given by the county superintendent at the 
close of the school year and the rural school 
commencements are very popular. 

While provision was made for the intellec- 
tual development of the early communities, 
attention was also given to their moral and 
spiritual needs. 

The schools and the church started out hand 
in hand and have continued this companion- 
ship ever since. 

Early records say that the first sermon 
preached in the county was by Rev. Thompson 
Bird, a Presbyterian minister of Fort Des 
Moines, some time in 1846, the exact time or 
location not being preserved. 

A short time after this Rev. William Busick, 
a radical Protestant Methodist minister then 
occupying a circuit including Dcs Moines and 
the surrounding country, came to Dallas county 
and preached at the house of James Black in 
Van Meter township and soon after organized 
a class in that vicinity. 

The cabin erected by William Miller for 
school purposes was used to hold church 
services. This church was organized under the 
direction of Elder John Glenn, a Christian 
minister, and was the first regularly organized 
church in the county. 

In some settlements before a minister was 
available the settlers were accustomed to gather 
at the house of a neighbor and hear the school- 
teacher or some other qualified person read the 
Bible and lead in a song and prayer service. 

Frequently some non-ordained brother 
would spend a half or three quarters of an hour 
exhorting. 

Itinerant ministers often traveled through 
the country, holding church or funeral services 
or taking charge of baptisms. 

These "circuit riders" were men of lofty 
purpose and deeply religious lives and their 
work counted greatly for the licttermciit of the 
fields in wliicli tlicv labored. 



SOCIETIES FOK MUTU.\L PROTECTION. 

In the eaiiy history of the county, as in the 
settlement of any new country, people were 
found engaged in the rather precarious busi- 
ness of "claim jumping." 

To protect themselves against these specula- 
tors and professional land grabbers, the settlers 
organized themselves into societies and estab- 
lished rules and regulations for their mutual 
interest. 

■'Claim Clubs" were popular organizations 
and included in their membership nearly all of 
the bona fide settlei-s. These societies were 
modeled after the Jefferson county plan and 
were the means of preventing unscrupulous 
speculators from beating settlers out of their 
rights. 

The "Dallas County Claim Club" was organ- 
ized in 1848 and by-laws prepared by Thomas 
Butler, S. K. Scovell and L. D. Burns declared 
tlie purposes of the organization and the de- 
termination to see that justice was meted out 
to all. 

These by-laws were signed by Samuel Mil- 
ler, Thomas Butler, S. K. Scovell, James A. 
Butler, W. W. Miller, J. C. Corbell, L. D. 
Burns, Milton Randolph, Harvey Adams, 
George P. Garroutte, Z. Babcock, John Bivens, 
Eli Miller, John Sharp, Eli Smithson and 
Adam Vineage. 

In later years associations have been formed 
in some parts of the county called vigilance 
committees, the object of which was to dis- 
courage petty thieving and the presence of un- 
desirable citizens in the communities. Some 
of the best men in the county belonged to these 
vigilance committees and the salutary meas- 
ures they adopted in dealing with criminals 
proved very effective in maintaining laM' and 
order. 

COTTNTY SEAT. 



In February, 1847, the state legislature 
pa.ssed an act providing for the establishment 
of a seat of government for Dallas county. 



102 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The board of locating commissioners ap- 
pointed consisted of William Wear and Wil- 
liam Canfield of Polk, and Lysander W. Bab- 
bit of Marion count}^ 

It seems that the original intention of the 
commisioners was to meet at a point a few 
miles northwest of the present county seat near 
the junction of Hickory creek and North 
"Coon." 

However, they met at the house of W. W. 
Miller, a short distance east of the present site 
of Adel and proceeded to discuss the matter 
there. 

They finally selected for the county seat the 
east half of the southwest quarter and the west 
half of the southeast quarter of section twenty- 
nine (29), township seventy-nine (79), north 
of range twenty-seven (27), west of the fifth 
principal meridian. 

Martin W. Miller and Albert D. Jones were 
the surveyors and the work of marking out the 
future seat of government was completed May 
22, 1847. 

Deputy Surveyor Albert D. Jones suggested 
that the site be named Penoach, from an Indian 
word meaning "far away." 

This name was adopted and retained for 
two years, when it was changed to Adel, in 
honor, a- the old .settlei-s say. of "a very pretty 
child with a prettier mother." 

The board of supervisors had considerable 
difficulty in securing the funds necessary for 
the purchase of the town quarter. They 
pledged the town lots and offered county war- 
rants, but ready cash was demanded. In this 
emergency the public-spirited citizen, W. W. 
Miller, procured the money by mortgaging his 
ovm property and sent Dr. J. R. Mills with the 
money to Iowa City to make the entry of the 
town quarter. He made this entry, securing 
the land in his own name and then deeding 
it to the town. 

Thomas Butler was appointed lot fund agent 
by the board of supei-\'isors. 

Under his agency lots were sold to the fol- 
lowing persons in the order named: William 
Miller, Eli Smithson, S. K. Scovell, W. W. 



Miller, Eli Smithson, Samuel Miller, S. K. 
Scovell, Eli Miller and J. C. Corbell. 

It appears that Thomas Butler's conduct of 
his office was not altogether satisfactory to the 
board of supervisors and he was asked to re- 
sign. He did so and left the county, taking 
with him some of the county money which he 
neglected to return. 

Most of the lots were sold on time, ready 
cash appai'entlj' being a scarce article at this 
time. 

J. C. Corbell in the fall of 1847 built the 
first house. This was upon lot five, block 
eight, and was used as a dwelling and also for 
the first post office of Penoach. 

THE FIRST COURTHOUSE. 

The first building used for a courthouse in 
Penoach was on lot eight, block nine. This 
was a double log cabin built by Buel Lathrop 
in July, 1848, and was soon after sold to the 
county .for a courthouse. 

This building was about as pretentious as 
most of the cabins erected at that time. It 
consisted of two rooms built some distance 
apart, the space between them being covered 
and forming an entrance into each room. 

It was built after the prevailing style of the 
times, of cottonwood logs, puncheon floor, 
chimneys at each end made of sod and sticks 
daubed with mud. The coverings were made 
of clapboards from native timber, whose in- 
clination to wai-p and twist is so well known 
to everyone. It was not surprising, therefore, 
that the rain occasionally found its way into 
the courtroom, infringing, no doubt, on the 
dignit}' of the occasion. 

Desks, seats and tables were all made of the 
same material as the floors and were evidently 
designed more for utility than beauty. The 
judges and bailiffs did not hesitate to pound 
loudly upon these benches for order, knowing 
that the presence of a few more dents and 
scratches would not seriously affect their ap- 
pearance. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



103 



The light made its way into each room 
through a six-light window of eight by ten 
glass and through the doors that were left open 
occasionally. 

Judges Janies Charlton and William McKay 
presided over the first courts in this primitive 
capitol and doubtless conducted affairs with as 
much dignity and wisdom as could have been 
done in a more elegant and commodious struc- 
ture. 

In 1853 a new courthouse was built on lot 
four, block seventeen, and the old building 
formerly used for court purposes was sold to 
Jesse Miller and moved away. 

This second courthouse is described as a 
great improvement over the first one, being a 
one-story frame structure, about forty feet in 
length by twenty feet in width and fixed up 
both for appearance and comfort. It answered 
the purpose until 1858, when the third court- 
liouse was built in the center of the square 
that been set apart permanently for the court- 
house and grounds. 

An effort was made to vote money for a new 
courthouse in 1855, but this was defeated by 
eighty votes. The proposition carried in 1857, 
there having been 401 votes cast for it to 240 
against it. The contract was let in June, 1857, 
to C. Eodenbach, and it was built the following 
year. 

This was considered a magnificent structure 
and was used nearly half a century. It was 
built of brick, two stories high and about sixty- 
four feet in length by forty-two feet in width, 
costing when complete about $20,000. The 
lower story was divided into offices, the upper 
part being used for a courtroom. 

In 1874-5, finding there was not room enough 
in the main building down stairs for all the 
different offices, another brick building of one 
story was erected on the campus a little south- 
west of the main building at a cost of $5,000. 
This was occupied by the recorder, treasurer 
and auditor. 

This .^tiiicture was of a neat and tasty ap- 
pearance, but in later years when thej' began 



to wear an old dilapidated appearance, they 
were nicknamed the county "stables." 

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE "OLD COURTHOUSE." 

The "old courthouse" was endeared to the 
hearts of hundreds of people over the county 
by many varied associations connected with it. 
Many evil doers have cause to remember it 
and to recall their feelings when they heard 
the stern decrees of justice meted out to them. 

Comedy and tragedy mingled together in the 
old courtroom and the prosy duties of the 
various officers were marked by scenes that 
sometimes produced laughter and sometimes 
tears. 

The frequent tilts of the lawyers and the 
ludicrous blunders of witnesses were sometimes 
too much for the gravity of the court and the 
audience would become convulsed with laugh- 
ter. 

Older citizens well remember Judge 
McHenry, who was elected in 1878 and was 
noted for his peculiarities. 

Sometimes a witness would become intract- 
able and refuse to answer a question, where- 
upon the lawyer would appeal to Judge 
McHenry to make the witness more amenable 
to court discipline. The judge would look at 
the offender with such a tremendous frown 
and rebuke him with such original and forcible 
expressions that the refractory witness would 
manifest no further tendency to pull back. 

Judge Burns, who has been quoted so freely, 
was a familiar character about the courthouse 
for many years. He was fond of telling stories 
on other people and once in a while would re- 
late one on himself, as the following will show: 
"One hot summer evening the judge lay down 
in the yard to cool off and finally went to sleep. 
He woke about midnight, terrified to find some 
huge white object perched upon his breast. 
Concluding that it was the angel of death, he 
hastily ran over in imagination the events of 
his past life and thought with regret of some 
questionable political deals that he had en- 
gineered in days that were past. Despair and 



104 



PAST .IND PRESENT OF DAJLLAS COUNTY. 



terror gave hiin a feeling of unusual strength 
and making a desperate effort to free himself 
from the clutches of his supernatural visitor, 
he sprang to his feet, overturning his strange 
caller, which proved to be a pet gander." 

Judge Wilkinson, who was on the bench a 
few years ago and who now lives in Winterset, 
Iowa, honored and respected by all who know 
him, was a good story teller and especially en- 
joyed a joke on one of the attorneys practicing 
before him. Not in couii., of course, for there 
he insisted on a proper degree of judicial 
dignity while court was in session. But off 
the bench he was especially jolly and com- 
panionable. The judge, with the knowledge of 
the other attorneys, worked off a pretty good 
one on John Shortley, one of the most promi- 
nent and successful lawyers of the county. A 
case in which Shortley was interested was on 
trial and he was particularly anxious that the 
instructions given by the court to the jury 
should be all right. It was customan.- for the 
judge to submit his instructions to the attorneys 
on both sides before giving them to the jury 
in order that the lawyers may, if they desire, 
propose additional instruction, or ask a modi- 
fication of them. So in this case the judge 
handed Shortley a paper purporting to be his 
instructions to the jury. They had been 
"fixed" for the occasion and were as unreason- 
able and ridiculous as they could be ^\-ithout 
exciting too much suspicion of their genuine- 
ness. Shoitley took the paper, and as he read his 
astonishment and resentment grew together. 
Ordinarily quick to see the point of a joke, he 
was too much in earnest in this case to think 
of a "sell." Finally he rose in righteous wrath 
and demanded of the court: "Has your honor 
lost all the sense and knowledge of law you 
possessed before?" Of course, all who were 
"on" to the joke had a great laugh at "Short's" 
expense. 

The joke was not always on the lawyers, as 
they were able to hold their own fairly well. 
On one occasion one of the victims of "Wilk's" 
joking propensities pereuaded the new janitor 
to lock the judge in his private room in the 



courthouse. They told the janitor that it was 
his duty to lock the jury in the jury room 
while they were deliberating on a verdict and, 
of course, as the court was considering a case 
in his room he must be locked in. It was done 
and it cost the judge the cigars to get out. 

Illustrative of a lawyer's confirmed habit of 
saying, "I object" in season and out of season 
an amusing incident once happened in court 
in a case in which John Shortley and R. F. 
Jordan of Boone were the opposing lawyers. 
Shortley was reading a deposition and Jordan 
was objecting at everj' stage of the game. But 
while Mr. Jordan was occupied for a moment 
Shortley passed from questions and answers 
which he had elicited from the witness to the 
questions which Jordan had asked on cross- 
examination. Suddenly, as a question was 
read, Jordan looked up from his paners and 
said emphatically, "I object to that question. 
It is wholly irrelevant, incompetent and im- 
material." There was a roar of laughter as it 
was explained to Jordan that the question was 
his own. He promptlj' withdrew his objection, 
declaring on second thought that he found the 
matter perfectly proper and very important. 

Prominent among the lawyers who made 
the welkin ring with forensic flights of oratory 
were: White & Clarke. Barr & North of Adel, 
Nichols, Shortley, Hoyt and Cardell of Perry. 

Among the younger lawyers who are making 
enviable records and destined to figure promi- 
nently in the future affairs of the county are: 
Judge William Fahey, Wmegar, Giddings, 
Clarke and Valandingham of Perry, Dingwell, 
Russell & Miller of Adel and Piercy of Dexter. 

No law firm is better known throughout the 
county and the central part of Iowa than that 
of White & Clarke of Adel, and few law firms 
in the country have more legal acumen or 
natural aptitude for the business. J. B. White 
is not only a lawyer of unusual ability, but is 
also a man of rank in literarj- circles and from 
the time he taught school in Adel in 1873 to 
the present time he has been active in business, 
civic, political, educational, religious, social and 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



105 



fraternal matters pertaining to the county in 
general and the town of Adel in particular. 

George W. Clarke has been equally successful 
in the legal field and has always championed 
those things that counted for progress in the 
right direction. He has gained more than or- 
dinaiy distinction in the political field, having 
served twice as speaker of the house of repre- 
sentatives of Iowa, and will doubtless be called 
to serve his state in still higher capacities in 
the future. 

T. R. North has long been well and favor- 
ably know in Dallas county. As a soldier, 
lawyer, business man and public-spirited cit- 
izen he has made a signal success in all his 
undertakings. He was at one time editor of 
the Adel Democrat and has always been a 
staunch believer in democratic principles. 

Robert S. Barr is a pioneer lawyer of the 
county and is still an active practitioner. He 
is a gentleman of the "old school," a type that 
is rapidly disappearing. Courteous, affable and 
good-natured, he has many friends and no 
enemies. 

Judge Edmund Nichols has spent most of 
his life in Dallas county, and has risen to his 
present responsible position through sheer force 
of his abilities. Few men in the state are his 
equals in oratory and masterly address. He is 
easily approachable and the wearing of the 
judicial ermine has not affected his good na- 
ture. 

John Shortley ha.s long been a familiar fig- 
ure about the courtroom and takes high rank 
iu- a counselor and pleader. 

W. W. Cardell was county attorney for three 
terms and is still engaged in legal work. He 
has made a decided financial success and has 
a beautiful home in Perry. 

It is related of Judge Nichols that an old 
German farmer who was drawn on the jury, 
a.«ked to be excused, claiming that he did not 
understand very good English. "Oh, well," 
said the judge, "that doesn't matter, good Eng- 
lish is seldom ever used here." 

George Clarke was once questioning a Dutch- 
man whose knowledge of English was rather 



limited and whose answers were somewhat 
vague. "You do not seem to comprehend the 
significance of my question," said Clarke sym- 
pathetically. The witness, who had a voice like 
a foghorn and little respect for the proprieties 
of the .courtroom, yelled out in stentorian 
tones: "What you mean already by dem big 
lawyer vords, I nichts verstehe das vort comper- 
hen." 

For once the lawyer was nonplused, while 
everyone smiled — some audibly. 

We cannot vouch for the veracity of the fol- 
lowing by an old-timer, but the serious way in 
which it was told gives it an air of credibility : 

The lawyer, whose name is forgotten, was 
confident that the facts and testimony largely 
preponderated in favor of his client, closed his 
address to the jury with a brilliant peroration 
urging them to decide according to the weight 
of the evidence. To his surprise and disgust, 
they brought in a verdict against his client and 
on being privately questioned as to how .such 
a remarkable verdict was reached, they said: 
"Why, you said we must decide according to 
the weight of the evidence and we figured the 
weight of the witnesses on both sides and found 
that them as was agin your client weighed the 
most. Why, there was one witness agin ye that 
weighed two hundred and fifty pounds." 

Judge Gamble is well remembered by the 
people of the present day. The Judge while 
rather amiable and sociable when off the bench, 
is somewhat impatient and irritable when pre- 
siding over the courts. He would not tolerate 
useless noise or levity in the courtroom and 
if the bailiff would wear squeaky shoes in the 
presence of the Judge, the offending factotum 
would be ordered home to get something else 
that would render his tread less conspicuous. 
On one occasion a lawyer was moving about 
during court in a way that grated on the 
Judge's nerve.«, and he was told rather sharply 
to sit down. "I am looking for my coat, your 
honor," the attorney said very humbly. 
"Well," said the Judge, "it must be pretty val- 
uable. I have known persons to lose whole 



106 



PAST .AJS^D PRESExXT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



suits in this room and not make half a^ much 
fuss about it as you are doing."' 

No judge was ever more popular than J. H. 
Applegate of Guthrie Center. Fair and impar- 
tial in his decisions, well versed in law, a man 
of kindly disposition, he is peculiarly well fitted 
to preside over the deliberations of judicial 
bodies. He has the happy faculty of making 
friends everj-where he goes and he has the 
solid qualities that secure respect and esteem. 

Of all the men who were familiar about the 
courthouse in the last half a century, none were 
more popular than Cole Noel, who was clerk 
of court from 1856 imtil 1866. Tall and 
straight as an arrow, a winning personaliiy, a 
profound student of human nature, he was 
for many years one of the most influential men 
in political councils that the county has ever 
produced. With a remarkable ability to han- 
dle men and secure results, he became a power 
in the county and state. He was a great storj-- 
teller and delighted to get in the midst of a 
crowd of old cronies and swap yams. Un- 
selfish, devoted and loyal to his friends, an 
ideal entertainer, it was no wonder that Cole 
Noel's friends were legion and could be found 
in all walks of life from the humblest day 
laborer to those occupying the highest gift 
in state and nation. 

Conspicuous among county officials who were 
gifted in the art of relating anecdotes, was "\V. 
B. Brown, who ser\'ed as supendsor in the '90s. 

He was a man who was well qualified for his 
official duties and made an enviable record 
during his six gears' service; but he especially 
shone as an entertainer. Possessing an inex- 
haustible fund of side-splitting yarns, he could 
relate them to a crowd in a way that would 
cause the listeners to laugh by the hour. 

It was during those days and the years im- 
mediately following that an unusual spirit of 
fun prevailed among the boys who looked after 
the coimty affairs. Joe Payne was sheriff, 
Clyde Lyon, auditor: W. S. Craft, treasurer; 
Jap Cole, recorder; C. C. Pugh, clerk; A. C. 
Hutchins, superintendent; Henry Carl, jani- 
tor. Joe Pavne had a remarkable facultv of 



remembering names and faces and could prob- 
ably call more people by name than any other 
man in the county. Though a comparatively 
young man, his hair was very gray and gave 
him a rather venerable appearance. 

His last competitor in the race for sherift", 
Joe Hanes, was some older than Payne but was 
extremely youthful in appearance. Payne in 
his canvass always spoke very kindly of his 
opponent, whom he designated as a very prom- 
ising "kid" and certain to win recognition when 
he got older. His constituents seemed to think 
the same way, apparently, and concluded that 
it would be safer to retain the mature and 
sedate Payne as sheriff rather than to trust 
this important position to his youthful com- 
petitor. Hanes was elected a few years after- 
wards, however, the people probably judging 
that he had by that time reached the age of dis- 
cretion. 

Clyde Lyon was a warm-hearted, whole- 
souled official who had friends wherever he 
was known. He was a campaigner from way 
back and was elected auditor four times over 
strong and popular men. His wife, a woman 
of superior culture and practical knowledge, 
was deputy auditor during the four terms he 
ser\-ed and contributed materially to the suc- 
cessful administration of the office. Her rec- 
ords are models of neatness and accuracy and 
her unfailing good humor made her popular 
with all classes. Clyde prided himself on his 
natural gallantry and courtesy to the ladies. 
The treasurer would sometimes take advantage 
of this virtue to call him up by phone and rep- 
resent himself as a lady who desired a favor 
at the hands of the worthy auditor. Clyde 
Avould at once assume a becoming attitude and 
in most polite and sjTiipathetic tones assure 
the supposed lady of his willingness to render 
her any assistance in his power. The conversa- 
tion would be kept up with Clyde responding 
in dulcet tones in answer to extravagant and 
selfish demands, "yes ma'am" and "no maam," 
etc., until a snicker across the hall would re- 
mind him that he was being hoaxed, when he 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



Kn 



would slam the phone down and mutter that 
there would be a day of reckoning soon. 

Jap Cole was one of the most conscientious 
and methodical workers ever elected to office 
and was very popular throughout the county. 
He was made the victim of numerous jokes 
varying in ingenuity from taking a fish or 
melon he had bought for dinner, when his 
back was turned, to placing a stray mule in 
his office to greet him on his return. But the 
most heartless joke on him was that perpetrated 
by his unscrupulous associates when he was 
about to be renominated for a third term with- 
out any opposition. It took an unusually 
strong and ])opular official in those days, as 
now, to receive a third nomination unopposed. 
'Jap's friends knew he Avas practically sure to 
receive this merited honor and the nearness of 
the approaching primary rendered it unques- 
tionably sure that no one would come out. 
Jap himself was extremely hopeful but easily 
worried by idle rumors of probable opposition. 
AVhen the Dallas County News was about to 
run off the last issue before the primary 
Sheriff Payne and one or two others went over 
to the News office and made arrangements 
with the proprietor that, after the usual num- 
bers of that edition were printed, two or three 
extras should be run off containing the rather 
surprising information that William Taylor, 
one of the hustling republicans of Sugar Grove 
township, was an avowed candidate for Jap 
Cole's place and that he was going after Jap's 
scalp in a way that made the outlook extremely 
problematical. Jap came down to the office 
the next morning in pretty good spirits. He 
had read his paper carefully and had seen 
nothing to disturb his peace of mind. The 
nervous strain was apparently over and he 
was surprised when Payne came in and said, 
"Well, Jap, it's too bad that you are to have 
opposition." Jap's courage forsook him as he 
a.sked where the information came from. He 
was a.ssiired that the announcement was in the 
News and upon his declaring that he had not 
seen it, he was invited into the shei'iff's office, 
where, in the presence of the other members 



of the conspiracy, he read the discouraging news 
which ha,d been printed in a rather obscure 
corner of the paper. Jap looked so disconso- 
late that the boys seemed to be considerably 
worked up and Payne said he would go up 
and jxiU him out of the race. He would do 
all this for nothing and would start at once. 
Jap handed the amount required for a livery 
team and away went the sheriff. 

Presently he returned, deelaririg that he had 
accomplished the matter by phone and that 
Jap would have no opposition. He had a box 
of cigars under his arm when he returned, 
\vhich he handed out with unusual liberality. 
Everyone began to grin and when Jap began 
to see the point they broke into a horse laugh 
and explained the joke. Jap was so elated over 
the fact that he was still on "easy street" that 
he forgave them for having mulcted him out of 
two dollars, though roundly abusing them for 
having so disturbed hLs peace and tranquillity. 

Henry Carl is like Tennyson's brook — some 
may come and all wall go but he stays on for- 
ever. He is an excellent custodian and his 
many years' excellent service has made him 
an invaluable fixture. He has an honorable 
record as a soldier and never forgets the flags 
on Decoi'ation Day. 

Among the many laughable incidents in 
connection with the county officials, is that 
of Stephen Adams, one of the former sherififs 
of Dallas county. Steve was a good honest 
citizen, somewhat unsophisticated and careless 
of dress, but withal a very worthy man. It 
seems that his first important official duty after 
being inducted into office was to convey to the 
l)cnitentiary a smooth, polished criminal named 
Bumpus, who had been convicted for defraud- 
ing the farmers by selling them a bug powder, 
getting their notes under false representations 
and selling them to innocent purchasers. As 
Bumpus was a very docile prisoner. Sheriff 
.Vdams did not handcuff him, and when they 
arrived at Fort Madison, Bumpus attempted to 
turn the sheriff over to the penitentiary author- 
ities, and as he was a pretty smooth fellow and 
gifted with a persuasive tongue, he came pretty 



108 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



near succeeding. The fact that Mr. Adams 
had the handcuffs in his pocket was a presump- 
tion in favor of the truth of his claims and 
after some other corroborating facts and con- 
siderable parley, the real criminal wa.s incar- 
cerated and Adams allowed to return. Thi.s 
story has been told and retold many times at 
Mr. Adams' expense, and while it seemed rather 
laughable to him in after years, it came very 
near being anything but a joke to him at the 
time. 

Treasurer Craft administered his office with- 
out fear or favor to anyone. He was somewhat 
taken aback once on looking over the list of 
property sold for taxes to find that he had sold 
one of his own lots in the old town of Xenia. 
He hunted up the purchaser and redeemed it, 
cautioning him not to mention it so that the 
gang would get to hear of it. Sometimes some- 
one would come in to get a license. If he hap- 
pened to be a good-natured fellow but unfa- 
miliar with the modus operandi of securing this 
authority, he would be inducted into various 
offices where some kind of a mysterious entry 
would be made and some pertinent^ — occasion- 
ally impertinent — questions would be asked 
and when he demanded what the fee was, 
would be smilingly informed that they made 
no charge, hinting, however, that they smoked 
upon rare occasions. 

Such were a few of the many incidents that 
gave a spice to the clc^^ing days of the "old 
courthouse." 

Big-hearted, .jolly fellows, were the boys who 
figured prominently in those days. Ready to 
play a joke at any time, they were equally 
ready to head a subscription for some public 
enterprise or assist someone who had been un- 
fortunate. Most of the officials whose names 
have just been mentioned are s-till alive and 
filling positions of usefulness. 

Joe Payne, genial, kind-hearted and lovable, 
Mas accidentally killed by the cars in February, 
1900, while on a pleasure trip South. The 
following sketch of his life and tribute to his 
memory was written by Clerk C. C. Pugh, who 
was intimately acquainted with the deceased. 



"Joseph Dunn Payne was born near Cam- 
bridge, Illinois, May 20th, 1856. He was the 
son of James M. and Elizabeth Payne. His 
parents brought him to Iowa during the first 
year of hi.s life, but .soon returned to Illinois, 
coming back to Iowa eight years afterwards. 
Here Joe grew to manhood, attended school 
in Adel and taught in some of the neighboring 
districts. 

'Tn 1875 he was married to Miss Bell Crayne 
and to this union there was born one child, 
Ray, who is still living. February 22nd, 1887, 
he was married to Mrs. Emma Kimry, the lady 
who survives him and to whom this comes as 
a crushing burden. To this marriage a little 
daughter, Eva, was born, who lived but a few 
moutlis. On Januaiy 16th, Mr. and Mrs. Payne 
departed for Louisiana with a party of friends 
southward bound. They intended to have a 
pleasant, joyous visit of two months when, 
after nearly six weeks of this visit had been 
spent, the accident occurred. It seems that he 
had gone to the postoffice and thence up 
the railroad track, used for switching, intently 
reading the paper. A train backing in rapidly 
was upon him before he realized his danger 
and in an instant he was cruelly mangled be- 
neath the death-dealing wheels. The remains, 
accompanied by Mrs. Payne, Mi-s. I. J. Mills 
and Dr. Ira D. Payne, were brought to Adel 
for interment. The funeral sei-vices were con- 
ducted by Rev. Gilbert Ellis of the Christian 
church and the beautiful floral offerings tes- 
tified to the esteem and love of the many 
friends of the deceased. The pallbearers were 
the county officers and ex-officers, while hon- 
orary bearere were selected from the citizens 
of the town. The last sad rites were per- 
formed by the Odd Fellows and Knights of Py- 
thias in the presence of a large crowd of sym- 
pathizing friends. 

"Tt is needless to write of Joseph Payne and 
his work during the time that he was sheriff of 
the county. For six consecutive years he per- 
formed his duties so well as to secure the com- 
mendation of all. He was fearless in duty, 
honorable in all his dealings and prompt and 




OLD COrRTIIOUSE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Ill 



efficient in all those matters that came within 
the limits of his official jurisdiction. He was 
president of the Iowa Sheriffs' Association and 
during the entire time of his public position 
was a prominent member of that body and 
through it gained a wide acquaintance in the 
state at large. He left a father, a son, and 
brothers and sisters, in addition to the widow, 
who are well known, two brothers, Dr. Ira 
Payne of Linden and Dr. Jerome Payne of 
Bagley being prominent physicians in 
active practice. The shock of his untimely 
death came as a public grief and it will be 
many months before this town and community 
can fully realize it all. The friend, the brother 
was not without faults, for he was human. 
Strong and rugged in character, he took issue 
with many of the commonplaces, many of 
the formalities that to him were shams, but 
the goodness of his heart is testified by the large 
number of personal and political friends who 
gave him strong allegiance. He had a follow- 
ing that was probably not attained by any 
other man in Dallas county. Open-handed to 
all, frank and honest in his friendships, he 
coupled them with an unfailing kindness that 
called forth a reciprocal regard on the part of 
others. Bearing with the infirmities of others, 
he felt that they would bear with his. He had 
that charity that has been so aptly defined 
as "gently to bear, kindly to judge." Those 
with whom he was most intimately asso- 
ciated feel keenly the loss of one to whom they 
have often appealed but never in vain. They 
alone can best judge of his strength, of his 
manhood and his helpfulness, having so often 
seen it manifested in his associations with 
neighbois and friends. He delighted in his 
relationship with the people of the county. 
Wherever he went he greeted them with a 
cheeriness that renewed confidence and admira- 
tion. There was nothing of boastfulness, noth- 
ing of egotism in his nature, and he gave so 
freely of the warmth and glow of his heart as 
would have impoverished the fountain of his 
affection had it not been constantly refilled 
and replenished out of the depth of his own 



generosity. In Adel there were boys and girls 
who stood with tearful eyes and quivering lips 
when they learned the news of his sudden 
death. He knew them all by name and was 
never too busy to give them attention. They 
have treasured away many little trinkets with 
which he had remembered them. He had a 
tenderness and a love for children that won 
them to him and the cry of a child would break 
in upon his heart and call out the very depth 
of his nature. The brothers of the lodges to 
which he belonged cherish most fondly the 
memory of his good qualities, and now that 
his journey is at an end, and he has "passed 
through the wilderness," they realize the irrep- 
arable loss that they have sustained. They 
sorrow with the stricken wife, the son, the aged 
father, the brothers and sistere, and grieve 
that one so useful and so affectionate should 
thus, in the strength of his manhood, be called 
to put off the armor of life; and in anguish 
they heard the funeral bell tolling the news 
of his death. 

With silence only as their benediction, 

God's angels come. 
Where, in the shadow of a great affliction. 

The soul sits dumb! 

"The last sad rites have been performed as 
lovingly, as reverently as human hearts could 
devise, and the tears that dropped beside the 
open grave were not shed in vain. They 
moistened the earth with the dew of affection 
and stirred anew in the hearts that eternal 
hope that shall have fruition in God's own 
time. 

"As these lines are written one incident is 
brought to mind that carries with it a touch- 
ing significance. One little girl who went to 
Des Moines last Friday with the pupils of the 
school on an excursion, was given money by 
her parents with which to buy her dinner. She 
went without dinner and took the money to 
buy flowers for Mr. Payne. Out of her heart 
there came a welling of affection and she could 
go hungry and come home fatigued and worn, 
bearing in her hands the roses that spoke more 
eloquently than words, how to her this death 



112 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



had brought a great sorrow. A nobler monu- 
ment to Joseph Payne than might be erected 
out of marble, more lasting than any imposing 
stone that might be reared over his gi'ave, is 
the affection in the hearts of the children that 
they have poured out on the altar of love and 
dedicated so sacredly to his memory.'" 

COUNTY SEAT CONTROVERSY. 

For many yeai-s from the time the county 
seat was established at Penoach, the question 
of the county seat being at any other place 
than Adel was not raised. The primitive log 
courthouse had served its day, the second one, 
a frame building, had gone down in ashes, 
the third one, called the "Old Brick Court- 
house," was well along in years, before the 
question arose as to the proper location of the 
county capital. Up to this time there were no 
railroads in the county and Adel, situated the 
most nearly in the central part of the county, 
was the most easily accessible to all parts. 

When the Rock Island Railroad changed its 
survey and went through the extreme south 
part of the county in 1888, and the Fort Dodge 
line in 1869-70 passed through the county from 
the southeast to the northern boundary, both 
roads leaving Adel about seven miles awuy 
from their nearest points, the probabilitj' of a 
railroad reaching Adel was problematical. 
A\'hen Dallas Center ^ras laid out upon the 
projection of the Fort Dodge line it at once 
Ijecame an aspirant for the county seat honors 
and the contest regarding location then really 
began. For a quarter of a century the strife 
was maintained and Adel was kept on a ner- 
vous strain almost continuously. Dallas Center 
made several vigorous campaigns to secure the 
requisite number of petitioners to bring the 
matter to a vote, but the friends of the present 
site were equally alert in getting up a remon- 
strance to prevent the matter coming to a vote. 
According to law, every name found on both 
the petition and the remonstrance counts upon 
the latter. When the Milwaukee road estab- 
lished its shops at Perry and that town began 



to assume the proportions of a city, it also be- 
came possessed with the ambition to become 
the county seat. Still later Waukee entered 
the arena. Here the matter was allowed to 
come to a vote, the friends of the present loca- 
tion feeling confident that AA^aukee could not 
get enough votes to bring about a relocation, 
and believing that if the question was sub- 
mitted and defeated it would have a tendency 
to put a quietus on such attempts in the future. 
The Waukee proposition was defeated but the 
agitation was again renewed by Dallas Center 
though never brought to a vote again. Sena- 
tor A. C. Hotchkiss of Dallas county was in- 
strumental in having a law enacted changing 
the frequency of times of submitting the ques- 
tion of relocating county seuts. Under the old 
law the question could be brought up every 
two years, but under the law which Senator 
Hotchkiss was instrumental in securing, the 
matter could not be submitted oftener than 
once in five years. 

The question of relocating the county seat 
caused the most spirited contest ever experi- 
enced in the history of the county. As a rule 
the votes were drawn on geographical lines 
though this was not uniformly the case. Some 
of the towns of the county had made efforts to 
secure the "Gregg Fund" for their respective 
localities and not being successful were rather 
lukewarm in supporting Adel's claims. 

Candidates for county office at times felt 
the effects of the county-seat strife. Some of 
the shrewdest campaigners of the county were 
pitted against each other, regardless of party 
lines. 

The new.spapei-s voiced the sentiments of 
their constituency and indulged in acrimonious 
discussions at times, Adel was necessarily on 
the defensive and the other towns on the ag- 
gressive. Thorough organizations were per- 
fected and sufficient money collected by volun- 
tary subscriptions to carry on a strenuous cam- 
paign. Some pretty shrewd moves were made 
on both sides and every advantage was taken 
of technicalities and mistakes. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



113 



On one occasion a petition had been pre- 
pared and was ready to present to the board of 
supervisors at the regular meeting prescribed 
by law. Adel had made an active canvass 
with a remonstrance petition but the outcome 
was uncertain. The board had transacted the 
ordinary routine business and was ready to take 
up the petitions the following day. That 
evening Cole Noel receiving a hint from T. R. 
North spent a pleasant evening with the board 
of supervisors and, at the close, suggested to 
the latter that they adjourn one day and attend 
the state fair at Des Moines then in full h\a.<t. 
They dwelt upon the attractions in such an al- 
luring way that the board determined to go 
and arranged to meet in a business session at 
the county seat the day following. 

AVhen the board reassembled ready to give 
the matter of petitions serious consideration, 
tliey were informed by Lawyer North that they 
had now convened in a called session and that 
the petitions would have to wait until the regu- 
lar time designated by law. It turned out that 
the advocates for relocation had failed to se- 
cure the requisite number of signers but they 
were highly indignant at what they termed 
tlie questionable methods of their opponents. 
Adel felt handicapped in not having a rail- 
road. So imperative ■was this need felt that 
an association was formed among the business 
luini of Adc\, assisted Ijy others from Redfield 
and interested farmers with the object in view 
of building a road from Waulcee west through 
Adel. This was undertaken in 1878 and a 
narrow gauge road built which was extended 
afterwards to Panora and is now part of the 
Milwaukee system. The fact that the rail- 
roads in different parts of the county were 
rival' in l)u.«ine.ss, caused their influence in 
the enunty seat controversy to be felt at various 
times and a number of quiet trips were made 
to railroad headquartei^ by factional represen- 
• tatives to secure the assistance of these coi-pora- 
tiony. 

Although the aspirants for county seat hon- 
ors could not effect a change of .«ite, yet they 
were able to defeat all propo.<iti(ius to vote a 



tax for a new courthouse and thus the matter 
stood for twenty years. The '"Old Courthouse" 
no longer met the demands of the present day 
and there was a general feeling over the county 
that a new one more in accord with the standard 
of modern times should be built. So much 
feeling had been engendered, however, in the 
past years that it seemed to be extremely doubt- 
ful whether a majority could be secured to 
build a new building on the present site. In 
1898 the question of voting a tax of $65,000 
for a new courthouse was submitted. This 
pi'ecipitated a warm discussion and the line of 
demarkation was sharply defined. Some who 
were friendly to the tax thought the amount was 
in.sufRcient to build a courthouse that would 
creditably reflect the pro-sperity and standing 
of Dallas county, and on- this ground refused 
to vote in favor of it. 

Others who had been active in former years 
in favor of relocation were outspoken against 
the proposed tax. The result showed that 1,605 
votes were recorded in favor of the tax and 
2,281 against it. Within two years from that 
date public sentiment seemed to be changing 
and a more liberal spirit became manifest. 

The people were becoming tired of this 
county seat war and were inclined to settle the 
vexed question once and forever. 

The Perry Advertiser, in October, 1900, has 
the following to say : "It really begins to look 
as if we were to have 'a vote on the proposition 
to build a new courthouse this year without 
the \isual fight. So far there has been de- 
veloped little of the heat that has sometimes 
appeared and for the most part tliere is an 
indication of a purpo.se to let each voter decide 
the matter for himself. 

■'And this seems a very reasonable coui'se to 
take in the matter. The people of the county 
are pretty well informed on the subject. They 
have been over the ground before. There will 
be plenty who will vote against the measure, of 
coiu'se, but there are many others whose rea- 
sons for voting against it heretofore have been 
removed since the last vote was taken. 

■This 1,-^ .-.ullicicnllv indicated bv the fact that 



114 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



iu some quarters where there has been opposi- 
tion to the tax heretofore, based on the hope 
of a removal of the county seat, there is now a 
sentiment in favor of the tax. For instance, 
Dallas Center has always been nearly solid 
against the building of a new courthouse, yet 
this is what the Dallas Center Local says on 
the subject: 'The Local is not taking any part 
in crenting a fight on the question of building 
a new courthouse. The question has been sub- 
mitted once before and all the arguments pro 
and con presented and discussed. If any voter 
does not know where he stands it is simply 
because he does not take any interest in public 
affairs. That Dallas county has nothing bet- 
ter to show friends from abroad than that dis- 
graceful mumble of brick and rotten wood is 
a shame. 

" 'We should not ask our county officers to 
inhabit such a rat trap. There all the records, 
covering thousands of diverse interests, such as 
judgments, wills, decrees, etc., are at the mercy 
of fire. The loss of these papers would cause 
endless litigation at which no one would get 
fat except the lawyers. As for Dallas county's 
ability to pay for a new courthouse, it is use- 
less to offer that as an argument against doing 
so. The need of a new courthouse and the 
county's ability being undeniable, the only 
question is the location. That too has been 
tried by Dallas Center, Perry and Waukee. But 
as long as the law gives the remonstrants the 
right to offset the names on the petition by 
names on the remonstrance, that long the ques- 
tion of submitting it to a vote will not be sub- 
mitted to the people. 

" 'Something will have to be done and that 
soon for the present building will not shelter 
anyone much longer.' 

"Dexter, too, has usually cast a heavy vote 
against the proposition, but we find the Sentinel 
talking like this : 'There is every reason why a 
county that is so rich in material resources as 
Dallas should have a courthouse commensu- 
rate with its needs. The people seem now to 
fully comprehend the need and we believe the 
proposition will carry. There is every argu- 



ment in favor of it and none against it, and the 
Sentinel feels assured that the proposition will 
receive most generous support from Dexter. 
A good, new courthouse will materially benefit 
all parts of the county. It is not a factional 
interest, but one that affects the citizenship of 
the entire county.' " 

The proposition as resubmitted in 1900 fixed 
the amount at $85,000. This was decided at 
the November election, 3,338 votes being cast 
in favor of the tax and 2,049 against. 

Adel cast 486 votes in favor of the tax to 
sixteen against it. The residents of this town 
and immediate vicinity were especially de- 
lighted over the outcome. Handbills were 
struck off and sent out announcing a "Grand 
Ratification and Jubilee to be held Friday after- 
noon and evening — band concert by Iowa State 
Band — good speaking and big time for every- 
one." 

The celebration of the event was a mem- 
orable one. The settlement of the county seat 
question meant much for Adel in a material 
way. Old animosities were apparently for- 
gotten and the jubilee became a veritable love 
feast. 

Bells were rung, bonfires lighted, speeches 
made and torch-light processions galore. The 
following poem was hurriedly dashed off by A. 
C. Hutchins, editor of the Republican, to re- 
lieve the exuberance of his feelings: 

The election is over and people are gay, 
They gamble and frolic like children at play; 
Old men and old women, the girls and the boys 
Are everywhere making a deuce of a noise. 
This morning John White, Dave Miller and Barr 
Stood gazing heavenward as if hunting a star, 
We'll bet you a dollar 'gainst one silver spoon 
It's the courthouse that'll stand on the banks of the 

"Coon" 
Whose turrets and minarets piercing the skies 
That's racking the brains of these legal guys. 

McKinley's election or Bryan's defeat, 

Don't cut any figure since the tax wasn't beat. 

'Twas the theme of the household, the alleys and 

streets. 
It called forth our efforts, advances, retreats. 
Young men had grown gray in their efforts to see 
The vexed question settled; but it wasn't to be 
Till the year 1900 with prosperity's boom 
Built the house that will stand on the banks of the 

"Coon." 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



115 



All hail to the judgment the people have shown. 
To bury the hatchet and give up the bone 
Of contention that's divided our hopes and our fears 
In old Dallas county for many long years. 
In behalf of the county we thank you again 
And trust that the efforts of strife's long refrain 
Will never be heard from any old loon 
'Gainst the house that will stand on the banks of the 
"Coon." 

For many long years we've tried hard to learn: 
We've patiently waited the election return, 
To see if the people wouldn't give up this crust, 
But each time saw our hopes wither down in the 

dust. 
Yet this time came like a bolt from the sky. 
And it came with a vengeance, for figures won't lie. 
The majority twelve eighty-nine is the tune. 
For the house that will stand on the banks of the 

"Coon." 

Do you ask why we're happy? Just stand In our 

place. 
Wait thirty long years, look defeat in the face 
Distracted with fears lest some rival place 
Would put up the cash that would set a new pace 
Against old Penoach the pioneer place 
Set on the prairie without the least trace 
Of that elegant structure we'll see very soon, 
The house that will stand on the banks of the "Coon." 

Then don't be surprised at all that we do. 
We're happy, we know it, because it is true 
That after much praying (in silence of course) 
And shouting and yelling till our throats were all 

hoarse 
To stimulate courage and realize hope; 
Till now we're assured that the thing is no joke. 
And now that it's settled we'll see very soon 
That beautiful house on the banks of the "Coon." 

'Twill be with regrets that we give up the old 

"shack" 
With grimy old walls and ceilings so black 
With its floors full of holes, with its window panes 

dim 
With the dust of the ages grown darker by sin 
Of the rats that infest it and the yarns that they told 
When infested by men like the jolly Cole Noel 
Good bye to the shack, in its time a great boon 
Which has stood on the banks of the classic old 

"Coon." 

Could the walls of the courtroom their eloquence 

speak 
They would tell of the lawyers big, little and weak 
Who have come Into prominence, grown old and died 
Since she held the blind balance and always has 

tried 
To do her whole duty, laying spite on the tables 
In spite of the odors that came from the "stables" 
That stands on the corner a sentinel grim 
To levy and collect taxes from him. 
Who has said by his ballot and voice set to tune. 
He'd not always pay tribute to the shack on the 

"Coon." 

From the campus below burrowed through by the 

moles. 
To the cupola drilled full of woodpecker holes 
A pleading voice comes full of pathos to all 
Since my doom has been sealed and my carcass 

must fall 
Let me lie buried on the romantic old spot 
To bear the grand structure your votes have just got 



I'll still do my duty for many a moon 

Supporting the house on the banks of the "Coon." 

My builder and maker has gone to his rest 
Just one year before the great final test. 
In the 'rubbish of the temple' I'm doomed now to He 
Unseen by the aged with tearful dimmed eye 
That gazed on me proudly in years that are passed 
But now of old monuments I stand here the last. 
Awaiting the freedom that death brings so soon. 
From the sins I have witnessed on the banks of the 
"Coon." 

I'll never complain, your secrets I'll keep 

Of the wrongs you have done, I never will cheep 

The lies you have told I'll never relate 

(To get a new buildin.g that's more up to date) 

A building is wanted far better than I 

So in favor of progress I'm willing to die. 

That I'll never more hear my doom set to tune 

By the people who live on the banks of the "Coon." 

My successor appeared in a picture today 
In the Record that's published just over the way, 
Its stately proportions are grand to behold 
Its symmetry and beauty stand out so bold. 
In contrast to me so naked and brown 
And I trust that the people of this happy town 
Will never abuse it as they have me of late 
Simply because I am not up to date 
But will sing in its praises a beautiful tune 
As it guards the best town on the banks of the 
"Coon." 

CONTRACT LET. 



The contract for the new courthouse was 
awarded to James Raw.son & Son of Iowa City 
for $74,300 for the completion of the build- 
ing, not including plumbing, heating and fur- 
nishings. The board of supervisors at this 
time consisted of John Shively, M. W. Gribben 
and Levi Hockett; C. R. Lyon being clerk of 
the board. The exterior of the building was to 
be of Bedford stone from Indiana, the roof to 
be of tile and all the corridors and halls to be 
tiled, the wainscoting to be of a fine grade 
of marble, the whole to be furnished in a most 
approved workman-like manner bv April 1st, 
1902. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The building is constructed of the best qual- 
ity of Bedford stone. Huge blocks of stone 
weighing three and a half tons go to make up 
the main wall. Within, all the floors except 
the rear of the office rooms and courtroom are 
of tile. Marble wainscoting lines the walls 
of the hallways and many of the room.s to a 
height of from five to seven feet. The stair- 



llfi 



PAST .\ND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ways have slate steps and the banisters are of 
bronze metal surmounted with oak cornices. 
All of the materials used are of the best qual- 

ity- 

The general dimensions of the building are 
one hundred and twenty-six feet by eighty-four 
feet. The height to the summit of the tower 
is one hundred and twenty-eight feet. It in- 
cludes three completed stories, with a part 
additional story which may be fitted up and 
utilized if necessary, with an arrangement that 
is a model of convenience. One of the most 
striking features, as viewed from without, is 
the turret-shaped cornel's which swell boldly, 
yet gracefully, out from the building, each 
crowned at the roof with a little tower. These, 
with the other turrets, determine its distinct 
style, which the architects say dates back to 
the French Renaissance. High above both the 
main entrances on the north and south, sur- 
mounting pedestals, which rest on the roof, 
are statues of the Goddess of Justice. Leaning 
far out, with gracefully carved body and limbs, 
she holds forth the scale of justice, whose hor- 
izontal beam indicates that justice is being 
meted out. On the outside east wall of the 
buildings, just above the second-story windows, 
is carved out of solid stone, in bold relief, the 
engraving of the former Dallas county court- 
house. Above it are the words: "Old Court- 
house, Built in 1858." 

This is an expensive piece of carving, but it ■ 
is of great historical value in showing at a 
glance the progress the county has made in its 
magnificent new edifice. All the windows are 
of plate glass, which glistens in the sun like 
polished mirrors. The tower rises from the 
center of the building and is constructed in a 
way that enables it to safely resist enormous 
pressure. 

Hallways run both north and south and east 
and west through each of the floors. On the 
lower floor, which is about a foot below the 
surface of the ground, are located the offices 
of sheriff, county superintendent, surveyor, 
coroner and janitor. The main offices are 
about twentj--one by thirty-eight feet. On the 



second floor are the offices of treasurer, auditor, 
clerk, recorder and board of supervisors. 

The arrangement is practically the same for 
all the offices: a large main office, with heavy, 
solid polished counters and a public space in 
front, private rooms about ten by sixteen, fire- 
proof vaults opening from main office and 
fitted with strong, double iron doors and com- 
bination locks; the vaults are furnished with 
metal cases, and each office has splendid hard- 
wood furniture, telephones, typewriters, hot 
and cold water, electric lights and everything 
needed to make it modern and convenient. The 
third floor contains the courtroom, occupying 
the east half, consultation rooms, attorneys' 
rooms, ladies' room, grand jury room, judge's 
room and county attorney's room. 

The courtroom is furnished with elegant and 
costly furniture. Were it not for the oaken 
railing which separates the courtroom from the 
parquet, and a certain judicial aspect of the 
heavy oak bench, one might easily believe he 
was in a house of worship rather than a place 
where the evil deeds of corrupt man are recited 
and the stern admonitions of the law pro- 
nounced. All of the furnishings are of oak. 
A heavy carved bench is in readiness for the 
judge. Then come the reporters' and the law- 
yers' tables. The jury can sit on comfortable, 
upholstered chairs. The frescoing was executed 
by an Italian artist, secured from New York 
City and his work is a most beautiful piece of 
art. On the ceiling, in the middle of each 
side is a reproduction of an official seal. Above 
the judge's bench is the seal of the great state 
of Iowa. The words, "Our liberties we prize 
and our rights we will maintain," can be read 
from almost any part of the room. The one 
on the east is the seal of the district court of 
Dallas county, on the south, that of the United 
States, and on the west, the seal of the board 
of supervisors. Opening off from the main 
room to the north are three rooms, a library, 
attorneys' room and clerk's room. 

From the center of the hallway on the third 
floor one may look up into the dome, which 
is frescoed in beautiful designs. The frescoing 



PAST AJSD PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



117 



is one of the attractive features of the interior. 
The frescoing of each ceiling is of a different 
design and executed in an artistic manner. 

The entire building is lighted with electric- 
itj- and heated with hot water from a central 
Iieating plant near the building. 

It stands in the center of the public square 
that harmonizes in size and neatness with the 
building, giving it a symmetrical setting that 
is especially pleasing. 

BUILDING DEDICATED. 

The new courthouse was appropriately dedi- 
cated in September, 1902. A tent had been 
erected on J. B. White's lot, east of the Chris- 
tian church. It had a seating capacity of 1,200, 
and all the seats were taken and the aisles 
crowded with many standing who were unable 
to secure seats. Close to 2,000 persons heard the 
address. The Jefferson band furnished splen- 
did music for the occasion and the Adel Choral 
Society rendered several choruses that were 
much appreciated. Dr. W. J. Williams pre- 
sided at the meeting in a happy and becoming 
manner. Rev. H. H. Barton, pastor of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, delivered the invo- 
cation and greatly impressed his hearers with 
his earnestness in prayer. Hon. Joseph A. 
Dyer of Des Moines delivered the dedicatory 
address. It was one of the best ever heard in 
the county on any occasion. The address gave 
some statistics as to the growth of the county 
and was reminiscent in a way as to be highly 
appropriate. His command of the English lan- 
guage was excellent and he was perfectly at 
home on the platform. Auditor C. R. Lyon, 
who was thoroughly familiar with all the ex- 
penses incurred in the construction of the new 
courthouse, read a statement showing such ex- 
penditures, and the audience was much inter- 
ested in it as the first itemized statement of the 
expenditures that had been given. The 
weather was all that could have been desired 
and the throng of people happy and good-na- 
tured. Crowds visited the courthouse by the 
hundreds. The building was thrown open 



from top to bottom, and the county officials 
put in the day showing the visitors the beauty 
of the building. The dedication was a complete 
success in every way and all who came felt 
themselves well repaid for their trouble. It 
was a big day for Adel in every way and one 
that will be remembered for many years. 

The following is the statement of expendi- 
tures read by Auditor Lyon : 

Original cost of building $74,300.00 

For fireproofing first, second and 

third floors 5,500.00 

Change from common to plate glass . 3,700.00 

Construction of dome 1,600.00 

Change from common to wire lath . . 400.00 
LTse of stone approach instead of ce- 
ment 340.00 

Enlarging foundation 1,380.00 

Plumbing 1,675.00 

Wiring and gas fitting 1,000.00 

Heating and equipage 3,750.00 

Electric and gas fixtures 1,548.00 

Frescoing (changing to oil colors) . 1,000.00 

Metal fixtures and furniture 7,288.00 

Wood fui'niture for courtroom .... 4,003.00 

Total $109,243.00 

It will be seen from this report that the 
courthouse and equipments cost a little over 
$109,000 and it is certainly a splendid build- 
ing for the money. The clock, costing a thou- 
sand dollars, was purchased by Adel people and 
donated to the county. D. A. Blanchard, one 
of the pioneer merchants of this place, contrib- 
uted $500 toward this gift. General satisfac- 
tion is e.xpressed over the expenditure and 
building of the new courthouse and it stands 
today a splendid monument to all those con- 
nected with its erection. The dedication was 
the finishing of an undertaking that has given 
Dallas county a magnificent courthouse that 
has a dollar's worth <if material for every dol- 
lar expended. 



118 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES IN NEW ^e truth we'll seek, the truth we'll tell; 

Nor rich nor poor, nor frieud nor foe, 
Within this hall we'll ever know. 

COURTROOM. Within these walls a sacred shrine 

Wherein we'll keep to endless time 

On Tuesday, November 25th, 1902, pic- Our Goddess, justice well enthroned; 

. We hail thee. Queen! to this thy home, 

lures of illustrious lowans were hung in the to thy divinity we dedicate 

, J „ ■„i„ „„™™„„,^,.n This room so beautiful; this hall of state." 

new courtroom and appropriate commemora- 
tive exercises held. 

T , LEGAL QUESTIONS RAISED. 

The following program was arranged and 

carried out in an interesting way: ■ , ., 

^ ^,. , T „y „T /~i J 11 In attempting to negotiate the courthouse 

Governor Kirkwood W. \\ . Cardell ^ , , ■, „ • • j i,- .• 

T T. TTru-i bonds the board or supervisors raised objections 

Governor Stone J.B.White u ■ .u \. e \.a 

^ , „, , to purchasmg them because ot apparent de- 

Judge Geo. G. Wright. John Shortley ^^^^ .^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ 

Judge Wm. A. Seevers Robt. S. Barr .^^^.^^ ^^^^^^ ^..^^^^j^ arrangements were 

Onginal Poem L. V. Harpel ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ provided e decree of 

Hon. John A. Kasson C. C. Pugh ^^^^^ ^^^j^ ^^ obtained declaring the issue 

Hon. Edwin H. Conger Edmund Nichols j^g^^ ^ ^^^^ ^.^^ therefore brought wherein 

Judge Wm. H. McHenry ■ ^^^ j GraJiam appeared as plaintiff, asking for 

Judge A. W. Wilkinson ^^^ injunction restraining the board from is- 
suing the bonds voted for. R. S. Barr prepared 
ADDRESSES. ^\^Q papers in the case and set up all the points 

of objection that could be found. White and 

Judge J. H. Applegate, Judge J. D. Gamble ci^rke appeared to resist the application for 

and Governor Albert B. Cummins. an injunction and filed a demurrer to the peti- 

Presentation of painting of Judge Dillon by tion. The case was fully and exhaustively ar- 

Hon. Geo. W. Clarke. gued before Judge Applegate, who sustained 

the demurrer and held that the proceedings 

POEM BY L. v. HARPEL. relative to the election were legal. 

The question arose soon after the construc- 

"We think the end of law is justice, jj^j^ ^f Ij^g courthouse, as to whether or not 

The word we preach in church Is love; . , j . j j iu •_ 

But each has much to teach the other, the board of supervisors had not exceeded their 

Together make the better brother. jurisdiction in expending more than the 

The "Weary Willies" of the land !„_„„„ , • -, , ,, . mi,- r i 

Increase and thrive on the open hand, $8o,000 authorized by the voters. ihlS leel- 

fn'^m^cr^e^'^doInd'c'SrUtfarch'^rity ^"8 in Perry was somewhat intensified from 

The law of compensation, justice, the fact the people of that place claimed that 

Is strong to make the race industrious; j n „ :+u rr\,^-,r 

And while alone 'tis heartless cold, they had not been fairly dealt with. iJiej 

Well mixed with love, 'tis finest gold, asserted that a promise had been made that 

In progress toward this high ideal ^. t-. • • ii t 

We build in beauty temples real; in consideration of Perry s supporting the court- 

ToTnd if faf rhe'beUeTp^^t."' "'"' bouse tax, the county would erect a jail at that 

Whoever enters here, must feel place. This was not done and considerable 

The power of art, her mute appeal, j j tj. i • i^^a ;., t„,r^ 

His sense of duty here will thrill feeling was engendered. It culminated in two 

And make him just what'er his will ^j Perrv's citizens, A. L. Brown and R. E. 

The ample space and good proportion, •' . . 

Harmonious lines without distortion, Zerwekh, filing a petition in the district court 

EmboS fonh oui' Ta^^'lind^Sty. asking that an injunction issue to restrain the 

With sunlight south and woolsack north, treasurer from paying certain warrants to the 

With portals west and jury east, . , , ^ -r. i o /-v /-( tti -i vi t ;<•„ 

We'll seat ourselves at reason's feast Adel State Bank, S. O. Longer, Equitable LiUe 

And show the world this chamber's worth. ^ p Moines and F. M. Hubbel, claiming 
We'll grind the grist of justice well; 




NE^^' COUIITIIOUSE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



121 



that said warrants were issued in excess of what 
was voted for the courthouse. 

The board of supei'\'isors. while admitting 
that the}' had technically exceeded their author- 
ity, claimed that the end justified the means. 
The board was sustained in the outcome though 
many felt that it would have been better to 
have asked the voters to express themselves on 
the additional amount necessary to be ex- 
pended. 

LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS. 

Below we give as complete a list of county 
officers as has been possible to secure : 

County commissioners: April to August, 

1847, Wm. Miller, Tristram Davis, Greenbury 
Coffin; August, 1847. to August, 1848, Noah 
Staggs, Wm Miller, 0. D. Smalley; August, 

1848, to August, 1849, William McCubbin, 
Wm. Miller, Tristram Davis ; August, 1849, to 
Augast, 1850, Wm. Miller, Wm. McCubbin, 
Tristram Davis; August, 1850, to August. 1851, 
J. C. Corbell, Wm. McCubbin. Tristram Davis. 
In 1851 the board of commissioners was abol- 
ished and the county affairs was managed for 
ten years by county judges, as follows : Judges : 
L. D. Burns, August, 1851, to October, 1859; 
rieni-y Thornburg, October, 1859, to January, 
1861 ; Jeremiah Perkins appointed to fill va- 
cancy in January, 1861, and served until office 
was abolished. 

The county board of supervisors was then 
established, there being ten at first; the first 
meeting being held January 7, 1861: Board: 
S. J. Garoutte, S. H. Vestal, J. D. Whitman, 
0. D. Smalley, R. H. Elder, A. Rinehart, J. D. 
Curry, D. M. Starbuck, John Maulsby and Jas. 
Pugh. 

The last board of sixteen supervisors was 
composed of the following persons: 1869 to 
1870, Benj. Greene, chairman; S. H. Vestal, 
L. D. Bullis, C. B. Snow, B. W. Thomas, L. S. 
AVells, B. T. Simcoke, D. J. Pattee, G. S. 
Mitchel. J. W. Redfield, Wm. Davidson. G. W. 
TTermoii, W. E. Tolle, 0. D. Smalley. .Jacob 
Stump and William Jenkins. 

October 11, 1870, the number of board mem- 



bers was changed to three and the following 
were named: David Smart, Wm. Ellis and J. 
W. Redfield. Wm. Ellis resigned in March, 
1871, and J. R. Van Meter was appointed. 

Afterwards elected: 0. D. Smalley, Abe 
Smith, S. W. Gilliland, J. C. Goodson, L. D. 
Burns, Jacob Stump, Wm. B. Ellis, L. D. 
Burns, W. M. Thornburg, Lem Warford, A. C. 
Newel, W. H. Jennings, L. P. Wilcox, J. R. 
Sheeley, H. C. Swallow, W. B. Brown, R. K. 
Price, L. W. Clayton, M. W. Gribben, W. B. 
Kinnick, Jacob Knapp, J. C. O'Malley, Henry 
Lisle. President board 1907, O'Malley, Lisle 
and Kinnick. 

Coroners: M. W. Miller, the first coroner, 
served from August, 1847, to August, 1849; 
H. Adams, 1849 to 1851 ; M. W. Miller, 1851 
to 1852; J. V. Pierce, 1852 to 1857; M. F. 
Gerard, 1857 to 1859; John Richart, Febru- 
ary, 1859 to October, 1859, by appointment; 
J.D. Ferguson, 1859 to 1863; L. Diddy, 1863 
to 1885; Wm. Thornburg, 1865 to 1866; M. E. 
Coons, October. 1866 to October, 1873; T. R. 
Foster, 1873 to 1875; Wesley Wright, 1875; 
C. C. .Johnson, 1881; M. G. Sloan; M. R. Cul- 
lison, 1886, Harry Roberts, 1888 to 1890; Tom 
Longshore, 1890 to 1892; H. A. Chappelear, 
1892 to 1902; H. P. Lods, 1902 to 1904; L. 
A. French, 1904. 

Probate judges : S. Miller, April 5, 1847 to 
August, 1847; W. D. Boone, April, 1848 to 
August, 1848; U. Stotts, 1848 to 1849; S. Mil- 
ler, April, 1849 to August, 1849; J. C. Good- 
son, 1849 to 1851. The probate business then 
passed into the hands of county judges. 

Commissioners' clerk : S. Miller, April, 1847 
to August, 1847; S. K. Scovell, August, 1847 
to May. 1850 ; B. Greene, 1850 until office was 
abolished. 

Drainage commissioners: Geo. Davis, 1852 
to 1857; L. L. Collins, 1857 to 1859; J. Parker, 
1859 to 1865: W. H. Brown, 1865 to 1867; 
G. L. Robertson, 1867 to 1869; L. D. Redfield, 
1869. 

Sealers of weights and measures: A. Crowl, 
August, 1847 to August. 1848; Z. Babcock, 
1848. 



1-J2 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Lot fund agent:^: T. Butler, July, 1847 to 

; F. G. Franco. to 1850 ; B. Greene, 

1850 to 1851. 

Prosecuting attorneys : Wm. McKay served at 
first session of court, April 5, 1847 ; H. Stump, 
1848 to 1849; B. Greene, 1849 to 1851; L. 
Lambert, 1851 to 1852 ; E. L. Morse, 1852 to 
1853 ; B. Greene, 1853 to 1856; J. Perkins, 1856 
to 1857; W. H. Dodge, 1857, abolished; D. 
W. Wooden, county attorney, 1886 to 1892; 
E. E. Nichols, 1892 to 1898 ; AV. W. Cardell, 
1898 to 1902; D. H. Miller, 1902 to . 

Di.strict clerks: G. S. Hills, April, 1847 to 
August, 1847 ; S. K. Scovell, 1847 to 1850 ; A. 
Schouten, August, 1850 to November, 1850; 
S. K. Scovell, 1850 to 1854; J. Leaming. 1854 
to 1856; Cole Noel. 1856 to 1866, when he re- 
signed and John Warford was appointed: J. 
R. Joy, 1866 to 1868; A. C. Hotchki.-s. 1874 
to 1881; M. J. Sweeley, 1881 to 1885: Lea 
Thornton, 1885 to 1891 ; A. M. McColl, 1891 to 
1897; C. C. Pugh, 1897 to 1903; Levi Gris- 
wold, 1903 to 1907; M. J. Graham, 1907 to 

Sheriffs: Eli Smithson, appointed by state 
legislature; J. K. Miller, April, 1847 to Aug- 
ust, 1847; E. Smithson, 1847 to 1849; S. 
Man-s, 1849 to 1850; H. Morrison, February, 
1850 to April, 1850, by appointment ; W. Ellis, 
April, 1850 to August, 1850; I. C. Hughes, 
1850 to 1852 ; S. C. Taylor, 1855 to 1857 ; I. 
D. Marsh, 1857 to 1862 ; W. Ellis, September, 
1862 to October. 1862; J. M. Byers, 1862 to 
1871 ; A. W. Haines, 1871 to 1875; S. J. Ellis, 
1875 to 1877; J. W. Bly, 1877 to 1881; S. 
Adams, 1881 to 1884; J. W. Diddy, 1884 to 
1890; S. S. Zenoa, 1890 to 1894; J. D. Payne, 
1894 to 1900 ; Joe Hanes. 1900 to 1907 ; Geo. 
Ross, 1907 to . 

Assessors: I. Miller was elected April 5, 
1847, but did not qualify, the office not hav- 
ing been authorized. The duties were per- 
formed for several years by the county sheriff. 
S. F. Graham served from April. 1857 to 1858, 
when the office was abolished. 

Treasurers and recorders: L. A. Davis, 
April, 1847 to August, 1847; J. C. Corbell, 



1847 to 1849; S. Dilley, 1849 to 1850; S. K. 
Scovell. 1850 to 1851; R. Y. Irvin, 1851 to 
1852 ; J. W. Hayes, 1852 to 1855 ; J. P. Eckels, 
1855 to 1859; F. S. Graham, 1859 to 1884. 
The office was then divided. 

Treasurers (alone) : F. S. Graham, 1864 
to 1867 (resigned) ; S. J. Garoutte, appointed 
to fill vacancy; John Maulsby, 1867 to 1869; 
S. J. Garoutte. 1869 to 1873; T. C. Walsh, 
1873 to 1875 : J. Macy. 1875 to 1877 ; E. H. 
Conger, 1877 to 1881; A. J. Lyon, 1881 to 

1884; Wesley Wright, 1884 to ; Q. A. 

Willis, 1888 to 1892; Tom Wright. 1892 to 
1896; W. S. Craft, 1896 to 1900; J. A. Thorn- 
burg, 1900 to 1904; Ed. Conger, 1904 to . 

Recorders (alone) : J. Perkins, 1864 to 
1S68; J. W. Coons, 1868 to 1874; J. W. Mat- 
tox, 1874 to 1878 ; J. G. Howe, 1878 to 1882 ; 
W. W. Machen. 1882 to 1886; T. C. Walsh; 
1886 to 1890; J. W. Henderson, 1890 to 1894; 
J. W. Cole. 1894 to 1900 ; J. W. Grimes, 1900 
to 190i: F. B. Chapman, 1906 to . 

Auditors: J. Perkins, 1869 to 1871; Z. W. 
Kelley, 1871 to 1877; L. Swearingen, 1877 to 
1888; Z. N. Fidler, 1884 to 1888; Wm. Rob- 
erts, 1888 to 1893; S. B. Kenworthy, 1893 to 
1897: C. R. Lyon. 1897 to 1905: H. P. Lods, 
1905 to : 

Surveyoi-s: M. W. Miller, April, 1847 to 
August, 1849; J. S. Sammis, August, 1849 to 
October, 1849; A. L. Johns, 1849 to 1850; S. 
K. Scovell, August, 1850 to November, 1850; 
O. D. Smalley, November, 1850 to August, 
1855 ; Adam Buck. 1855 to 1857 ; J. T. Jack- 
son, 1857 to 1860; J. W. Wright, 1860 to 1883 
W. S. M. Abbott, 1863 to 1864 ; J. W. Wright 
1864 to 1865; H. H. Mofifatt, 1865 to 1867 
T. C. Walsh, October, 1867 (never qualified) 
A. J. Lyon (appointed) 1868; E. T. Abbott; 
1868 to 1870; J. A. Carrothers, 1870 to 1871 
J. T. Jack.-<on, 1871 to 1875; A. A. Nolan, 
1875 to 1881 to 1894; T. J. Jackson, 1894 to 
1902; Henry Brady. 1902 to 1904; F. M. 
Jackson, 1904 to . 

School fund commissioners: S. K. Scovell, 
.Vpril, 1848 to 1849: Ira Sherman, 1849 to 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



123 



1850; Benj. Oreene, 1850 to 1852; L. Lambert, 
1852 to 1857 ; S. K. Scovell, 1857 to 1858. 

County superintendents (office established 
April, 1858) : J. 0. Reed, April, 1858 to June, 
1859; J. W. Boyle by appointment from June, 

1859 to October, 1859; J. R. Reed, 1859 to 
1860; S. B. Hempstead by appointment May, 

1860 to November, 1860 ; M. C. Twitchel, 1860 
to 1865; Wm. Hastings, 1865 to 1867; Amos 
Dilley, 1867 to 1871; A. E. Simons, 1871 to 
1873; J. M. Crocker, 1873 to 1875; A. Dilley, 
1875 to 1885; Mi-s. Whinnery. 1885 to 1889; 
W. J. Hadley, 1889 to 1895 ; A. C. Hutchins, 
1S95 to 1902; R. F. Wood, 1902 to •. 

Representatives: J. C. Good^on and B. 
Greene, 1852 to 1853; Evan Fossen, 1854 to 
1856; B. Greene, 1856 to 1858; L. Lambert, 
1858 to 1860— the last of the district repre- 
sentatives. First representative for Dallas 
county alone: L. Lambert, 1859 to 1861; P. 
T. Russell. 1861 to 1863 ; E. Lindley, 1863 to 
1865 ; W. S. M. Abbott, 1865 to 1867 ; L. Lam- 
bert. 1867 to 1869; Cole Noel, 1869 to 1871; 
H. G. Van Meter, 1871 to 1873 ; John McLucas, 
1873 to 1875 ; T. C. Norris, 1875 to 1877 ; W. 
S. Russell. 1877 to 1879; T. J. Caldwell, 1882 



to 1884; D. J. Pattee, 1884 to 1888; T. A. 
Thornburg, 1888 to 1892; J. H. Carter, 1892 
to 1896; E. G. Parrott, 1896 to 1900; G. W. 

Clarke, 1900 to 1907 ; John Fox, 1907 to . 

District senators: James Redfield, 1862 to 
1866 ; J. R. Reed, 1866 to 1870 ; H. Thornburg, 
1870 to 1874; T. J. Caldwell, 1884 to 1892; 

A. C. Hotchkiss, 1896 to 1900. 

PRESENT CONDITION. 

I 

The people are glad that this long drawn 
out contest is ended and that the vexed county 
seat disturbance will not again appear above 
the political horizon. The county now has a 
building as nearly fireproof as can be made and 
the valuable public records are safe. 

The names of the present county officers 
are: Auditor, H. P. Lods; Clerk, M. J. 
( iraham ; Treasurer, Ed. Conger ; Recorder, F. 

B. Chapman ; County Superintendent, R. F. 
Wood; County Attorney, D. H. Miller, 
Sheriff, George Ross; Coroner, L. A. French; 
Surveyor, F. M. Jackson. Members of Board 
of Supervisors, W. B. Kinnick, J. C. O'Malley, 
H. M. Lisle. 



DALLAS COUINTY VOTE 



Perrj. Ist Wnril . . 

•• 2nd Ward. 

•• SrdWBrd.. 

Spring Valley 

Sugar Grove 

Beaver 

Dallas 

Des Moines 

Dallas Center 

Adel 

Redfield 

Lineain... '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

Washington 

Boone 

Dexter 

DeSoto 

Van Meter 

Adorns 

Waukee 

Colfax 

Linden 

Total 

Majority 



Lieuten- 
Governor 



l.iSl 180 170 



si; Hi 77| Hi 76 



2500,1370 2618 2831 2763 1229 21B6 2012,2120 136S 



1"' 




IV ' 


!■-:■ 




li: 


In:. 


III 


m 


liil 


'-■; 


Mr: .;i 




ll;i -u; 


IMI 


1411 


173 




::•'. 


247 


■"5 






i;;i 








m 


l.SS 


4H 


111:3 


1511 


l.'ll 


4? 


14.5 68 












T' 


73 


HI) 


Vf 


W 


5=. 


721 70 


Kl> 


31 






•fl 


B!" 


63 


9« 


86 


75 




69, 60 


61 


1'/ 






™ 


M 


6N 


63 


«4 


5i: 


51 


&tl 45 


7S 


2S 








«.^ 


47 


Ht 


86 


71' 




731 40 


l.\S 


HI 


Itill 




v.s 


ISfl 


If. 


1611 


164 


15'1 


3-> 


162' 45 


Hi 




m 




11 


74 


11 


HI 


m 


7« 




76 2(1 


m 




I'M 




19 


M 


711 


126 


1V3 


117 


46 


93, 77 


121 




IIB 




.=.!! 


114 


43 


l:« 


lis 


111 




100 53 


143 




1411 




Ml 


111 


If, 


li.6 


1611 


138 


41 


139 53 


m 








.W 


71 


64 


IIH 


IS 


80 


45 


6.5 73 


129 


30 


Ml 




30 


121 


38 


131) 


133 


128 


26 


102, .55 








23Ki 




2116 


2009 


2886 2856 






2:172 1621 












107 















1611 130 151; 6S 

111' Kl 9JI 111 

1117 IIKI lim, 5« 

HIS HIS 115 4G 

135 86' 123 98 



124 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



FINANCES. 

Assessed values of real and personal property in 
each town and township of Dallas County in 1907: 

TOWNSHIPS. 

Boone $ 1,296,228 00 

Van Meter 1.208,032 00 

Adams 1,345,775 00 

Union 1,280,372 00 

Walnut 1,444,836 00 

Adel 1,388,028 00 

Linn 1,285,208 00 

Grant 1,413,124 00 

Sugar Grove 1,493,268 00 

Washington 1,217,432 00 

Des Moines 1,168,752 00 

Lincoln 1,410,956 00 

Beaver 1,305,920 00 

Spring Valley 1,326,820 00 

Dallas 1,391,864 00 



Total $21,426,874 00 



TOWNS. 

Adel % 767 

Perry 2,248 



Dallas Center 
Minburn 
Waukee . . 
Redfleld . . 
Linden . . . 
Dexter . . . 
Desoto . . . 
Van Meter 
Granger . . 
Woodward 



669 
191, 
226 
345 
205 
518 
159 
181 
136 
392 



,920 00 
,760 00 
332 00 
156 00 
128 00 
064 00 
,792 00 
400 00 
,596 00 
864 00 
.252 00 
512 00 



Total $6,042,776 00 

In addition to above valuation for taxable pur- 
poses in Dallas County are: 

Assessed Value. 

Railroads $2,856,716 00 

Telephones 92,496 00 

Telegraphs 25,900 00 

Express 14,7S8 00 



Total $2,989,900 00 



County expenses as shown by County T 
report, from Jan. 1, 1907, to June 1 1907 
Fund. 

State 

University 

College of Agriculture 

County I . \ 

Bridge 

Poor Fund 

District Teachers Fund 

Contingent ....'. 

School House 

County Road 

Township Road ,\ 

Corporation 

Apportionment ! ! . ! . 

Insane . 

Board of Health ........'....'" 

Bond "... 

Corporation Road 

Cemetery 

Soldiers' Relief 

Feeble Minded 

School 

Fines '. ".. 



reasurer s 

Paid out. 

12.497 30 

831 13 

831 13 

16,572 39 

1,772 74 

6,056 27 

42,805 51 

15,100 95 

7,471 98 

2,292 04 

20,691 63 

12,595 94 

4,716 08 

3,681 31 

5 88 

2,303 47 

226 15 

543 09 

1.001 44 

220 77 

3,482 13 

466 00 



Ditch No. 3 

Ditch No. 4 

Orphans' Home 

Sidewalk 

Water 

School Fund Interest. . 
Permanent School . . . . 

Deaf and Dumb 

Institute for Teachers. 

Courthouse 

State Normal 



1,643 62 

612 19 

2,072 91 

4,023 62 

278 64 

1,101 01 

6,550 00 

11 90 

15 00 

7 06 

. 415 56 



Total $172,896 84 

E.\RLY ELECTIONS. 

The second and third elections in the county 
passed off without the charge of being so 
spirited as the first; but the fourth election 
held in August, 1848, proved to be a memor- 
able one. This was the first opportunity Dal- 
las county had of voting for state officers and 
members of congress. 

There were three polling places at this time ; 
viz., at Penoach, at the house of William 
]McCubbin in Boone township, and at the house 
of Judah Leaming in Des Moines townshiiD. 
This election gave an opportunity for some of 
the politicians to display their versatile 
methods at the expense of those inclined to fol- 
low the ordinary plan of making a straightfor- 
ward campaign. 

Daniel Miller was the whig candidate for 
congress and William Thompson the demo- 
cratic candidate. Pete Myers of Des Moines, 
who was interested in Miller's candidacy, made 
a deal with a number of Mormons who claimed 
to belong in the attached territory west of DaU 
las county M'hereby they were to come in large 
numbers and vote for Miller. The Mormons 
were on hand promptly at the time set for elec- 
tion, coming in wagons to Boone township and 
claiming to reside in the attached strip west of 
Dallas county which permitted them to vote 
here. They actually did live outside of the 
territorj- that had been attached for voting 
purjjoses, but they were able to secure recogni- 
tions on their claims. In the preceding elec- 
tion but twenty-four votes had been cast, but 
this year the total reached 110, the heavy vote 
coming from Boone township where the Mor- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



125 



inons had camped. Of the 110 votes cast, Mil- 
ler received eighty-eight. 

Clerk Scovell refused to certify the result to 
the secretary of state, but an order from court 
was secured and the returns duly made giving 
the fraudulent majority to Miller. 

The presidential election was held in the fol- 
lowing November, and to prevent a repetition 
of the fraud practiced in the last election, an 
order was made by the board of supervisors 
that there should be but one voting precinct, 
w^hich should be at Penoach. There were 
three presidential candidates in the field: 
Zachary Taylor, whig; Lewis Cass, democrat; 
and Martin Van Buren, free soiler. 

There were fifty-seven votes cast in Dallas 
county. One of the voters at this election, 
Nathan Moore, still resides on his farm in this 
county a short distance south of Van Meter 
and enjoys fairly good health. It is believed 
that he is now the only person living who 
participated in this election at Penoach, and 
who has the distinction of being the last of the 
pioneers who came to Dallas county in the 
forty's in the full strength of manhood and 
has lived here contiTiuously ever since. 

COUNTY JAIL. 

The county apparently did not consider a 
jail as one of its necessary fixtures in the first 
years of its existence. Malefactors and distur- 
bers of the peace were lodged temporarily in 
some convenient building. Prisoners detained 
for serious crimes were taken to Des Moines. 
The question of expending enough to build a 
jail was submitted to the voters in 1861 but 
was voted down, there being 208 votes cast in 
favor of it to 427 against it. The question of 
building a jail on the second floor of the court- 
house was considered at one time, but this plan 
was not approved after investigation. In 1871 
the board of supervisors ordered an appropria- 
tion of $5,000, or as much of that sum iis was 
necessan- to build a county jail on lot No. 6, 
in block No. 8, in Adel. A two-story brick 
building was erected in the summer of 1872, 



which has been enlarged and modernized by 
later appropriations, until now it is a thor- 
oughly up-to-date commodious structure, well 
adapted to serve as a home for the sheriff and 
his family and a secure place for the detention 
of criminals. 

A glimpse into the lives of the many culprits 
that have been confined in this historic building 
within the past thirty-five years would no 
doubt be highly interesting and would reveal 
many things connected with their crimes that 
never came to light during their trials. 

Persons of various callings, from the common 
pickpockets to that of the sacred profession of 
the ministry, of various races, colors and 
stations in life, and charged with misdemeanors 
and crimes, from drunkenness to murder, have 
been incarcerated here. 

The jail contains no prisonera at the time 
of this writing. Whether or not the county is 
getting free from the criminal class time alone 
will tell. 

STORY OF JASPER MASON. 

It would be tedious and impracticable to 
give a detailed history of the various crimes, 
apprehensions and subsequent trials of Dallas 
county's lawless characters from the organiza- 
tion of the county to the present time. But 
the story of Jasper Mason is unusual, not only 
in regard to his arrest and conviction of the 
crime of murder, but from the fact that he 
served thirty-one years of prison life. 

A tale of pathos without the mixture of 
romance, an ordinary lifetime served in punish- 
ment for crime, thirty-one years' existence in 
the dull labors and between the dead walls of 
a state's prison for an act committed when he 
was but little past his majority ; this is the his- 
tory of what might have been the best part of 
the life of Jasper Mason released from the 
Anamosa penitentiary in April, 1907, after 
being pardoned by the governor. 

When Mason stepped out of the doors of the 
Anamosa prison, he closed a career of prison 
life excelled by few prisoners in the United 



126 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



States. Coming out prematurely aged, his face 
lined with wrinkles, his body bent with labor 
into a world that is entirely new and strange 
to him, it is little wonder that he seemed dazed 
and bewildered. 

Born on a farm in Illinois in 1853 and left 
an orphan at an early age, he worked on a farm 
until he was twenty years of age when he came 
to Iowa. He acquired a roving disposition and 
a tendency to associate with disreputable charac- 
ters. Late in the summer of 1876 he stopped 
at the town of Atlantic then a small hamlet 
where he met a young man named Woods who 
was traveling by wagon to Des Moines. An ar- 
rangement was made whereby Mason was to go 
to Des Moines in company with Woods. They 
started together from Atlantic and made three 
stops on the way, the last of which was the 
undoing of Mason. 

The first stop they made was at Dexter where 
they got some provisions; the next stopping 
place was at De Soto, at which place they were 
noticed by a number of people. In the mean- 
time, according to Mason's story, the two 
travelers had been drinking heavily and had 
been engaged in a prolonged and rather heated 
discussion of the respective merits of the then 
presidential candidates- — Hayes and Tilden. 
The next stop was at a little grassy knoll a little 
east of De Soto, near where the road crosses 
Bulger creek. Exactly what happened there no 
one knows but Ma.«on. He claimed that they 
got into a drunken row and that Woods as- 
saulted him with a knife. Mason believing his 
lifewas in danger fired a revolver at Woods, caus- 
ing a wound that resulted in death within a few 
days, Mason also claiming that he had bought 
the team and that he felt no compunction in 
taking the team away, leaving his dying com- 
panion on the ground. He was arrested at 
Prairie City a few days later and returned to 
Dallas county for trial. Woods was found the 
next morning and conveyed to the home of 
Fon Van Meter. Here he lingered four days 
and died without making any statement as to 
the facts of the shooting. The attendant 
phj'sician, Dr. A. J. Smith, convinced that 



the man had been murdered by his companion, 
began to do a little detective work. By making 
a number of inquiries, he managed to trace 
Mason to Prairie City, where he had him ar- 
rested. The facts appearing that Woods had 
l)een murdered for his money and team, having 
apparently been shot as he lay under the wagon 
asleep, created such a feeling at De Soto that 
it was with the greatest difficulty a lynch- 
ing was prevented. Mason was tried in the dis- 
trict court at Adel in October, 1876, being de- 
fended l)y T. R. North. 

A peculiar feature of the law at that time 
was the fact that the defendant in a criminal 
[irosecution was not permitted to be a witness 
in his own behalf. While the testimohy of 
reputable citizens now living who were con- 
versant with the attendant circumstances is to 
the belief that the accused wa.s guilty of the 
crime as presented by the state, yet it seems a 
travesty on justice that one hvmdred years 
after the Declaration of Independence was 
.signed, a prisoner should be tried for murder, 
where the evidence was all circumstantial, and 
not allowed to testify in his own behalf. Ma.son 
made repeated efforts for pardon but on account 
of protests from Dallas county people who were 
convinced that justice demanded the full 
penalty to be paid, he was unsuccessful until 
1907, when he was able to get the sympathy of 
the legislature, who recommended a pardon. 
After gaining his freedom he departed for 
South Dakota, where he expects to take up 
anew the profession of farming. 

DALLAS COUNTY POOR FARM. 

The Dallas county poor farm, located three 
miles north of Adel, is not only one of the best 
pieces of property in the county but is also a 
monument to the spirit of charity and sym- 
pathy for the unfortunate that has always 
characterized the people of Dallas county. 

The initial land for the county farm was 
purchased from Cyrus Hemphill, June 9, 1869, 
at a cost of nearly $4,000. It is located on the 
southwest quarter of section 8, township 79, 




i>ALLA.s CuLXTY POOR FARM 



PAST AND PRESENT 

< 
range 27. Buildings were erected and the farm 
equipped in a way to make it as nearly self-sus- 
taining as possible. Additional land has been 
purchased, and improvements made until now 
the farm consists of 500 acres of land, with 
residence buildings, water tower and tank, 
barns, hospital, laundry, heat and light plant, 
etc., the entire farm equipped as fully and 
completely as can be imagined and valued at 
$84,425.24. 

This is the county home for the insane, the 
feeble minded and the poor, and contains at 
this time thirty-six inmates. 

The county has spared no expense in making 
this a model institution and all who visit it 
are favorably impressed with its ideal equip- 
ment and splendid management. 

Steward Jap Reynolds and wife have had 
charge of the farm for the last ten years and 
their work is deserving of the highest praise. 
Mrs. Reynolds is a woman of such rare tact, 
sympathy and kindness as to invariably win 
the confidence of the unfortunate and afflicted 
inmates. She has given close personal super- 
vision of the hospital during these years and 
one can not but marvel at the excellency of the 
system that prevails. Scrupulous cleanliness 
is observed everywhere and all the comforts, 
care and thoughtfulness of a home are bestowed 
upon the suffering and unfortunate charges. 
,Jap, the steward, is fat and of a sunshiny tem- 
perament that seems to shed good humor at all 
times. 

It would be hard to find a more genial, warm- 
hearted, hospitable man the Jap Reynolds. He 
is not only liberal, generous, honest and com- 
panionable, but is, moreover, peculiarly well 
fitted to take charge of such an undertaking 
as the management of one of the best farms 
of this kind in the state. 

During his administration the new addition 
costing $10,000, the new barn costing $5,500, 
cement walks, water worlcs, electric light plant, 
purchase of more land and innumerable im- 
provements have been made, the .suggestions for 
most of which are to be credited to the good 
judgment of Mr, Reynolds. 



OF DALLAS COUNTY. 129 

The main building which is used as a hospi- 
tal, place of detention for the hopelessly insane, 
living rooms for the steward and family, 
laundry, etc., is a large handsome brick struc- 
ture two stories above the basement. It stands on 
an elevated site surrounded by green lawns and 
beautiful trees from which the land gently 
slopes in all directions. No place in the county 
possesses more superb advantages from an 
artistic standpoint, and to these natural ad- 
vantages intelligent art has added the finishing 
touches with a masterhand, until the place is 
one of unrivalled picturesque beauty. The 
receipts from the farm for the year 1906 were 
$11,220.79. The total expense was some more 
than this but was due to some unusual outlays 
for the year found necessary in order to in- 
creased the efficiency of the property. 

An invoice made by the hoard of supervisors 
in 1906 showed on hand: 

Cattle $ 4,202.50 

Horses 2,200.00 

Hogs 510.00 

Feed 2,775.00 

Land and Buildings 67,900.00 

Miscellaneous 6,837 . 74 

Total $84,425.24 

The paupers are cared for in the neat cottages 
that stand a few steps south of the main build- 
ing. Many of these have been the victims of 
misfortune, ill health and bad luck. Their 
faces crushed by failure to cope with life suc- 
cessfully bear some resemblance to tho.se of 
feeble-minded or insane patients. The insane 
show various traits of character. Some are 
garrulous with glimmerings of reason clouded 
by irrational moments, others are scowling, 
morose and revengeful. When Mr. Reynolds 
took charge of the institution in 1897 two of 
the insane patients, Salem Bell and Benjamin 
Short, were especially violent and difficult to 
handle. The policy of the present administra- 
tion is to allow the inmates considerable liberty 
and opportunities for exercise in the open air. 
In pursuance of this policy the raving and vio- 
lent Bell and Short were released from their 



130 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALL.4S COUNTY. 



long continued confinement and were given 
light work about the farm. Short was, at first, 
inclined to be belligerent but the firmness of 
the steward and the salutary methods employed 
soon made him amenable to discipline. Both 
Bell and Short are now^ very tractable and to- 
gether with the other able bodied patients are 
able to do considerable work on the fai-m. 

One of the oldest and best known paupers 
was a man named Bray who died a year ago. 
He lived to an advanced age and during his 
lifetime experienced manj- vicissitudes of for- 
tune. For many years he was a familiar figure 
about the farm and it was extremely interesting 
to get him in a reminiscent mood and listen to 
the story of his past life. He never acknowl- 
edged that he made the poor farm his home 
from necessity but explained his presence there 
by saying that he had dropped in temporarily 
to help Jap during the busy season. 

One of the first patients admitted after the 
farm was opened to the public was Lizzie Cul- 
pepper who came in 1870, being at that time 
nine years of age. Her mind, apparently, is a 
hopeless blank and she spends the time moping 
about refusing to exercise or take any interest 
in the scenes outside when she is led into the 
yard. She has a mania for possessing pins and 
is delighted when someone gives here an ad- 
ditional one to add to her store. If she loses 
one she seems to have some instinctive knowl- 
edge of the fact and raises quite a disturbance 
until the missing article is found and restored 
to her. There are many other peculiar and 
remarkable characters here. They brood over 
the past and seem to feel that the world has 
grievously wronged them. They often cherish 
troubles, real or imaginary, and probably have 
never learned the lesson to forgive and forget. 
These stricken and unfortunate patients with 
unhealthful minds and morbid thoughts, the 
paupers who have become incapacitated through 
age or infirmity from earning a living, are all 
humanely cared for at the poor farm, which is 
conducted in a manner that is a credit to all 
who are in charge. 



DALLAS COUNTY SWAMP LANDS. 

In September, 1850, congress passed a bill 
known as the "swamp act." After declaring a 
forty acre tract to be a legal subdivision, it 
provided that all such legal subdivisions of 
which more than twenty acres were wet and 
swampy, and unfit for use unless tiled or 
ditched, should pass to the states for reclama- 
tion. It was expected that the states would see 
to it that these swamp lands were reclaimed by 
ditching or othemise. In the meantime the 
United States had thousands of tracts of lands 
which it sold for one dollar and twenty-five 
cents an acre. Many of these adjoined the 
swamp lands. It was not long until complaints 
were received at Washington that the United 
States land office had sold and was still selling 
swamp land in forty acre tracts for fifty dollars, 
when in fact by the law and patent of 1850 the 
government had surrendered its title to the 
lands it was alleged to have sold. The situa- 
tion grew worse until March, 1855, when the 
"indemnity act'' was passed, which decreed that 
in instances where the government had sold 
swamp lands after the law of 1850, the states 
should be given the fifty dollars or lands in 
place of it. 

Before the indemnity act was passed and in 
1853 the Iowa legislature enacted a law passing 
all of its rights and claims in the swamp lands 
down to the counties in which the lands were 
located. In Dallas county it was claimed that 
over five hundred forty acre tracts which were 
rightfully swamp lands, and which belonged 
to it, were sold by the United States and the 
money kept by it. 

Some counties made arrangements later on 
with parties to collect their claims on commis- 
sion. Dallas county in January, 1891, sold its 
claims direct to J. N. Prouty for $2,300. The 
claims amounted to $25,000.00, but the diffi- 
culty of collecting them was so great and the 
prospects for realizing anywhere near their 
value so small, that the board felt justified in 
accepting Mr. Prouty's offer. 
\ 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



131 



The matter was the subject of considerable 
discussion at the time by the partisan press, the 
action of the board being violently criticized 
by those who felt that the amount received 
was too small and that the sale showed poor 
judgment. The consensus of opinion, however, 
seemed to be, that in view of the uncertainties 
connected with the collections of such claims, 
the boai'd had shown wisdom in making a 
settlement on the basis referred to. 

AGKICULTUR.\L SOCIETY. 

The Dallas County Agiicultural Society was 
organized at Adel, December 31, 1855, with 
Archibald Crowe as chairman and Benjamin 
Greene, secretary. Articles of incorporation 
were prepared and adopted the next spring and 
elaborate preparations made to hold the first 
county fair. The executive committee con- 
sisted of John Wilson of Penoach township, 
Calvin Marshall of Union township, Isaac 
Robins of Des Moines township, L. L. Collins 
of Sugar Grove township. Hooper Morain of 
Dallas township and Daniel Flinn of Boone 
township. The first officers of the society were : 
W. W. Payne, president; J. T. Alexander, vice- 
president; Benjamin Greene, secretary; James 
D. Ferguson, treasurer; Cole Noel, marshal. 

A premium list was made out and the first 
fair held in October, 1856. 

The first premiums, with the exception of 
nine dollars and seventy-five cents were all 
donated to the society. 

It has had a vicarious existence, with periods 
of prosperity and lapses into stagnation and 
financial embarrassment, from its incipiency 
down to 1903, when it was discontinued. 

The first four years, fairs were held regularly 
and largely attended. It lapsed then until 1867 
when new life was injected into it and grounds 
containing twenty-three acres north of Adel on 
the Mill slough which has since been discon- 
tinued as a site for fairs and has been turned 
into a town park. 

Prominent among its officers in early days 
were ; Dr. T. J. Caldwell, T. R. North, Benjamin 



Greene, W. S. Rudrow, Cole Noel and A. G. 
Marsh and in later days Dr. J. H. Dwight, A. 
P. York, A. C. Hutchins, John Fitzgerald, E. 
Vial and Harry Crenshaw. 

The following account of the fair of 1901 
was published in a local paper: 

"The weather was made to order last week 
for the benefit of the county fair and was found 
to be a good fit. The attendance was larger 
than usual, the gate receipts on Wednesday 
being $217.50, on Thursday $449.00 and on 
Friday $357.00, in addition to which the so- 
ciety received fifty dollars from previous sale of 
tickets. The sale of privileges resulted in a fund 
of $280.45 and $58.25 was collected as stall rent. 
This makes a total of over $1,500 as receipts, 
without counting the $200 which is expected 
from the state fund devoted to the purpose of 
aiding county fairs. A further source of rev- 
enue not enumerated above was the entry 
money in the races, the exact amount of such 
fund not yet being ascertained. While the re- 
ceipts were thus much larger than usual, the 
expenses were also heavier than in previous 
years and the management now realizes that too 
much money was spent for some of the amuse- 
ments. The races were quite good and drew the 
attention of most of the crowd during the time 
they were in progress. The pony show and dog 
shoAV were interesting, though it was impossible 
for everybody to see all the performances. The 
exhibits of poultry and live stock were not above 
the average in number, but the few who en- 
tered stock showed some very fine animals. P. 
H. Mitchell of De Soto had the only exhibit 
of poultry and took some good premiums. He 
also captured good premiums with his English 
Shire Stallion. J. S. Russell of Panora showed 
in his big tent fifteen head of fine short horn 
cattle and H. A. Eveland of Lincoln township 
had some fine Black Polled Angus on exhibit. 
William Hester of Van Meter with his Poland 
Chinas, C. V. Brown of Earlham, with the white 
0. I. C's. and Minor York of Adel with the 
Red Duroc's took charge of the premiums in 
that department. W. C. Morse of Adams town- 
ship had a fine exhibit of sheep. In the fruit 



132 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



line M. J. Gx"aham had a very creditable dis- 
play for this season and the exhibits of farm 
products were also quite good considering the 
year. 

"On Wednesday the first of the series of 
contests were held at the big tent and a class 
of fifteen j'oung people contested for one hun- 
dred dollars in gold. There were five prizes 
given, consisting of thirty dollars, twenty-five 
dollars, twenty dollars, fifteen dollars and ten 
dollars re.-iiectively. The judges gave the first 
five places to the following young people : First 
place to Miss Opal Richmond of Dallas Center, 
second place to Marie Phillips of Adel, third 
place to Florence Buckingham of Perry, fourth 
place to Grace Crawford of Beaver township 
and fifth place to Miss Anna Hester of Van 
Meter. On Thursday a class of sixteen con- 
tested in Declamation and the decisions of the 
judges were as follows: First place to Miss 
Edythe Potter of Woodward, second place to 
Harry Bell of Adams township, third j^lace to 
Alice Burns of Redfield, fourth place to Miss 
Hope Nelson of Colfax township and fifth place 
to Miss Ethel Chamberlain of Minburn. The 
prizes for the contest were the same as for pre- 
ceding day. 

''On Fridaj- the final contest was held. It 
differed from the ones of the two preceding 
days in that it was an Oratorical contest. In 
this class there were thirteen young people from 
difi^erent parts of the county, and the prizes 
which consisted of fifty dollars, forty dollars 
and thirty dollars, were given by the judges to 
the following, in order from the first ; First 
place to Joe Leonard of Walnut township, 
second place to Miss Lillian Buford of Perry 
and third place to E. N. Steel of Perry. Im- 
mediately after this cont&st was given and be- 
fore the decision of the judges was given in the 
Oratorical contest, Mi.ss Opal Richmond who 
was given first place on the first day's contest 
and Miss Edythe Potter who was given first 
place on the second days contest were matched 
for a final contest for a gold watch. In this 
contest, Miss Edythe Potter of Woodward was 
given the watch, on a small fraction over Miss 



Richmond. These contests cost the Association 
$320.00 and so far as entertainment and favor- 
able comment was concerned were a great suc- 
cess. 

"One of the most intere.sting events was the 
basket ball game on Friday, between teams of 
young ladies from Adel and Perry. The Adel 
girls were much quicker and showed better 
team work, the score standing 28 to in their 
favor. Although the game was one-sided it was 
quite exciting sport for the sj^ectators and every- 
body wanted to wear the rad and black colors 
of the victors. The Van Meter, Minburn and 
Adel bands furnished excellent music for the 
fair." 

Some very successful fairs have been held by 
this society in the years gone by and great 
crowds have gathered there to listen to high class 
oratory, patriotic music and cheei's of spectators, 
to witness the races, vaudeville and acrobatic 
performances and various other attractions 
galore ; to visit friends and renew acquaintances 
with friends from remote corners of the county 
who made annual pilgrimages to the county 
seat at this particular time. Much interest 
was manifested in the races, an interest which 
led to the breeding of fancy drivers. Joco, a 
black horse owned by J. H. Dwight, was famous 
in his day and earned many laurels on the Adel 
track. 

Noted trotters, pacers, and running horses 
entered from other localities and the contests 
at times were fast and furious. R. S. Barr had 
some colts from the Joco blood that showed 
unusual speed. He still owns Col. McCoy, Lady 
Barr and Young Hail Cloud, that under the 
care of his excellent trainer, George Clarke, are 
making enviable records at annual fairs in other 
places. 

Lady Knapp, a Dalla.< county product, owned 
by Walter Knapp of Redfield was driven over 
the Adel track at a 2 :19 clip, the fastest speed 
probably every made on it by a Dallas county 
product. She has lowered this record consider- 
ably on other tracks since that time and has 
changed ownership at a fancy price. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



133 



The bast record ever made in a race on the 
Adel track was by a horse nained Senator A, who 
trotted a mile in 2:16^/4. 

The scenes enacted at these annual fairs 
were of a variety that called forth approval and 
adverse criticism. The usual crowd of fakirs, 
gamblers and questionable attractions were 
patronized as well as the more refined and 
reputable amusements. On several occasions 
tents were secured and entertaining programs 
carried out by pupils from various public 
schools over the county. The ]>opularity of the 
near by State Fair at Des Moines a.nd other 
numerous reasons made it difficult to make a 
financial success of the county fair and the en- 
terprise has been permanently disbanded. 

RAILROADS. 

Dallas I'dunty is well supplied with railroads, 
the Chicago, Milwaukee it St. Paul having two 
parallel lines east and west through the central 
and northern jJarts and a branch through Gran- 
ger and Madrid on the northeast, the Chicago, 
Rock Island & Pacific, through the southern 
tier of townships and the Minneapolis & St. 
Louis, from the southeast township to the cen- 
tral jnirt of the northern boundary line. An 
electric road has just Ijeen built from Des 
Moines cro.ssing Dallas county througli Granger 
and thence northwest through Perry. A branch 
extends from this road at Moran in Des Moines 
township to Woodward. 

For a number of years after Dallas county 
was settled there wasn't a railroad in the state. 
In 1854 the first road was built, extending frnm 
Davenport to Iowa City. Within the same year 
the Keokuk & Des Moines was started. The 
road from Davenport to Iowa City and thence 
west (lid not move very rapidly Init in ISiiS an 
extension from Iowa's initial railroad pashed 
on west and pa.ssed through Dallas county in 
1868-9. It is now known as the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific and has a splendid service and 
complete equipment. The towns that have 
sprung up along this road in this county are 
Booneville, Van Meter, Do Soto and Dexter. 



The Minneapolis & St. Louis, formerly the 
Des Moines A: Fort Dodge, was built throughDal- 
las county in 1(S69-1870, the veteran engineer, 
James Loring, who still resides at Dallas Center, 
being employed by the company as surveyor. 
He states that the route through a part of the 
way was so swampy that he had to wear a rub- 
ber suit. This road was formerly called the 
Des Moines & Fort Dodge branch. It passes 
through \A^aukee, Dallas Center, Minburn and 
Perry, all flourishing towns surrounded by land 
of unexcelled fertility. 

Des Moines, Adel & Western Railroad. For 
a quarter of a century or more Adel experienced 
jieriodical excitements consequent Upon some 
railroad project, but the outlook was not very 
flattering until a company was organized in 
April, 1878, with the determination to take 
definite action in regard to building a road from 
Waukee to Adel. 

The officers were: President, • Benjamin 
Greene; vice-j^resident, T. .J. Caldwell; secretary, 
A. C. Hotchkiss; treasurer, L. Lambert; direc- 
tors, Benjamin Greene, L. Lambert, .J. 0. Ris- 
ser. T. .1. Caldwell, .J. W. Russell, J. C. Mitch- 
ner. A. C. Hotchkiss, J. Risser and D. A. 
1>1 an chard. 

It was but a short time until money and work 
were pledged, mostly by local men, sufficient to 
liuild the road to a point within sixty rods of 
tiic river and equip it ^^'ith a limited supply of 
rolling stock. It was completed to that point 
October LI, 1878, and the work rested for a 
time. It would take considerable capital to 
cross the river and the company began to look 
f(ir aid. It had to fall l)ack upon home capi- 
tal with the promi.se of assistance from abroad 
if local faith was first manifested. Sufficient 
nmney was raised to bridge the river, the con- 
tract for which was let to Jonathan Peppard 
on January 81, 1879. to be completed within 
ninety days. Cost of bridge was $3,140 with 
approaches costing $1,600. The work was com- 
pleted Saturday April 26, 1879, and all was in 
readiness for the first train to cro.ss the river. 

The announcement that an event of so much 
iniiiorlaiicc til .\dr! would l>c iinipci'ly coli^brated 



134 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTS'. 



bi'ought out tLe entire population. The chil- 
dren gathered at the schoolhouse and accom- 
panied by their teachers, inarched to the depot, 
headed by the Adel Cornet Band. The stores 
were closed and the business portion of the town 
deserted. About eight hundred gathered at the 
depot to witness the long expected event — the 
arrival of the first train. It was generally un- 
derstood that but few persons would be allowed 
to ride across the bridge, but four young ladies 
of Adel, assured of the co-operation of the en- 
gineer, S. L. Ward, hastened to a point on the 
road in Mr. Clark's field, out of sight of the 
bridge. Here they flagged the train and were 
taken on board. That place was dubbed by 
them '"Old Maid's Station." At the engine 
house it was met by the president and secretary 
and other members of the company, the band 
and members of the press, also Jack Carter, of 
Redfield. who was a great friend to this little 
plug road. The train then slowly steamed 
across the river and up to the depot, where it 
was proposed that three cheers be given for the 
Des Moines, Adel & Honolulu Railroad. 

Cole Noel then opened the exercises by calling 
upon the band to play "Nip and Tuck," re- 
marking that it was appropriate to the occasion, 
suggestive of the many difficulties that had been 
met and overcome in building this road. Ben- 
jamin Greene was then called upon and gave a 
sketch of the events leading up to the com- 
pletion of this road. He reminded the audience 
that while some criticised a narrow gauge yet 
"broad is the way that leads to destruction and 
narrow is the way that leads to life — temporal 
as well as eternal." Mr. Greene briefly eulo- 
gized Dr. Caldwell, president of the road, and 
ended by presenting him a beautiful gold- 
headed cane, upon which was the inscription 
"Presented to T. J. Caldwell, by his friends, 
April, 1879." Dr. Caldwell thanked his friends 
for the expression of their good will and said 
that while Adel was entitled to great credit for 
what she had done, yet praise must be given 
to Des Moines. Redfield and Panora for the help 
they had extended and to them the friends 
should look for means to push the road west- 



ward. Prof. Phillips came forward and made 
one of his characteristic addresses, ending by 
presenting a cane to Mr. Greene which was the 
exact counterpart of the one given Dr. Cald- 
well. 

The day was ended by all piling into the 
cai's until they were filled full and overflowing 
and taking an excursion to Waukee. 

At the first annual meeting of the company 
the following officers were elected: President, 
T. J. Caldwell; vice-president, J. W. Russell; 
secretary, A. C. Hotchkiss; treasurer, L. Lam- 
bert; directors, Caldwell, Hotchkiss, Russell, 
Lambert, Blanchard, Ashton and Risser. 

This road, now a standard gauge, is a part 
of the Milwaukee system and extends from Des 
Moines west through Waukee, Adel, Kennedy, 
Redfield, Linden and thence north through 
Guthrie county. The division east from Hern- 
don passes through Dawson, Perry, Bouton and 
Woodward. 

The electric road, through Grant, Des Moines, 
Beaver and Spring Valley townships, has 
already proved its value and has caused a notice- 
able appreciation of the realty along its line. 

Other surveys for electric roads have been 
recently made through this county and the 
probabilities are that these proposed lines \vill 
be built in the near future. An interurban 
line through the county seat north and south 
would fill a long-felt want and would certainly 
be well patronized both for business and 
pleasure. 

DALLAS county's PART IN THE VICARS. 

If there are any pei-sons whose names should 
take precedence in the roll of honor of a 
county's history it certainly should be those 
who made the most honorable struggles and 
heroic sacrifices for his country in general and 
his county in a special sense. 

No one can claim higher credit for these 
struggles and sacrifices than the soldier who 
responded to his county's call and went forth 
to battle for the right. The Civil War between 
the North and the South and the principles for 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



135 



which each side stood can be viewed dispassion- 
at-ely after a lapse of nearly half a century and 
the conclusion can not be other than this: the 
North fought to preserve a union of states in 
which freedom should stand higher than com- 
mercialism; the South fought to perpetuate 
slavery, and as an incident to this, to disrupt 
the best government that the world ever saw. 

Iowa nobly responded to the call for troops 
and though subjected to drains that were 
frightful to contemplate she answered the calls 
in a way that will ever cause a feeling of proper 
pride in the hearts of loyal lowans. 

In this call, Dallas county contributed her 
part and made a praiseworthy record. It is im- 
possible to do full justice to a subject like this. 
We can eulogize them collectively, honor their 
memories, recount deeds of especial bravery in 
which they participated; but all the incidents 
of individual heroism of the patriotic sons in 
battle, the sacrifices of mothers and daughters 
at home, the breaking of sacred ties, the heart- 
breaking scenes of anguish depicted in the 
faces of widows and orphans, can never be 
written. 

The Union was saved and freedom per- 
petuated, but the cost to the nation in life and 
property was so enormous as to stagger one's 
belief. 

The following information compiled from 
the adjutant general's report is believed to 
contain all the names of the Dallas county 
soldiers who took part in the Civil War : 

FOURTH INFANTRY. 

Dallas' contribution to this regiment was 
composed of squads in Companies A, C and E. 
This regiment was in the engagement at Pea 
Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, in the second Jack- 
son campaign. Lookout Mountain, March to the 
Sea, Columbia, S. C, and Goldsboro, N. C. It 
participated in the Grand Review at Washing- 
ton and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, 
September 3, 18'65. 

Company A. — -Fife major, William H. Binns. 
Privates: Goodale, Lucius P.; Hughs, John; 



died at Helena, Arkansas, September, 1862; 
Hoeye, John; Teal, John W. 

Company C. — James M. Loomis, fifth ser- 
geant; Hubbard, Lewis; Mouray, Abraham; 
Stiles, Joshua ; Stram, John S. ; Hays, Garrison ; 
Lamb, Wilson B. ; Lamb, William R. ; Blake- 
more, John W. ; Howell, Joshua W. 

Companj' E. — Daniel Rhoads, second cor- 
poral, died at Paducah, Kentucky, in January, 
1863. Privates: Binnie, William S. ; Gates, 
Alfred; Pacy, William, died at St. Louis, De- 
cember, 1862 ; Palmer, Walter W. ; Baffrey, 
John P. ; Clark, William F. ; Camery, Benja- 
min F. ; Moffat, Robert H. ; Moore, Jacob; Rea- 
soner, Hiram D. ; Winslow, Nathan 

TENTH INFANTRY. 

This regiment was organized in August, 1861. 
It assisted in the capture of 5,000 prisoners at 
Island No. 10, was engaged with Rosecrans at 
luka and Corinth, at siege of Vicksburg, en- 
gagements at Raymond, Jackson, Champion 
Hills, Mis.-ouri Ridge and from there to the 
sea. 

Company A. — Leming, Elisha. wagoner. 
Privates: Palmer, Lewis H.; Robbin*. .James; 
Zigler, William H. 

FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. 

This regiment was organized in February, 
1862, and was engaged at Pittsburg Landing, 
Corinth, Mcksburg, Monroe, was in the Meri- 
dian raid, Atlanta. The Fifteenth participated 
in the march to the sea and suffered, altogether, 
the heaviest losses of any regiment sent out 
from the state. Out of 1 ,763 members enrolled 
one thousand and fifty were killed or missing 
at the close of the war. 

Company B. — Sixth corporal, David King. 
Privates: Houston, Lafayette, died in hospital 
at Keokuk, March, 1862; Waterman, Ford; 
Gardiner, James. 

SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY. 

This regiment was mustered into service in 
April, 1862. It took part at luka, Corinth, 
where it received special meritorious mention 



136 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



by Rosencraus, Vicksburg and Chattanooga. 
At the siege of Tilton which was compelled to 
surrender this regiment was taken with others 
as prisoners. 

Companj' G. — Third sergeant, George G. 
Clark ; fourth corporal, Jacob Ollum ; eighth 
corporal, John S. Willis. Privates: Bryant, 
William C. ; Drake, James C. ; Kimery, George 
W. ; Lee, Jesse ; Lee, Anderson ; Noel, William 
T., died May 16, 1862; Parish, Linus; Parish, 
Lewis; Richmond, Allen, killed in battle Sep- 
tember, 1862 ; Vaughn, John ; Willis, Espy D. ; 
West, Elias F. ; West, William A., died of 
wounds April, 1863; Wilmot, Edgar; Yard, 
Samuel; Yard, Marion. 

EIGHTEENTH INF.\XTRY. 

This regiment was mustei'ed into service in 
August, 1862. It was not engaged in as many 
bloody contests as some other Iowa regiments 
but was in some fierce skirmishes at Spring- 
field, Missouri; Prairie D'Annie, Camden, 
Poison Springs and Jenkin's Ferry. Privates: 
Conley, Lorenzo; Hill, James D. ; Lambert, B. 
F. ; Wilson, Jasiah, died at Springfield, Mis- 
souri, December 3, 1862. 

TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY. 

The Twenty-third Iowa was organized at Des 
Moines. This regiment contained many Dallas 
county boys, who were called upon to endure 
.unusual sufferings from disease, hardships of 
march and fierce encounters. It took part in 
desperate skirmishes on the gulf, at Champion 
Hills and distinguished itself at Black River 
Bridge, charging the works of the enemy and 
taking 2,500 prisoners. The Twenty-third was 
assaulted at Milliken's Bend by 2,500 Texans 
and here was fought a terrific hand to hand 
battle with heavy losses on both sides. It took 
part in the siege of ^''icksburg and in the pur- 
suit of Johnston through Mississippi. In this 
trip, owing to the excessive heat, the regiment 
was almost incapacitated for duty. After many 
arduous campaigns along the gulf this regi- 
ment was mustered out at Harrisburg in July, 
1865. 



Assistant surgeon, Smith V. Campbell, as- 
sistant surgeon, Timothy J. Caldwell. 

Company A. — First lieutenant, John W. 
Mattox; second sergeant, Thomas H. Yarnell; 
third sergeant, W. S. Russell; first corporal, 
John F. Slaughter, died at Arcadia, November, 
1862; musician, David C. Hale; musician, Wil- 
liam T. Clayton. Privates: Broyhill, George 
C, died May 13, 1864; Burgett, Francis M., 
killed in battle May 17, 1863 ; Carnes, John E. , 
died of disease at St. Louis, October 2, 1862 ; 
Clayton, John D. ; Corliss, Ariel G. ; Growl, H. 
B., died July 24, 1863 ; Fletcher, Lewis; Fisher, 
Lewis W., died at Camp Patterson, Missouri, 
November, 1862 ; Forrester, John W. ; Haines, 
John C. ; Hutchins, F. M. ; Johnson, Calvin, 
killed at Anderson's Hill, Mississippi, May 1, 
1863; Loomis, George W.; Mead, John C. ; 
Mills, Orin, died at New Orleans, November 8, 
1863; Moore, Charles R., died of wounds re- 
ceived at Black River; McKean, William J., 
died at Camp Pattereon, Mo., November, 1862 ; 
Noland, Joseph ; Standfield, Thomas J. ; 
Trindle, Aaron ; Thornton, Nathaniel, died 
July 5, 1863; Vestal, Henry C. 

Company B. — Cattrell, Zerah B., promoted 
corporal. 

Company C. — Morgan, James H. 

Company E. — Privates: Elliott, H. B., died 
at Camp Patterson, November, 1862; Swallow, 
Harrison T. ; Trindle, Alexander; Wilkins, 
William M., died July 10, 1863. 

Company G. — Privates: Richmond, Rufus; 
Richmond, Cass, died August 15, 1863 ; Russell, 
John H., died at Arcadia, Mo., October, 1862. 

Company H. — Parman, William H. : Hutson, 
J. W. 

THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY'. 

Two companies of this regiment, C and H, 
were raised in Dallas county. They were mus- 
tered in November 24, 1862. Measles attacked 
this regiment and left many enfeebled when 
called to the front. 

The stories of the hardships of the Thirty- 
ninth, privations from hunger, lying in the 
cold mud, forced marches, weakened from ex- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



131 



posures, loss of sleep, etc., would fill many 
volumes. They had several encounters with 
Forrest's cavalry and many were taken pris- 
oners. It was at the battle of Altoona where 
Col. Redfield fell that the Thirty-ninth won 
immortal fame and suffered such heavy loss. 

Less than 2,000 Union men, who were guard- 
ing two million rations for Sherman's army 
were surrounded by 6,000 Confederates. The 
Union men held the fort and after the most 
bloody charges and slaughter witnessed during 
the four years of that wicked rebellion, the Con- 
federates retreated after they had lost more 
men than were engaged under the flag of the 
Union when the battle commenced. 

The charge of the "Light Brigade," the 
"Brave Six Hundred" has been, written about 
and praised in vei-se and song, because of the 
great loss they suffered ; but the 2,000 men who 
held Altoona Pass in fai"-off Georgia lost over 
700 men before the enemy was repulsed, a 
greater per cent of loss that that of the Light 
Brigade. Eveiy field officer except four was 
either killed or wounded. Officers of the line 
fell everywhere, captains came into command 
of regiments and sergeants into command of 
companies and yet the battle never flagged for a 
single moment. If every officer in that whole 
command had fallen the battle would have been 
fought on to the end just as it was. Officers 
and enlisted men alike loaded and fired muskets 
and cannons. Rank neither gave nor sought 
immunity from the heat and burden of battle. 
Of the boys in blue only a few are left to tell 
the story of that day's work, which suggested 
the sentiments of the gospel hymn : "Hold the 
Fort, For I Am Coming." 

This regiment was with Sherman in the 
Georgia and Carolina campaigns and took part 
in the Grand Review at Washington. 

Lieutenant colonel, Redfield, killed in battle 
at Altoona, Georgia, October 5, 1864; major, 
I.-^aac D. Marsh; assistant surgeon, E. P. Davis; 
adjutant, J. R. Joy; chaplain, Peter T. Rus- 
sell ; commissary sergeant. Walker Garoutte. 

Company B. — First sergeant, C. D. G. Rick- 
er.^on. Privates: Adams, AV. H. ; Albin, J. L. ; 



Brobst, Daniel ; Burns, Henry T. ; Case, Benja- 
min, died January, 18'63; Crouch, Joseph; 
Crouch, Newton; Crouch, James; Epps, John; 
Lane, Noah; Lane, John T. ; Long, AVilliam 
K.; Nichols, A. B.; Shepherd, S. D.; Walker, 
Jolm W. ; Miller, Lewis O. 

Company C. — First lieutenant, J. W. Price; 
first lieutenant, O. D. Russell; first sergeant, 
M. B. Noel ; second sergeant, Thomas Ashton ; 
third sergeant, I^avid Smart; fourth sergeant, 
Maclin E. Coons; fifth sergeant, Oliver C. Macy; 
first corporal, Alexander M. Logan ; second cor- 
poral, J. C. Early ; third corporal, Lemuel War- 
ford; fourth corporal, James Mitchel; fifth cor- 
poral, William McMillan ; sixth corporal, F. M. 
Roush; seventh corporal, J. L. Slaughter, died 
January 28, 1863, at Mound City, Illinois; 
musician, James D. Carpenter; musician, H. H. 
Moft'at; wagoner, Wesley Krysher. Privates: 
Albin, Moses; Burnett, James; Beall, Thomas; 
Balcer, J. W. ; Boak, T. J.; Coffin, William; 
Carpenter, Ambrose; Case, G. W. ; Carpenter, 
Henry ; Clark, H. P. ; Crawford, William ; Cow- 
ger, Aaron ; Couch, C. W. ; Diddy, William A. 
died June 3, 1863 ; Diddy, John W. ; Davenport 
William F. ; Davis, Isaac ; Dillon, William H. 
Elwood, Thomas; Ellis, Martin; Ellis, M. D. 
Elder, William H. ; Elder, W. C. ; Elder, R. H. 
Fisher, William P. ; Frake,<, William ^L ; Grout 
C. F. ; Gilman, M. A.; Hilderbrand, Daniel 
Hathaway, George T. ; Harrison, Robert; Hai' 
per, Dan C. ; Hill, Calvin ; Howe, John G 
Hunt, J. W. ; Hubbel, G. V. ; Haworth, James 
R. ; Hathaway, John ; Harper, William H., died 
August 2, 1864, at Rome, Georgia; Johnson, 
Wiley, died March, 1863, at Cairo, Illinois; 
Jenkins, .John, died February 23, 1864, at 
Mound City; .Jeffers, Elijah, died June, 1864; 
Johnson, J. D. ; James, D. W., died December 
16, 1862; Kimery, John; Ludington, Alfred; 
Lewis, William A.; Merical, Abraham, died De- 
cember 23, 1863 ; Merical, J. W. ; Marsh, Wil- 
liam H. ; Mark, William A. ; McClelland, Isaac; 
Mount, Matthias; Mitchell, Jacob; Murdock, W. 
H.; Miller, .John R. ; Overman, T. Vi.; Ostler, 
John; PeiTy, .lohn ; Ruth, Peter; Rosencrants, 
Jesse ; Sawin, George F. ; Shield, G. W. ; Slaugh- 



138 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ter, M. L. ; Tawney, James L., died January 27, 
1863, at Trenton, Tennessee ; Tarr, H. J. ; killed 
at Altoona, October 5, 1864 ; Vanbrunt, Joseph ; 
Voas, Henry; Van Cleave, Thomas; Welch, 
Amos; Wright, G. W., died at Corinth, Missis- 
sippi, January 27, 1863; Wright, Thomas J.; 
Watkins, B. F., died January 18, 1863, at Jack- 
son, Tennessee ; Wright, Thomas. Sr. ; Young, 
J. E. ; Young, Philip A. 

Company H. — Captain, J. M. Loomis, re- 
ported killed September 1, 1863 ; captain, H. R. 
Benjamin; first lieutenant, Wesley Wright; 
second lieutenant, J. N. Main; second 
lieutenant, Collins Marshall, killed near Cor- 
inth, Mississippi, July 4, 1863 ; first sergeant, 
Collins ^Marshall; third sergeant, G. W. Noel; 
fourth sergeant, William Wirth, died at Daven- 
port, January 21, 1863 ; fourth sergeant, S. C. 
Maulsby; fifth sergeant, William Moore; first 
corporal, W. T. Root; second corporal, Nehe- 
miah Harris; third corporal, M. C. Mai'shall; 
fourth corporal, Pleasant Parker ; fifth corporal, 
P. S. Howell; sixth corporal, J. C. Steams, 
killed in battle at Parker's Cross Roads. Decem- 
ber 31, 1863; sixth corporal, William L. Roles; 
seventh corporal, S. C. Maulsby ; seventh cor- 
poral, Andrew Richey, died at Corinth, Missis- 
sippi, February 25, 1863 ; eighth corporal, Wil- 
liam Wright, died in Libby prison, November 
26, 1863; musician, J. H. Thornburg; musi- 
cian, William Webb; wagoner, G. F. Arm- 
strong; wagoner, C. B. Parker. Privates: 
Bailey, George ; Bailey, J. A. ; Ballenger, Milo ; 
Ballenger, Barzillas : Barnett, William C. ; Bar- 
nett. Francis; Boots, M. S. ; Bingham, J. C. ; 
Brown, T. J. ; Bingham, W. H., died at Ander- 
sonville, June 3, 1864 ; Burden, Alfred ; Combs, 
J. H., died March, 1863; Cave, Albert; Cum- 
mings, Alfred ; Estes, J. P. ; Estes, G. M. ; Elliott, 
Elwood; Frazier, Henrj'; Godwin, Nathan; 
Garwood, Jonathan; Grubbs, Luther; Gowdy, 
David, died at Davenport, December 24, 1862 ; 
Hubbard, J. A.; Hunt, Elihu; Haines, N. B.; 
Hervey, John ; Harber, Milton ; Hadley, D. W. ; 
Joy, J. R. ; Joy, Henry; Jameson, John R., died 
in Libby prison, December, 1863 ; Jameson, E. 
P.; Lewis, M. M. ; Lewellen, W. M. ; Lamb, 



Charles B. ; Lambert; Lewis, William H. ; Lau- 
bach, Isaac ; Moon, John, died at Andersonville, 
Georgia, March 31, 1864; Moon, James, d.ed 
at Andersonville, April 9, 1864 ; Marshall, Clay- 
ton; Mendenhall, C. T. ; Mendenhall, J. R.; 
Morris, Robert; Megeath, John; McCreary, 
Lewis ; Murray, Xavier, died January 23, 1864 ; 
Parker, Melvin, died January 23, 1864 ; Parker, 
C. B. ; Pickering, H. C, captured and died while 
prisoner of war ; Reynolds, Z. P. ; Robinson, 
George; Russell, N. A., died in Libby prison 
Redman, Thomas, died February 28, 1863 
Shillers, Sam; Smith, Aaron; Smith, -Josephus 
Swain, William H. ; Stout, David; Swallow, H. 
C. ; VermiUion, William P. ; Watts, J. R. ; Wil 
lis, William; Welker, A. J.; Willitts, Levi 
Winslow, Nathan; Way, B. F.; Wood, H. E. 
died in Libby prison, February 16, 1864 
Crouch, Henry; Eshelman, Joseph; Grubbs, J, 
M. ; Kinnick, Richard ; Meyers, Joseph ; Pern-, 
Fred; Slaughter, M. L. ; Parker, Richard F. 
died February 24, 1865; West, E. D.; Walsh 
Thomas C. ; Win-slow, Jabes; Winslow, I. M. 
Thornburg, J. W. ; Yoxthiner, Martin. 

Company I. — Second lieutenant, J. W. Red- 
field. 

FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. 

This regiment contained a squad of men in 
Company H, and was mustered into the sendee 
June 1, 1864, for one hundred days. 

Company H, Privates : Dennis, D. M. ; Guth- 
rie, J. H. ; Guthrie, James ; Householder, James 
M. ; Kerr, Samuel ; Keith, Melvin ; Newland, 
J. F.; Russell, C. W.; Watson, J. B., died at 
Memphis, June 27, 1864; Waldo, William W. 

FORTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. 

This regiment was of volunteers for one 
hundred days and was accepted by the Presi- 
dent, April 23, 1864 : Company C of this regi- 
ment was raised by Captain J. R. Van Meter 
in May, and mustered into service June 10, 
1864. 

Company C— Captain, J. R. Van Meter; first 
lieutenant, John N. Main ; first sergeant, F. M. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



141 



Hain; third sergeant, R. P. Lewis; fourth ser- 
geant, S. L. Looniis ; first corporal, David Herry ; 
second corporal, William C. Pugh; third cor- 
poral, David A. Cowell; fourth corporal, D. L. 
Hain ; fifth corporal, Thomas Thornburg ; sixth 
corporal, N. W. Brock; seventh corporal, Jerry 
Clayton, died August 16, 1864, at Memphis, 
Tennessee ; eighth corporal, Richard Vermillion ; 
musician, John M. Moraine. Privates: Adams, 
W. H. ; Brenton, Archibald; Burrows, W. R. ; 
Baume, Daniel ; Berry, L. W. ; Cartright, W. 
R. ; Clayton, Henry C. ; Cook, Harmon ; Case, 
S. P.; Cook, Joseph; Clark, B. F.; Conical, 
Lewis; Davis, Levi A.; Douglas, W. H. ; Ed- 
monson, S. E.; Griffith, E. H.; Hain, J. W.; 
Hunter, Harvey; Howell, Edward; Henderson, 
Levi ; Hain, J. M. ; Hain, J. E. ; Leeper, Alexan- 
der; Lee, Jonathan; Lee, Hiram; Lane, Wil- 
liam ; McClelland, Morgan ; Marshall, J. L. ; 
McKean, G. W. ; Nichols, G. W. ; Noland, John; 
Potter, Robert; Perkins, Albert F. ; Rippey, 
Henry C. ; Roush, Samuel W. ; Sherard, J. M. ; 
Sypherd, C. B. ; Stiles, J. E. ; Thompson, N. P. ; 
Vermillion, R. D. ; Wyatt, Isaac; Warner, Wil- 
liam; Alkins, H. C. ; Lyon, J. B. ; Gross, J. B. ; 
Smithson, N. ; Wheeler, Theodore. 

SEVEXTH VETERAN INFANTRY. 

Hoyt, A. B. ; Lamb, J. B. ; Mills, J. H. ; Swal- 
low, H. C. ; Smith, James L. ; Towne, M. A. ; 
Vermillion, Richard. 

SECOND CAVALRY. 

Farrier, S. F. Witham; Witham, C. W.; 
Burkhart, Hiram, died April 5, 1864. at Mem- 
phis, Tennessee ; Lewis, G. W. ; Neal. Samuel ; 
Rogers, Samuel ;*Drake, S. S. ; Strain, J. S. 

FOURTH CAVALRY*. 

This regiment was raised during the latter 
part of 1861 and was in engagements at Jack- 
son and Raymond. Mi.s.sissippi, in two engage- 
ment? at ^lechanic^ljurj;, under Sherman at 



Black river, in expeditions against Forrest and 
Price, at Chickasaw, Alabama, and Macon, 
Georgia. 

Company F. — Manor, Samuel; Duck, S. P. 

Company L. — Fifth sergeant, George A. 
Loomis; first corporal, Frank Murray, died at 
West Plains, Missouri, May 10, 1862 ; third cor- 
poral, H. W. Butts. Privates : Morris, Reuben ; 
Perry, Fred; Wade, John. 

NINTH CAVALRY. 

Company D. — Loftus, J. W., died March 20, 
1864. 

Company H. — Eighth corporal, R. J. Lamb, 
died at Dardanelle, Arkansas. Privates : Felton, 
David; Howell, Emanuel, died December 13, 
1864, at De Vail Bluffs, Arkansas; Hoeye, Wil- 
liam; Hoeye, Samuel; Lewis, William; Lamb, 
J. S., died at Washington, Arkansas, October 
12, 1863; Moorman, Enoch; Wright, Wesley. 

SECOND LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

The second battery was mustered into the 
service in 1861 and was engaged at Island No. 
10, Commerce, Missouri, Riddle's Point, Farm- 
ington, Corinth, luka and at Vicksburg. 

Captain, J. R. Reed; captain, J. W. Coons; 
second lieutenant, John E. Snyder ; quartermas- 
ter sergeant, J. H. Coons, died April 19, 1863, 
at Duck Port, Louisiana; first corporal, Alexan- 
der Dodge; fourth corporal, Elihu Cook, died 
July 3, 1862; fifth corporal, William Leverton; 
fifth corporal, Daniel Davidson, died November 
21, 1863; sixth corporal, John W. Mattox. 
Privates : Brenton, Arch ; Carpenter, Josephus ; 
Crowell, J. H.; Carpenter, G. F. ; Dodge, C. M.; 
Davidson, D. B. ; Dodge, J. M., died of fever 
November 7, 1862; Eckles. William; Fish, 
George; Gilraan, Francis: Graham, J. M. ; Holt, 
J. L. ; Johnson, .Jacob : Kinnick, J. F. ; McElree, 
Benjamin ; Nichols, J. C. ; Noel, S. J. ; Rose, 
Robert; Ram.sberger, William; Seward, Charles 
A. ; Strader, John ; Stanfield, George ; Smith, 
Ehas; Slate, I. B., died September 18, 1862; 
Thornton, Thomas, died June 8, 1862 ; Thomp- 



142 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALL^VS COUNTY. 



son, George; Wisner, Benjamin; Welch, Har- 
rison. Additional Enlistments: AUenbaugh, 
S. A.; O'Neal, Michael; Roe, Reuben; Sloan, 
Thomas; Baffney, John; Camery, Benjamin; 
Ferguson, C. A. ; Ferguson, C. D. ; Fish, J. M. ; 
Moffat, R. H.; Payne, Edward, died July 24, 
1863 . 



occasion. Soldiers came from many towns and 
localities of the state, many with feeble bodies 
but with old time patriotism and devotion to 
the flag. Honor to the wearers of the bronze 
button! The emblem of loyalty and devoted 
service! Hats off to those who are entitled to 
wear these honored badges. 



DALLAS COUNTY SOLDIERS UNION. 

In August, 1878, a reunion of soldiers who 
were then residents of Dallas county was held 
at Adel. This was largely attended by soldiers 
from all over the county and a permanent or- 
ganization effected. T. R. North was elected 
temporary chairman and J. R. Joy temporary 
secretary. The constitution of the Madison 
County Soldiers' Union was adopted by this as- 
sociation. Permanent officers were elected as 
follows: E. H. Conger, president and colonel; 
D. J. Pattee, vice-president and lieutenant 
colonel ; I. D. Marsh, second vice-president and 
major; J. R. Joy, secretary and adjutant; 
A. J. Lyon, treasurer and quartermaster; Rev. 
Case, chaplain ; T. J. Caldwell, surgeon. 

The first reunion was held at Adel, BViday 
and Saturday, September 20 and 21, 1878. This 
was the occasion of a large gathering and a most 
enjoyable time. Drills, speeches, dress parades, 
guard mounting, dinner and stories around the 
camp fire made up the program. Bands fur- 
nished excellent music and the event was one 
to make everyone who \^dtnessed it subscribe 
with fervidness to IngersoH's tribute "Cheers for 
the living and tears for the dead." 

Perrj', Adel and Redfield still maintain 
Grand Army Posts. 

Reunions have frequently been held in the 
county and have always been well attended and 
highly appreciated. The reunion of the Thirty- 
ninth Iowa at Adel, October, 1901, was especial- 
ly successful. Eighty-eight of the Thirty-ninth 
men registered, and one hundred and thirty 
other soldiers were present to help the Thirty- 
ninth boys have a good time. Two days were 
spent in renewing old times and participating 
in the various entertainments provided for the 



While many defenders have gone to their home. 

And lie peacefully under the sod, 
A remnant is left yet, under the dome. 

Still spared by the mercies of God, 
We love as we greet them with smiles and with tears 

The little bronze button the veteran wears 
The loyalty button, the G. A. R. button 

The little bronze button the veteran wears. 

His step is unsteady, his form is bent, 

Dim is his eye and his strength is gone. 
His days on the land are almost spent, 

His locks are gray and his cheeks are wan. 
But though he is bowed with the weight of his years. 

We honor the button the veteran wears, 
The loyalty button, the G. A. R. button. 

The little bronze button the veteran wears. 

'Tis years since he stood in the Union ranks 

And bared his breast to the traitor's shot 
And earned a grateful country's thanks 

In battling lines and conflicts hot. 
But after the lapse of all these years 

We greet the button the veteran wears 
The loyalty button, the G. A. R. button, 

The little bronze button the veteran wears. 

We meet to adorn the graves of the dead 

And honor the living who meet us there, 
And over the graves the flowers we spread 

As solemn and silent we drop a tear 
And we see on the breast of the soldiers there 

The little bronze button the veterans wear 
The loyalty button, the G. A. R. button 

The little bronze button the veterans wear. 

Days will come and days will go 

And the tide of time will ceaseless run 
And current events will ever flow 

And life and death here under the sun. 
But in all events that time shall bear 

We'll honor the button the veterans wear 
The loyalty button, the G. A. R. button 

The little bronze button the veterans wear. 



SPANISH-.\MERICAN WWR. 

Spain's intolerable oppression of our near 
neighbor, Cuba, was the remote cause and the 
destruction of the United States battleship 
Maine the immediate occasion of the rupture 
between this country and Spain. A "Joint 
Resolution for the recognition of the independ- 
ence of Cuba," was approved by congress April 
20, 1898. Three days later the president called 
for 125,000 volunteers. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



143 



SERVICE OF THE IOWA VOLUNTEERS. 

The Fifty-second Iowa Infantry left Des 
Moines, May 28, 1898, by rail for Chickamauga 
Park, Georgia; arrived in camp May 31, 1898; 
assigned to third brigade, second division, third 
army corps; was assigned to this brigade for 
detached sei-vice in Porto Rico, but was not 
moved under this order ; left Chickamauga Park 
August 28, 1898, by rail for Des Moines ; arrived 
at Des Moines, August 30, 1898. 

The following is the membership of the fifty- 
second from Dallas county: 

Company B. — Captain, John W. McKean; 
first lieutenant, Isaac E. Parmeter; second 
lieutenant, John E. Donahoe ; first sergeant, A. 
M. Harvey; quartermaster sergeant, Elmer 
Tessler; sergeant, Taylor J. Hari'is; sergeant, 
W. B. Ridgeway; sergeant, W. N. Jones; cor- 
poral, Frank C. Munn; corporal, Charles Mills; 
corporal, Elmer McMichael; corporal, J. C. 
Walker; corporal, C. A. England; corporal, H. 
H. Phillips; corporal, H. I. Comfort; corporal, 
J. C. Van Schaack ; corporal, William Walker ; 
musician, Harry W. Moore; musician, W. W. 
Ganoe; wagoner, G. W. Hunter. Privates: 
Aiken, Henry; Burnett, William A.; Cave, L. 
M. ; Cramer, Wilber; Colton, Burton; Cooper, 
S. C; Darman, C. M. ; Freemont, A. J.; Gala- 
way, J. A. ; Griswold, F. A. ; Harten, Andrew ; 
Hatfield, F. T. ; Houghan, C. E. ; Leonard, V. 
R.; Miller, G. W.; Smith, W. G.; Sutherland, 
A. E. ; Summers, T. R. ; Thompson, W. B. 

FIFTIETH IOWA. 

Left Des Moines May 21, 1898, for Tampa, 
Florida. Diverted at Thomasville, Georgia, and 
ordered to .Jacksonville, Florida. Remained in 
Camp Cuba Libre until September 13, 1898, 
when regiment left for Des Moines to be mus- 
tered out from Dallas county. 

Company L. — Private, Frank Everhart. 



1898. This regiment participated in the cere- 
monies attending the evacuation of Havana 
by the Spaniards. Was mustered out April 
5, 1899. 

From Dallas county. Company I. — Privates : 
Addington, L. J. ; Clark, Grant; Gresham, Mar. 
tin; Holoway, Ola. Company G.- — ^Roberts, 
Arthur D. 

FIFTY-FIRST IOWA. 

Left Des Moines June 5, 1898. Remained in 
camp in California until November 3, when 
the regiment embarked on transport for the 
Philippines, arriving there December 7. Par- 
ticipated in engagements at Guadalupe, Quin- 
qua, Pulilan, Calumpit, San Thomas, San Fer- 
nando, Calulut and Angeles. Returned to 
United States and was mustered out November 
2, 1899. 

The following members of the Fifty-first 
were from Dallas county: 

Company E. — -Lisle, Ray; Salan, Howard; 
Stover, Ernest. Company F. — Conger, E. H. 
(now a lieutenant in the United States Marine 
Corps). Company G. — Bronson, AUie. 

The Spanish war was of short duration. It 
was the first time in fifty years this nation had 
measured swords with a foreign foe, but it 
proved to the world that the United States is 
one unbroken nation. 

The conflict was. mainly on the water, though 
the skirmishes and spirited battles on land 
around Manila and Santiago gave opportu- 
nities for Americans to display the invincible 
courage and superior qualities that have gained 
the admiration of the world. Dewey's victory 
at Manila, and the destruction of Cervera's fleet 
at Santiago by Commodore Schley were among 
the most brilliant naval movements ever re- 
corded and decided the fate of the war. 

t 

DARING BANK ROBBERY. 



FORTY-NINTH IOWA. 



Dallas county, besides having the experience 
of most prosperous counties of its age in the 
Left Des Moines June 11, 1898, for Jack- way of hold ups, petty thievery, bunco games, 
sonville, Florida. Reached Cuba December 19, etc., has had at least one bold attempt to rob 



144 



PAST AUD PRESENT OF DALL.IS COUNTY. 



a bank and terrorize a community in a true 
wild west style. The attempt was unsuccessful, 
but the high handed, reckless methods em- 
ployed, the fusillade of shots exchanged, the 
determined chase and death of one of the rob- 
bers, were events that the citizens of the county 
seat and surrounding neighborhood will always 
remember. 

On March 6, 1895, at 8:30 a. m., two men 
entered the Adel State Bank, one in advance of 
the other. The first man produced a sack and 
;Said he wLshed to make a deposit. The other 
man, advancing with a Winchester shot gun in 
his hand, said to Cashier S. M. Leach, "Fill that 
sack." This order was not obeyed, and the 
cashier was shot at close quarters, the shot enter- 
ing the face and left shoulder. The robber then 
turned and fired a shot at C. D. Bailey, who was 
standing at the desk. Attorney George ^V. 
Clarke, whose office was on the second floor 
above the bank, hearing the shots, rushed down 
stairs and entered the bank. A gun was thrust 
in his face and snapped, but luckily missed fire, 
giving him an opportunity to escape uninjured. 
Sheriff Joseph Payne, who was in Byer's store, 
came out on the street and fired two shots at the 
men while they were yet in the bank. They 
secured a sack containing about $260 in silver 
and came out shooting at everyone who ap- 
peared in sight. They then ran to their team, 
which wa.s standing near, and hastily getting 
into their buggj^ started westward, driving 
rapidlj'. In the general fusillade of shots ex- 
changed, the citizens having armed themselves 
and opened fire on the fleeing men, J. M. Byers 
was shot in the hand. Postmaster Robert S. 
Barr in the head and wTist, Cecil Decker in 
the head and arm, and J. L. Simcoke in the 
neck. Windows in Miss Garoutte's store and 
Verne Russell's restaurant were broken by stray 
shots. Within a few minutes a posse of de- 
termined men, some on foot and some on 
horseback, were on the trail of the robbers. 

Den Snyder, Charley Warford and Tom Rey- 
nolds were the fii^st out and kept in sight of the 
fugitives to the South Coon, about eight miles 
southwest of Adel, where the men left their dis- 



abled team, one taking refuge in a barn on the 
Widow O'Neal farm and the other hiding in 
the timber. 

This man failed to cross the river and when 
the crowd began to close in he came out and 
surrendered. Hundreds of shots were fired into 
the bai'n and the robber refusing to surrender, 
his partner was compelled to set fire to the 
building. The heat soon drove the prisoner 
to the open, where he instantly fell riddled with 
bullets. 

The captured man and the stolen money, 
most of which was recovered, were brought 
back to town by the sheriff. 

The body of the other was brought to town in 
the meat wagon of Reynolds & Utz. 

The word had spread rapidly, and by the 
time the crowd had returned, people were com- 
ing from all parts of the county. 

The captured man proved to be C. W. 
Crawford, of Patterson, Madison county. 
Many of the men assembled about the jail, en- 
raged by the rumor that Leach and Bailey were 
fatally wounded, were in favor of Ij-nching 
Crawford. The firm stand taken by those in 
charge of the prisoner and assurance that the 
wounded men were not dangerously hurt, pre- 
vented another tragedy. 

The dead robber's name was Orlando Wil- 
kins, a relative of Crawford and a more des- 
perate and hardened criminal than his youth- 
ful accomplice. 

Just who fired the shot that killed Wilkins 
will probably never be known. 

H. A. Chappelear, county coroner, held an 
inquest over the body, naming as jurors W. F. 
Brockway, Lea Thornton and Ed. Taylor. The 
jury's verdict was that Orlando Wilkins had 
come to his death from gunshot wounds from 
the hands of unknown persons and without 
felonious intent. 

The Adel bank robberj^ caused intense ex- 
citement, not only in Dallas county, but 
throughout the entire country. Varied ac- 
counts of it appeared in nearly all newspapers. 
The president of the bank. Dr. Caldwell, was in 
the South on a pleasure trip at the time, and 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



U5 



tliQ first intimation he had of the event was the 
account he read in the Atlanta Constitution, 
while on the cars in Alabama. He was natu- 
rally very much startled and at once headed for 
home, where he was relieved to find that the 
facts had been considerably distorted. 

Young Crawford was tried, convicted and 
sentenced to Fort Madison for twenty years. 

The body of Wilkins was placed in a rough 
pine box and buried in the local cemetery. It 
has been reported that the body was dug up by 
someone who wished to secure the skeleton. 
Whether or not the remains of the desperado 
still lie in their original resting place is not ab- 
solutely known, but the circumstances in which 
he played such a prominent part now form part 
of the history of the county that will never be 
forgotten. 

farmers' institute. 

Farming has always been the principal 
source of wealth of the county. More attention 
is being paid to scientific farming than ever 
before. Improved breeds of stock, the best ma- 
chinery and the most up-to-date methods are 
now the order of the day. 

The Farmers' Institute was organized in 1898 
with the following officers: 

Josiah Petty, president; L. L. Feather, -sec- 
retary; R. L. Harris, treasurer; C. W. Patch, 
W. W. Phillips and S. U. Roush, executive com- 
mittee. 

The first meeting was held at Breed's Opera 
House in Perry, February 17 and 18, 1898. 
•John Cownie and Henry Wallace of Des Moines 
were the principal speakers. The institute wa.s 
well attended, and it was the means of starting 
a general movement for more careful farming. 
The selection of seed, improvement of live stock, 
public roads and farm buildings, drainage and 
rotation of crops were discussed, and the initial 
meeting was so successful that the institute has 
been continued with increased intere.st and 
profit. 

Meetings have been held at Panther, Perry, 
Dallas Center, Adel, Waukee and Redfield, all 
of which have been well attended. 



Some of the best talent of the state, such as 
Holden, Van Houten, Cownie, Wallace and 
Franklin, have been secured for addresses at 
various times, and attractive pi'ograms are pre- 
pared each year. 

Some of the Dallas county farmers who have 
taken a prominent part in the institute and 
have contributed so much to its influence are 
Josiah Petty, W. W. Phillips, M. J. Wragg, 
John Kent, W. H. Kent, M. J. Graham, John 
Fox, D. F. Rogers, H. F. Peitzman, Geo. 
White, J. A. Harvey, Nathan Nish, Wm. Hes- 
ter, W. Z. Swallow and H. L. Leonard. Much 
attention is given at these institutes to seed corn. 
Prizes are given for the best bushel of corn 
of any variety, the best ten ears of white, the 
best ten of yellow, and the best specimens raised 
by boys under eighteen years. Some of the 
men who have been devoting considerable care 
to raising improved grades of corn and have 
frequently been prize winners are R. H. Clark, 
Geo. Fox, Wm. Danner, Geo. White, J. S. Fish, 
E. D. Thompson and H. L. Leonard. Some of 
the boys who were prize winners at the last in- 
stitute are C. L. Gray, Kenneth Andrews, Perry 
Hansen, Clarence Reeves, Chas. Houser, Robert 
Harden and Guerdon Jones. 

The officers of the institute for the year 1907 
are: President, Edward Vial, Adel; vice- 
president, R. H. Clark, Dallas Center; treasurer, 
S. M. Leach, Adel, and secretary, M. J. Gra- 
ham, Adel; executive committee, Wm. Danner, 
George White, J. W. Clark; delegates to state 
institute, George Fox, Edward Vial. 

The following account, published by the Dal- 
las County News, shows the work which is being 
carried on by the institute: 

The institute was opened in due form by in- 
vocation pronounced by Rev. S. G. Fisher, fol- 
lowed by an address of welcome by Mayor 
North, who in a few well chosen words extended 
to all visitors the hospitality of our homes and 
freedom of our city. The speaker recognized 
the pursuit of agriculture as our greatest source 
of wealth, but best of all it produces the high- 
est intelligence, the purest morality, the truest 
loyalty, a happy and contented people. Re- 



146 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



-ponse by Norman M. Leonard, of Waukee, 
who, in behalf of the institute, thanked the 
mayor and the people of Adel for the royal wel- 
come extended. The speaker said, "We are en- 
tering upon a more extended period of pros- 
perity for the farm and the farmer, as the more 
advanced principles of agriculture are being 
understood and adopted." Mr. Leonard re- 
ferred to the great work being done by our state 
college. "We are learning new methods of 
handling our crops and live stock, and bj' these 
means are enabled to keep up the fertility of 
our farms." In his address President Vial 
spoke of the "great advance made in the grow- 
ing of corn and other crops since he was a bo\', 
and of the good results obtained through care 
in selection of seed and the proper use of fer- 
tilizers. The Farmers' Band rendered some 
choice selections of music in the morning and 
during the noon hour, and were warmly ap- 
plauded. The afternoon session was opened 
by an address on Drainage by Prof. W. H. Stev- 
enson, of the State College, Ames, Iowa. The 
speaker advised a careful survey of the ground, 
the use of the best tile, laid in the most careful 
manner, as close together as possible, and that 
especial care be given to protect the outlet from 
being stopped by vermin or otherwise. The 
subject, "Women on the Farm," was handled 
in an able and interesting manner by Miss 
Mary B. Harper, of Adel. We hope to publish 
this paper in full in the near future. "Poul- 
try for Profit," by Mrs. H. E. Clark, Dallas Cen- 
ter, contained much information concerning 
this great industry. The White Plymouth 
Rock is in favor at the White Plume Poultry 
Yards, and experience has proven that pure 
blood poultry pays best for market or for home 
use. In his address on "Culture and Agricul- 
ture," County Superintendent R. F. Wood was 
greeted with applause. Mr. Wood spoke with- 
out notes and we are unable at this time to give 
a synopsis of his address. In a practical paper 
on "Good Roads," Mr. Henry Lisle, of Dallas 
township, told us how good roads can be made 
from the material at hand. The first and most 
important thing is drainage, no matter how 



much work it takes to do it. Center of roadbed 
should be two and one-half to three feet above 
the bottom of the ditches. A^'here grades are 
thrown up from mucky soil, the top should be 
finished with a layer of gravel or of earth drawn 
from high ground. Mr. Lisle favors having the 
railroads haul gravel for distribution along the 
roads leading from towns through which the 
railroads pass instead of paying their taxes in 
cash. Mr. B. Stanton, superintendent of county 
road work, also spoke on the subject of Good 
Roads. He referred to the great advantage of 
tlie rural free delivery of mail to the farmer, 
and said we should assist in improving the serv- 
ice by improving the roads. With the judicious 
expenditure of the road tax and liberal dona- 
tions in labor from the patrons along these 
routes, a great improvement will soon result and 
the mail routes permanently established. Ow- 
ing to good condition of the roads, which are 
now mostly graveled, our neighboring county 
on the northwest, Greene, has recently secured 
complete rural free delivery. Improved high- 
way.-^, with proper drainage estal)lished, add to 
the selling value of the land adjoining from 
$5.00 to $10.00 per acre. The subject of Cat- 
tle Feeding was discussed from the standpoint 
of the dairyman by Mr. A. M. Haggard, of 
De Soto, who prefers the Shorthorn breed. The 
cows must have warm quarters, if frost proof 
so much the better. Feed good hay, clover pre- 
ferred, and for grain feed use one part corn and 
two pEU-ts oats or barley. The ealves are learned 
to drink from a pail, using warm milk from the 
separator. They should have warm quarters, 
a grain ration and plenty of hay the first 
winter. 

The evening entertainment consisted of a 
number of vei-y fine selections by the orchestra, 
mention of which is made elsewhere in these 
columns, followed by a lecture on the "Won- 
ders and Resources of Alaska," by Hon. G. H. 
Van Houten, of Lenox, Iowa. The speaker 
graphically described the country, its inhabi- 
tants, resources, etc. Very few people know that 
Alaska contains the largest oil fields on earth, 
veins of coal twenty-four feet thick, vast forests, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



147 



etc. Mr. Van Houten sjDoke rapidly for an hour 
and a half and received close attention from a 
large audience. The speaker arraigned the 
orthodox Greek church in the most severe terms, 
and made a hit when he warned people in 
heaven's name not to invest in any mining 
schemes promoted in Alaska. 

FRIDAY MORNING. 

Professor James Atkinson arrived on the 9 :50 
train from Des Moines, and at once entered 
upon the task of juggling the corn on exhi- 
bition, with the result set forth in another col- 
umn. There were ninety-three separate entries 
in the corn contest, and this occupied the atten- 
tion of the secretary so that he was unable to 
make any report of the address made by Profes- 
sor Stevenson on "Maintenance of the Fertility 
of the Soil." We are informed, however, that 
many good points were brought out concerning 
the rotation of crops, manures, etc. 

The afternoon session opened with a paper 
on "SAvine Husbandry," by Minor York, of 
Adel, which was listened to with close attention. 
The si^eaker referred to the magnitude of the 
swine industry, and favored growing the Duroc 
hog. Owing to sickness W. C. Morse, of Eaxl- 
ham, and J. T. Wasson, of Panora, were unable 
to be present, or to send their papers on "Sheep 
Raising in Iowa," and "The Best Horse on the 
Farm." Mr. Van Houten spoke on the last 
named topic, and advised all farmers to not raise 
fa^t horses, but stick to the general purpose 
horse. No one thing will separate the farmer 
from his money quicker than a horse that is 
just fast enough to come out last in the race. 
Continuing, Mr. Van Houten pleaded for the 
betterment of the home, adding as many con- 
veniences as possible to assist the good wife and 
relieve her from the monotony and toil inci- 
dent to home life on the farm. The subject 
of corn growing was discussed hx Prof. James 
Atkinson, who began by saying that in point 
of quality and trueness to type the exhibit now 
in our hall was one of the best he had ever seen 
and second only to the state exhibit made at 
Ames early in this month. Mr. Atkinson favors 



the type of corn having a degree of rough- 
ness, as it does not incline to be flinty and is 
more easily handled, which accounts for the 
slight consideration some very fine samples of 
Reid's Yellow Dent corn received in the contest, 
as the only weak point, if such it is, in this vari- 
ety, is a tendency to become flinty at the tips of 
the ears. In order that his hearers might fully 
understand his position, Professor Atkinson said 
that he was actively engaged in farming, own- 
ing and living upon a large farm nine miles 
from Des Moines. He advised the rotation of 
crops by which means larger yields may be 
obtained and this practice also tends to pre- 
vent damage by insects. He would plant corn 
of a fixed type, one that will produce a large per- 
centage of uniform ears, and a few barren stalks 
The cost of growing a crop of corn is about ten 
dollars per acre, and it costs no more to culti- 
vate a full stand than a poor one, therefore look 
well to details, test all seed, and test the planter. 
The speaker advised against bringing seed corn 
from the South, owing to danger from frost 
before maturity. He would use the edge drop 
planter, plant three grains in a hill, cultivate 
four times, but not so late as to extend growth 
and endanger the crop by frost. 

Election of officers for the ensuing year re- 
sulted as follows : President, Edward Vial, Adel ; 
vice-president, M. J. Wragg, Waukee ; treasurer, 
C. R. Benton, Dallas Center; .secretary, M. J. 
Graham, Adel; executive committee, J. F. Mc- 
Mullen, Adel; R. H. Clark, Dallas Center; Geo. 
T. White, Dallas Center. 

Delegates to State Farmers' Institute, to be 
held December, 1905; M. Wragg, Waukee; 
alternate, R. H. Clarke, Dallas Center. 

On motion a salary of $25 was voted the sec- 
retary for the ensuing year. 

-V resolution was unanimously adopted ex- 
tending a cordial invitation to the C, M. & St. 
P. railway to have their corn special, with Pro- 
fessor Holden aboard, stop at Adel in the near 
future. 

A copy of (his resolution has been forwarded 
to the company, and we believe an announce- 
ment of dates will be made. 



148 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



For several years our institute has been han- 
dicapped by very cold weather which almost 
invariably occurs at this time of year. AVe, 
therefore, suggest the advisability of changing 
the time of holding the institute to about No- 
vember 15th each year. At this time the 
weather is comparatively mild. A good display 
of apples and other farm products could then 
be made, and the scope of our work very muf h 
widened. 

Respectfully submitted,- 

M. J. Graham, 

Secretary. 

THE PREMIUM LIST. 

Class A.— Be^t bushel.— R. H. Clarke, first, 
$5.00; Geo. M. Fox, second, $3.00; M. M. Leon- 
ard, third, $2.00; John Hanlon, fourth, $1.00. 

Class B. — Ten ears, white. — Wni. Danner, 
first, $3.00; H. M. Couch, second, $2.00; W. F. 
Pearson, third, $1.00; 0. L. Gray, fourth, 50 
cents. 

Class C. — Ten ears, yellow. — John Hanlon, 
first, $3.00; Geo. T. White, second, $2.00; M. M. 
Leonard, third, $1.00; J. S. Fish, fourth, 50 
cents. 

Class D.— Best ear.— Geo. M. Fox, $3.00; A. 
H. Houser, second, $2.00; J. S. Fish, third, 
$1.00; Bert D. Jones, fourth, 50 cents. 

Class E. — Sweepstakes. — John Hanlon, first, 
$3.00; Geo. T. White, second, $1.00. 

boys' division. 

Class F. — Ten ears white.— C. L. Gray, first, 
$2.00; Kenneth Andrews, second, $1.50; Guer- 
don Jones, third, $1.00; Chas. York, fourth, 50 
cents. 

Class G. — Ten ears, yellow. — Perry Hansen, 
first, $2.00 ; Clarence Reves, second, $1.50; Chas. 
Houser, third, $1.00; Chas. York, fourth, 50 
cents. 

Class H. — Best ear. — Chas. Houser, first, 
$2.00; Robert Harden, second, $1.50; Guerdon 
Jones, third, $1.00; Perry Hansen, fourth, 50 
cents. 



Class I. — Sweepstakes. — Perry Hansen, first, 
$2.00; C. L. Gray, second, $1.00. 
Checks will be mailed to prize winners. 
M. J. Graham, 

Secretary. 

TOWNSHIPS EARLY HISTORY. 

Dallas county was first divided into precincts 
for political purposes in March, 1850. The 
county was then divided into five precincts, 
named, respectively: Penoach, Boone, Des 
Moines, Buena Vista and Owens. 

February 2, 1857, the county was again di- 
vided for political and school purposes into the 
following ten divisions: Des Moines, Beaver, 
Dallas, Iowa, Sugar Grove, Walnut, Boone, 
Coon, LTnion and Adel. 

ADEL TOWNSHIP. 

Adel, or as it was first called, Penoach, was 
one of the first three precincts formed in the 
county. In 1859 the boundaries of Adel town- 
ship were extended south to the county line, ab- 
sorbing Coon township. In January, 1869, the 
townships of Van Meter, Adams and Colfax 
were formed from Adel, leaving it to include its 
present territory. 

Samuel Miller made the first settlement in 
the township March 12, 1848, a short distance 
east of Adel. 

W. W. Miller, Eli Smithson and John Miller 
soon came and took claims, John Miller taking 
the land upon which the county seat now 
stands. The Millers were progressive and pub- 
lic spirited citizens. Samuel Miller's "stump 
mill," erected in December, 1846, served the 
wants of the community for some time. W. W. 
Miller's liberality in securing at his own ex- 
pense a schoolhouse and engaging Stephen 
Scoville to teach a three months' term of school 
free to all, has already been mentioned. 

The first post office wtis the one at Penoach. 

The old stage road from Des Moines to Coun- 
cil Bluffs passed through this township, and the 




DALLAS COUNTY OFFICERS 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



151 



first bridge over "Coon" river was built near 
Adel where the stage road crossed the river. 

This filled a useful mission for many years 
until it was replaced by the present substan- 
tial iron bridge. The first bridges were of wood, 
most of them being built by Jonathan Peppard. 
Before the bridge east of the county seat was 
built a ferry was maintained which was pat- 
ronized extensively during the times when ford- 
ing was not practicable. 

The county poor farm, located in this town- 
ship, three miles north of the town of Adel, 
has already been described. 

The Riverside Nursery, owned and person- 
ally conducted by M. J. Graham, clerk of the 
district court, is located about two miles east 
of Adel, and is doing a reliable and increasing 
business. 

Benjamin Greene formerly conducted a large 
nursery in this township, but much of the stock 
was destroyed by the hard winters and has not 
been replenished. 

This township is well adapted to fruit raising 
and most of the farms are well supplied with 
fruit trees suited to the soil and climate. 

The town of Dallas Center is in this town- 
ship. Ortonville, a flag station half way be- 
tween Adel and Waukee, has not yet reached 
the state of growth to be styled a village. 

A soap manufactory was at one time main- 
tained about a mile northeast of Adel, but has 
been discontinued. 

The "stump mill," mentioned as being con- 
structed by Mr. Miller, was sold to Buel Lathrop 
in 1848, and the burrs moved on Hickory 
creek, where it was run by water power for a 
while, but finally abandoned. 

The township officers for 1907 are : Clerk, F. 
W. Worster; assessor, C. W. Hall; trustees, H. 
T. Burns, W. R. Farlow, W. W. Rudrow; jus- 
tices, Z. N. Fidler, A. F. Smith; constables, A. 
N. Ludington, Anson Barrett. 

BOONE TOWNSHIP. 

This township is located in the southeast 
part of the county and has passed through 



numerous changes since it was first organized 
as a political precinct. 

This township is well watered by the Coon 
river. Sugar creek, Johnson creek and smaller 
tributaries. The township is underlaid with 
coal, though it has never been developed to any 
extent. Good building stone is found and an 
abundance of timber. Its only town is Boone- 
ville, in the southwestern corner, which for 
many years was a noted shipping point for cord- 
wood and railroad timber. 

The first settler in the township was John 
Wright, who took a claim in 1846 on section 
22. Greenbury Coffin, a brother-in-law of John 
Wright, settled on section 27 soon after. In 
1847 Wm. D. Boone, George Gresham, J. C. 
Goodson and John Johnson came and made 
homes here. 

Judge Burns relates that during the winter of 
1848-49 a whiskey seller named Kelley kept a 
grog shop at Penoach. On one occasion he set 
out with a yoke of oxen to Fort Des Moines to 
get a supply of liqui'd stock. He reached there 
in safety and started home through a blinding 
snow storm with a barrel of whiskey on a sled. 
The storm turned into a furious blizzard and he 
found it impossible to make any headway. 
Taking a few modest quenches to fortify him 
against the piercing cold, he loosened the cattle 
from the ^led he grabbed one by the tail he 
urged them on intending to follow them as long 
as he could hold on. The weary eattle strug- 
gled along through the drifts of almost impassi- 
ble snow dragging the almost frozen Kelley 
with them until they reached the residence of 
Wm. Boone, where they found food and shel- 
ter. He returned home the next day and about 
ten da3's later returned to the scenes of his mis- 
hap to hunt up the barrel of whiskey he had 
left behind. He found it, but found that it 
had leaked fearfully in the meantime. Kelley 
ascribed the leakage to John Wright, declaring 
that he had found it in one of his daily hunting 
trips and had carried away great quantities of 
it, not only internally but externally as well. 

The following is from the pen of Emma A. 
Richardson : 



152 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Another of the Dallas county pioneers, and 
one who has but recently passed from the scene 
of his early labors and successes to his great 
reward, was David Hanes. 

Mr. Hanes was born in Maryland, September 
12, 1813. When he had reached the age of 
twelve years he went with an uncle to Wayne 
count, Indiana, and in that state grew to man- 
hood. On November 26, 1825, he was married 
to Miss Hannah Cranor, a native of North 
Carolina. They were blessed with eleven child- 
ren, six boys and five girls, ten of them being 
now living. 

In 1855 Mr. Hanes took his family west to 
the then new lands of Dallas county. A great 
many of the early settlers of that county were 
Indiana people. The Maulsbys, Annfields, 
Mills and others were all from the Hoosier state. 

Mr. Hanes settled in Boone township in the 
southeastern corner of the county. This town- 
ship being named for an early settler, Mr. 
Boone, a relative of the famous Kentucky 
pioneer. Mr. Hanes' first purchase of land was 
an eighty of fine unimproved prairie land 
which he bought of a man named Cook, the 
original owner who had entered the claim. For 
this nice little farm he paid $125. That land 
is now worth $40 per acre an increase in value 
of about $38 an acre. For a while the family 
occupied a house in the neighborhood but dur- 
ing the next year built them a new frame house 
of boards sawed from the native timber at a 
mill across the river from the Boone place (now 
Booneville) . The lumber was mostly oak with 
Cottonwood siding and the roof. That house 
was Mr. Hanes' home until 1897, and it is still 
in use with however a new roof and some addi- 
tions which have been made later. On the 
Friday before December 1, 1856, the family 
moved into the new house. Neither doors nor 
windows were yet put in and the heating ap- 
paratus was a fireplace. On December 1st there 
came on a dreadful blizzard, a storm which is 
remembered by old inhabitants as one of the 
bad ones of the very hard winter of 1856-57. 
The large family made themselves as comfort- 
able as they could, but the experience was one 



to be remembered. At that time there was a 
number of settlers within neighborly reach but 
the land was all open and now there is not a 
vacant piece of land to be heard of. Deer were 
plentiful, and fishing was good in the streams. 
In summer time fish was a conspicuous element 
in the bill of fare. Even at that early date 
there was a schoolhouse. Iowa has ever ranked 
high on the educational question. There was 
no church for some time after this. Corn and 
wheat were then the main crops and that fertile 
new ground made good crops. It is said that 
better spring wheat was raised then than now. 
No oats were raised in that vicinity for years. 
The old Mormon trail passed close to the Hanes' 
place a:id the family saw the great Mormon 
emigration to Salt Lake, when they went on 
their weary way with their hand carts, with- 
out horses or other animals to share the labor 
of crossing half a continent. The creaking of 
their carts might be heard some distance away. 

In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Hanes celebrated the 
fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, when all 
the eleven children were at home. A month 
after that family festival occurred the only 
death among their children, that of a son. 

David Hanes died in Boone township, Dallas 
county, September 11, 1900, and was buried in 
the Booneville cemetery on his eighty -seventh 
birthday. All the living ten children were 
present at the funeral and also twenty of the 
living twenty -two grandchildren, the grandsons 
acting as pallbearers. The wife, at the age of 
eighty-one, still sur\'ives her husband though 
in feeble and failing health. 

Mr. Hanes felt grateful to Providence that 
his two eldest sons served their country in the 
AVar of the Rebellion and returned to their 
home in safety. One of them, John 
Hanes, well known to most of u?. en- 
listed in Company A, 23d Iowa Infan- 
try, August 15, 1862, which regiment 
rendezvoused at Des Moines ; was in the service 
three years; during that time passed through 
the Vicksburg campaign ; was at Mobile, in 
Missouri and Texas, and returned home August 
13, 1865. In the spring of 1876 he came to 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



153 



Jackson township, Guthrie county, and has ever 
since then made that his home, living on the 
same farm from 1869 to the present time. 

Another son, J. N. Hanes, was the sheriff 
of Dallas county. 

In the forty-two years of Mr. Hanes' resi- 
dence upon his original farm and forty-five in 
the township of Boone, he made and kept many 
friends, who considered him an ideal citizen, 
kindly disposed toward all, quiet in his ways 
but firm in his views. His excellent memory 
and long years of experience made him an 
interesting companion. His home life was con- 
genial and he was essentially a home man. He 
lived to see his children honored and prosper- 
ous. For the future he was prepared and felt 
no fear. Rev. Archer of the M. E. church con- 
ducted the funeral in the grove at his son 
Jonathan's and with the burial ended the ap- 
fjarent life of a good man. But men's deeds 
live after them and the new country which he 
helped to make blossom as the rose and the 
large family which honor and perpetuate his 
name shall "keep his memorj' green." 

HISTORY OF THE MAPLE GROVE M. E. CHURCH. 
■BOONE TOWNSHIP. 

In the summer of 1877 Mrs. Ben Bergar, 
Mr. and Mrs. Gernell, Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer 
and a few other earnest Christian workers with 
the assistance of Rev. A. J. Barton, then pastor 
on the Fairview and Waukee charge, com- 
menced to hold preaching service once in two 
weeks in the little schoolhouse in District No. 
2 in Boone township. It wa.s not long after tliis 
when the same parties organized Sunday school 
with Mr. Gernell as superintendent, having 
Sunday school in the summer time but clo.^ing 
it tlirougli the winter months; but after a few- 
years they decided to have Sunday school the 
year through, and it has never been closed 
since, but has went right on, not in the same 
schoolhouse, for that one burnt down ; then 
what was known as the Brick school was built 
on the same sit« the schoolhouse slo;id. 



In the winter of 1882 the first revival meet- 
ing was held in the Brick schoolhouse, and 
what was known ever after as the Brick class 
was organized with about fifteen members. 

The good work went on with now and then 
a revival as the years passed by to strengthen 
the workers and each time new members would 
be added, until at the present date (1907) there 
is a class with over fifty members, Mrs. Ellen 
Cassatt present class leader. In the spring of 
1900 the members thought they could afford to 
build a church, so with Rev. Paul Gardaner, 
who was pastor, as leader, the new church was 
built, and on the 8th of July, 1900, it was dedi- 
cated and named Maple Grove. The church 
stands just east of where the old Brick school- 
house stood in the edge of a fine grove of maple 
trees from which the church took the name of 
Maple Grove. 

The class has been on the increase ever since 
it was first started, of course it has had its ups 
and downs just the same as everything else, but 
there has never been a time that the class ever 
gave up ; to be sure there were times that it was 
hard for the members to raise their share of the 
expenses, but very few times did they let their 
pastor go away without his full pay. 

At the present date, 1907, there is Sunday 
school every Sunday with an average attendance 
of forty-five, L. 0. Burt, superintendent ; a 
Ladies' Aid Society that has done a great deal 
toward helping in everything for the upbuild- 
ing of the church. Preaching service every 
Sunday with Rev. R. Berton Sheppard, present 
pastor. 

LIVE STOCK. 

Much attention has been paid to stock rais- 
ing. Jas. Calanan owned at one time about 
2,000 acres of land along the river, known as 
the Calanan "ranch," which was famous as a 
feeding ground for improved breeds of cattle. 
W. Z. Swallow, a prominent farmer and early 
settler residing on section 16, has paid ranch 
attention to raising the Poland China hog, and 
has gained a wide reputation for his success in 
this industry. 



154 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



^\.mong some of the early settlers who passed 
through the early privations and have lived to 
see the township develop as it has, are Joshua 
Boone, Jasper Goodson, Frank Hutchins, \Vm. 
Cook, the Hustons, Homer McConnell, Thos. 
Estes, the Robisons, Burts, Hanes, and many 
others. Township officers for 1907 are as fol- 
lows : Justices, F. C. Young, C. C. Cook ; trus- 
tees, Wm. Robison, E. N. Leonard, L. 0. Burt; 
constables, Wm. Spatz, Walter Manning, 
clerk, D. A. Myers; assessor, E. J. Leonard. 

VAN METER TOWNSHIP. 

r 

This township, after being subjected to a 
number of changes, assumed its present bound- 
aries in January, 1869. 

The first settlers in this township were the 
Stump brothers, who came to look at the coun- 
try in 1845 and returned a little later to put up 
their cabins. They were soon followed by the 
Wrights, Ellises, and Haworths, Noah Staggs, 
Henry Garner, Henry Busic, John Juvenaugh, 
Jas. Black, Wm. McCubbin, Richard Golden, 
John Clayton, Sylvanus Knight, Jas. Moore, 
Nathan Moore and Wm. Brown. The cabin 
erected by Daniel and Lewis Stump was the 
ikst in the county. The second in the town- 
ship was built by Levi Wright on section 16, 
now owned by Jacob Van Meter. The first 
schoolhouse was a log cabin, built on section 
15, and used for some time in this capacity. 
It is believed that Wm. McCubbin taught the 
first school. 

Coal was formerly mined very extensively in 
this township but the mines have temporarily 
closed. The Van Meters operated two large 
flouring mills for many years on the main 
"Coon" and South "Coon" but these are no 
longer in existence. 

There are two towns within its limits, De Soto 
and Van Meter, connected by the Rock Island 
railroad, which gives them excellent train 
service. 

The North and South "Coon" unite near 
the western limits of the town of Van Meter 



and form the main river which flows east across 
the township. The main river and also South 
"Coon" are both crossed by substantial iron 
bridges. 

Some of the oldest settlers now living are 
Nathan Moore, J. E. Brown, Jacob Van Meter, 
Jacob Stump, Henry Clayton, J. D. Clayton, 
Jacob Gutshall, W. R. Thornton and Geo. 
Trindle. 

One of the early pioneers of Van Meter 
township and a man universally respected was 
Eli Golden, who spent nearly sixty years in this 
vicinity. The following sketch is submitted by 
Rev. Curtis: 

Eli Golden was born in Vermilion county, 
Illinois, May 16, 1834, and died May 6, 1907. 
His age was seventy-four years, wanting ten 
days. He came with his parents to the present 
place in 1849. The country then was very new. 
His home has been at the same place ever since. 
He was married to Miss Sallie A. Johnson, July 
19, 1855. To them were born sixteen children, 
six sons and ten daughters. Twenty-one years 
before him wanting three days the wife and 
mother, seemingly in the bloom of health, died 
as quickly as the lightning's stroke. Two of 
the children died in infancy. Emma and 
Frank Edwin died several years ago. 

The children from abroad are Mrs. B. A. 
Van Meter of Twin Falls, Idaho, Mrs. I^. H. 
Wright of Merrick, Oklahoma, Mrs. May Wil- 
liams of Chewelah, Washington. The other 
children live not far away and all were present 
during the death and funeral of their father. 
Among the bereaved are twenty-six grand- 
children, twenty great grandchildren and a 
host of other relatives and friends. 

Eli Golden was converted in a revival at the 
Cambridge schoolhouse about 1852. Fifty-five 
years he has been an exemplary Christian. 
He was a pillar in the U. B. church. He was 
quiet and inoflfensive. He had few if any 
enemies and many friends. His last sickness 
caused him much suffering, but the Christian 
light that made his life sunny for over half a 
century did not fail him upon the deathbed. 
He called for to be sung. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



155 



O come angel band 

Come and around me stand, 

O bear me away on your snowy wings 

To my Immortal home. 

The funeral services were held at the U. B. 
church and the interment was at the Otterman 
cemetery. 

In 1894, there was a general depression of 
business throughout the country and an army 
of discontended and unemployed men began 
their famous march to Washington to present 
their grievances. General Kelley with several 
hundred men passed through Van Meter town- 
ship and stopped and camped on the north 
side of "Coon" river near the home of Eli 
Golden. Here they were visited by people 
from far and near and great quantities of pro- 
visions were donated to them. The presence 
of such a large body of men created some 
alarm in the minds of the property owners; 
but these fears were groundless, as the men 
were quiet and peaceful and soon moved on to 
Des Moines where, after a delay of a few weeks, 
they took passage down the river and proceeded 
on their way. 

The present officers of the township are as 
follows: Justices, D. T. Griffith, S. L. Gross; 
trustees, W. N. Stump, G. A. Gutshall, C. E. 
Bishop ; constables, J. E. Jackson, J. H. Pyers ; 
clerk, Clarence Dunn ; assessor, B. 0. Brown. 

ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 

This was formerly included in Penoach and 
then in Coon townships. It was organized in 
its present form in January, 1869. It was 
named for Stephen Adams, an early settler of 
considerable prominence. 

The first settlers were John Longmire, Tris- 
tam Davis, George S. Hills, John Davis, Levi 
Davis, Archibald Crowl, Nathan McKeen and 
Abner McKeen. The first house was built by 
Tristam Davis. It was hastily thrown up 
with rough logs and covered with bark. The 
first death recorded is that of a child of some 
travelers who were passing through, and the 
first among the settlers, that of Matilda and 
Malinda Hill, who died in July, 1850, and 
were buried in the Davis cemetery. 



The first attempt to build a schoolhouse 
was conducted on a co-operative plan. Certain 
neighbors were to contribute materials and 
work and success seemed assured. 

But the best of plans will go astray and this, 
like many other co-operative schemes, failed to 
materialize, and a building was finally erected 
in 1853 in the ordinary way, in section 11, now 
known as school No. 1. This was a frame 
structure 16x18, and cost $161. It appears 
from the versions of settlers still living that 
there was con.siderable difficulty in getting the 
people to vote this tax on account of the un- 
reasonable distance some would have to send. 
The money was advanced by public spirited 
citizens convenient to the school, the district 
giving them time warrants for the money 
loaned. 

From the la.st account none of the notes 
were ever paid, but the cause of education was 
advanced and in the prosperity that has come 
to the people of Adams township in later years, 
the present generation has no inclination to 
press any of these old and unique claims. 

The schoolhouse was built by J. W. Garoutte 
and the first teacher was Samuel J. Garoutte. 

The first school on the south side of the 
river was taught by Stephen Adams in 1856-7. 
Those who remember the unusual severity of 
this record breaking winter can realize that 
Mr. Adams certainly earned his salary that 
first year. 

Adams township is watered by the South 
'"Coon," which passes through it from west to 
east, and Panther creek and Bear creek, which 
join this from the north and south. Like Van 
]\Ieter and Boone the land is considerably 
broken along the river and is covered with 
heavy timber. 

Some surface coal mining has been done and 
consideralile coal of fair quality has been taken 
out, but the deeper veins have not been devel- 
oped. An abundance of limestone and sand- 
stone have been found and these have been 
quarried extensively. 

The Bilderback mill, erected near where the 
iron bridge now crosses the river in section 16, 



156 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and afterward purchased and worked by 
Mitchel and Payton, did a good business for 
many years but has now gone the way of most 
of the water mills. 

This township has no town within its bound- 
aries, but it is easily accessible to many nearby 
towns, has excellent schools, churches, farms 
and progressive people. 

The following is a list of the officers for 1907 : 
Justices, S. S. McKibben, J. N. Coffin ; trustees, 
G. S. McKibben, P. N. Mitchel, S. L. Inman; 
constables, L. L. Morse, H. B. Growl; clerk, 
Edgar Benson; assessor, L. A. Chesnutwood. 

UNION TOWNSHIP. 

This was formerly part of Owens township 
which included Linn township. It was after- 
ward put into Penoach township and in 
February, 1857, was set off as a permanent or- 
ganization, since which time the boundaries 
have not been changed, except for school pur- 
poses. 

The South "Coon" runs along its northern 
boundary and Bear creek through the south 
central portion from east to west. Much of the 
land along Bear creek is bluffy, but most of 
the land is well adapted to farming and is very 
valuable. Building stone of excellent quality 
has been quarried here. The most massive 
beds of sandstone exhibited in the county are 
just south of Redfield at what is called Hanging 
Rock. The blue limestone beds on Bear creek 
have produced immense quantities of this stone. 

The Marshall artesian well on section 7, near- 
ly three hundred feet deep, passed through 
eight feet of St. Louis limestone at a depth of 
two hundred and ninety-one feet. 

Coal has been mined at numerous points 
along the river, the first mines of the county 
being opened near Redfield, but the work has 
been practically abandoned. 

The first settler is believed to be David Dailey 
who settled on section 4 in 1847. Humphrey 
Smith and his son-in-law, Henry Owens, came 
in the spring of 1848 and built the first mill 
in the township near the mouth of Cottonwood 



creek, the raising of which, as has been ex- 
plained, was attended by much hilarity and 
subsequent altercations. 

In February, 1848, Leroy Lambert settled on 
section 6. He started the first bank in Dexter 
and afterwards moved to Adel, where he con- 
tinued in the banking business for seventeen 
years. He was a leading spirit in the develop- 
ment of the -town and county and was elected 
to the state legislature in 1853 and 1859. He 
was, at an early time, commissioner of school 
funds of the county, which duty was discharged 
with his usual fidelity. In his later years he 
became almost totally blind. 

Mr. Lambert was at one time a local preacher 
and exhorter of the Christian church. His 
life was one of long usefulness and his friends 
were numbered among all who had business 
dealings with him. He died at his home in 
Adel, Nov. 21, 1900. 

In 1850 the Cavenaugh brothers, Patrick, 
Thomas and Michael, came and bought the 
claim of David Dailey in section 4, They en- 
tered the land where Redfield now stands and 
laid out a town on its present site which was 
called New Ireland. About this time the settle- 
ment was increased by the coming of Elisha 
Morris, J. W. Hayes, J. F. Willis, Nelson Cave, 
L, D. Hewitt, Chas. Vermillion, Uriah Softs, 
Geo. Warden, Elijah Thomas and his sons. 
Grounds for burial purposes were donated by 
the Cavenaughs and laid out near Wiscotta. 
The first death was that of David Dailey's child. 

The Newport woolen mills on the river south- 
east of Redfield just across from the Horner 
mill did considerable business in former years 
but it is now counted in with other things that 
make up the past historj' of the township. 

The people of Union township are noted for 
their industry, thrift and zeal for educational 
and moral progress. They have excellent 
schools and churches and are intensely inter- 
ested in giving their children the benefits of 
these institutions. 

The two prosperous towns. Dexter and Red- 
field, are in this township. Wiscotta at one 
time claimed the distinction of being rated as a 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



It 



thriving village, but only a few houses now are 
left. 

Township officers at 1907 election were: 
Clerk, F. R. Coulter; assessor, Ed. Coulter; 
trustees, I. N. Cronk, W. C. Coles, Geo. Slower; 
justices, H. C. Peer, D. S. Patty; constables, 
John Bouplin, Ed. Cahow. 

The Pleasant Hill United Brethren church, 
situated in section 13, was organized in 1870. 
The building was erected in 1872. They have 
a membership of forty-one at present. They 
have no parsonage at Pleasant Hill, pastor liv- 
ing at Panther creek, in adjoining township. 

Bear Creek Friends church, situated on sec- 
tion 23, was organized in 1855. The first 
church built on the south side of the road waa 
built in 1856. Then in 1874 they built on the 
present site on north side of road, where the 
present church stands, which was built in 1902. 
At present there are a little over two hundred 
members. They have a neat little parsonage 
and barn in the corner of .church lot which was 
built in 1898. 

The "Ancient Friends," a party who sep- 
arated from the Friends church in 1876, have 
a small building, also situated on section 23, 
and have a membership of about twenty-five. 

DES MOINES TOWNSHIP. 

This is situated in the northeast comer of 
the county and was one of the first three 
electoral precincts formed in 1849. 

It formerly included most of Beaver and 
Grant townships, but was made up in its pres- 
ent form through various changes by orders 
of court in 1857, 1859 and 1868. 

The Des Moines river passes through the 
northeast corner and Beaver creek through the 
southwest corner. • The Milwaukee railroad 
crosses the northern and eastern half and ex- 
tends through the southwest part with a branch 
to Woodward. There was formerly a village 
called Xenia a mile east of Woodward, which 
bade fair at some future time to be called a city, 
but when the Milwaukee road wished to estab- 
lish a depot in 1881, Xenia was not well located 



and so the town was moved a mile west. 
Messrs. Leaming, Parks and Craft conducted 
stores at Xenia, and Dr. Brookings, who is still 
located at Woodward, did quite a business there. 

J. Casebeer kept a boarding house in 1878, 
and a Dr. Sauks assisted Dr. Brookings in 
preserving the health of the community. The 
place had a postoffice, blacksmith shop, school- 
house and church. 

The first settlement in the township was 
made by 0. D. Smalley, who came there in 1846 
and took a claim on the northwest quarter of 
section 26. Smalley is called the Christopher 
Columbus of Dallas county. For some months 
he was the monarch of all he could survey. 
Mr. Smalley came to Fort Des Moines in the 
spring of '46, just as the Sac and Fox Indians 
were taking their departure for their new home 
beyond the Missouri. He came up on the east 
side of the Des Moines river, crossed at Elk 
Rapids and the next day reached the place that 
was to be his home. 

He was a member of the first grand jury 
drawn in the county, the one that held its 
session under the protecting limbs of a large 
tree on the "Coon" river near Adel. The only 
business transacted here was a horse trade be- 
tween Mr. Smalley and another member. 

Following Mr. Smalley were John and 
David Speare, Jerry Evans, Judge McCall, 
Samuel Ramsey, Judah Leaming. 

The first election held was in 1848 at the 
house of Judah Leaming, this being one of 
the three polling places of the county. Two 
postoffices were formerly maintained in this 
township, one at Xenia and the other at Snyder 
in the southeast part of the township. 

The first postoffice was at 0. D. Smalley's, 
being established in September, 1858. The 
first school was taught in 1850 by Dr. Plumly 
in the house of Martin Tucker. Formerly a 
steam saw mill and gristmill known as Ruth's 
mill was located on section 3. It was built in 
1867 by W. Ruth and did an active business 
for many years. "High Bridge" across the Des 
Moiiaes in section 25 is a remarkable piece of 



158 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



engineering and is a famous resort for picnic 
parties. 

Des Moines township has long been the chief 
coal producer of the county. The Scandia 
mines are being pushed now more vigorously 
than ever. Quite a settlement has been made 
at Scandia and many new cottages are being 
erected this fall. Options on coal lands a few 
miles south have been taken and the indica- 
tions now are that this township will vastly in- 
crease its output of coal this coming year. 
Prospects at various places reveal veins from 
one to four feet thick and some of it as good 
quality as can be found in the state. The coal 
rights in connection with the surface fertility 
of the soil and the transportation facilities make 
Des Moines township land a fortune to its 
owners. Clay of superior quality is found near 
Scandia and a large brick and tile factory is 
in operation there. 

Officers for this year are as follows : Justices, 
Chas. Greene, J. B. Saum ; trustees, J. W. Wat- 
son, E. A. Cole, W. S. Guthrie; clerk, I. S. 
Gilbert; assessor, F. A. Grimm; constables, B. 
F. Conger, Corwin Herdman. 

ANCIENT GRAVEYARD. 

The Scandia department in the Woodward 
Enterprise, in June, 1907, says: "Last week 
teams were hauling gravel for the public road 
from a gravel pit near the Stover farm. While 
the men were loading their wagons with gravel, 
they opened several graves and some twenty 
or more skeletons were taken out. A good 
many have examined the skulls and pro- 
nounced them those of Indians. Other evidence 
of this is that stone pipes were found in the 
gravel. Some ten or fifteen must have been 
buried together, as all were found in one heap. 
Several bones and skulls were found a rod or so 
apart, but one grave seems to have been made 
large and in this many bodies had been laid in 
most any way. Some of the bones were those of 
children and some of the skulls were well pre- 
served, the teeth being colored lightly. Most 
of them bore marks that they had been struck 



on the head with some sharp instrument as 
many of them had a line on top as though they 
had been hit with a sharp blade. 

"There are but few who can remember the 
burial hei-e either of Indians or white people. 
It is evident that these bones have been buried 
many years as over this large grave was an oak 
tree two feet or more thick that at least was 
sixty to eighty years old. Some of the bones 
were well preserved while others could only be 
marked as a streak in the sand. Some think 
that in early days there probably was some 
trouble between the Indians and the early set- 
tlers and a battle took place, or perhaps at one 
time there had been some vital disease amongst 
the Indians, causing so many to be buried in 
one grave. The pipes that were found were 
finely cut and carved and well preserved. Some 
other articles consisting of metal were found 
but they were so badly rusted that it is impossi- 
ble to say what they once were. The most strik- 
ing part about one skeleton was the head; it 
had been laid in fine sand. A long cut was on 
one side of the skull and on that side and 
ufiderneath it was red sand, on the other side 
was light. Looked as though the blood had 
oozed out from this wound in the head and 
had really colored the sand red and it had held 
the same color until taken out. Many have 
been on the ground with hopes that something 
more could be found that would solve this 
hidden mystery for the people of today." 

PROBABLE EXPLANATION. 

J. M. Cave, of Linn township states that in 
1853 a trapper named Henry Lott lived near 
the scene of this wholesale murder. A band 
of Indians abused Lett's family driving one 
child down the river towards Fort Des Moines 
where he was found later frozen in the ice and 
frightening Mrs. Lott until death came to her 
relief. The husband and elder son remained 
and vowed a terrible vengeance. Plying the 
Indians with liquor until they were in a 
drunken stupor, Lott and his son waded in 
on the ignoble redmen with axes and spared 




fvAvTc 



STREET SCENE IN ADEL 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



161 



no one and when they were through there lay 
ut least twenty good Indians. Lott was a friend 
of the Cave family and related the details of 
this to A. J. Cave. The finding of the bones 
recalls this sanguinary scene of early days. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

This township lies a little northwest of the 
center of the county and lias many productive 
farms. The North "Coon" passes through the 
eiistern Iialf and the branches of Panther creek 
water the south and west parts. 

Coal is found along the North "Coon" but is 
not mined extensively now. A mine was 
opened in 1896-7, in section 24 on the land 
owned by Chas. Scott and was worked by Geo. 
and Thos. Bott of Eedfield; considerable coal 
of good quality was mined hei'e. The coal here 
out crops near the bottom of a ravine a mile 
from the river. It averages two and a half feet 
though it reaches three feet in some places. 
Other banks have been operated with some 
success on a limited scale. The Minburn Brick 
& Tile Works were organized in 1880 and 
have been in operation at intervals ever since. 
In 1898 a fire destroyed the works but they 
were rebuilt the next year. The output now 
consists mainly of tile for which there is a great 
demand now. 

Washington township was formerly a part 
of Buena Vista precinct. Later it became part 
of Sugar and not until June, 1870, did it 
assume its present boundaries. 

The first .settler, John Sullivan, who came in 
1848, evidently did not like the country very 
well, as he traded his cabin and claim for a gun 
valued at six dollars. The settlers following in 
1848 were James McLane, Jacob Minter, 
Samuel Mars, John Sammis, and Mr. Reddish. 
In 1849, Wm. Rouse and Wm. Clark came and 
in 1850 David Starbuck and others. 

The first school was taught by John War- 
ford in 1857. 

Present ofiicers of the town'<hip: Justices, 
W. J. MfMullen, J. B. Beaver; constables, Thos. 



Harrison, J. S. O'Malley ; trustees, P. J. Graney, 
0. E. Beaver, E. A. Weaver; clerk, E. G. Carris; 
assessor, H. E. Clark. 

SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

This was at fir.st i>art of Buena Vista and 
Des Moines townships. In 1851 it was organ- 
ized as a separate township including what is 
now in the limits of Beaver. In 1870 it was 
marked off in its present form. 

The first settlers were L. D. Burns, H. 
Adams, Zabina Babcock, who came together in 
1847. Some following soon after were Adam 
Viueage, Jas. Pierce, Jas. McLain, John Sul- 
livan, Dutch Henry, William Boyd, Allen 
Boyles, S. C. Taylor, Hayes Boyles, Isaac Bal- 
lard, Milton RandolfDh, Wm. Groves and Wm. 
Cartright. 

The first school was taught by S. C. Taylor. 
The township now has eight rural schools and 
one graded school. 

The township has one jirosperous town, Min- 
burn, within its limits. 

Many years ago the large flouring mill owned 
by J. H. Warrington stood on the North "Coon" 
in the southwest corner of the township, but is 
no longer in existence. The first mill, about 
1850, was owned by a Mr. Rinehart. This was 
reijlaced by the Warrington mill built in 1872. 

Ofiicers for 1907 are: Justices, H. E. Boyd, 
J. 0. MeClure; constables, A. Hagenstein, 
Frank Sehman ; trustees, Chas. Greif, B. Gotts- 
chalk, F. Seaman ; clerk, C. D. Lewellen ; asses- 
sor, Geo. Shirley. 

LINN TOWNSHIP. 

This was at one time part of Owens precinct 
then united with Union and afterwards part of 
Iowa township. It was organized as a separate 
township with practically its present boundaries 
in 1858. 

The first settler was Samuel Carpenter, who 
came here in 1848, who took a claim along the 
timber near Middle "Coon." Others coming 
about the same time were James Brooks and 



162 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Thomas Elliott. In 1850-1 James Harper, W. 
W. Harper, Wm. Maulsby, John Jamison and 
Isaac Fee made settlements in the township. 

Some other early settlers were Abner Hill, 
Geo. Bailey, Geo. Duck, Joel Davis, Isaac Davis, 
Seth Patty, Squire Lumpkins and W. M. 
Thornburg. The early settlers tell of the severe 
hardships they were called upon to endure, the 
unusual floods, especially in 1852. One of the 
old log cabins of early days may be still seen 
standing a short distance northwest of Redfield 
that shows the style of architecture in those 
days. Linn township formerly produced con- 
siderable coal, but not much attempt to work 
the mines is being made now. The old Harvey 
grist mill used to stand on the Middle "Coon" 
south of Linden. It was replaced by one built 
in 1875, which has since been torn down. The 
town of Linden is located near the western 
boundai-y line. This township has one rail- 
road, the Milwaukee, which extends through 
the southwest corner. The land is somewhat 
rolling and much time is devoted to stock 
raising. The township has good churches, 
schools and enterprising citizens. Thos. Thorn- 
burg, a son of one of the first settlers and for 
some years representative from Dallas county, 
is extensively engaged in stock raising and 
shipping. 

The present officers are as follows : Justices, 
Levi Hockett, J. H. Russell; constables, J. N. 
Doyle. Mahlon Bales; trustees, P. R. Burchfield. 
T. C. Burnham, C. E. Cave; clerk, E. M. Har- 
den; ai^sessor, T. F. Seaman. 

WALNUT TOWNSHIP. 

Walnut was at first part of Penoach precinct. 
A division called Walnut township was made 
in 1857. In 1868 the northern part was cut 
off to form Grant township and it was given its 
present form. Much of the land was formerly 
swampy and unfit for cultivation, now it has 
the largest number of valualile farms in the 
county. Waukee is located in the southern 
part on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad 
and the Milwaukee. 



The early settlers were John Betts, Henry 
Young, Paul Hoff, Lyman Ellis, Lafe Ellis, 
Frank Stralil and JLoren Bingham. 

The present county officers are: Justices, 
Geo. Stahl, N. C. Wragg; constables, Jas. Scott, 
D. B. Blake; clerk, S. F. Foft; trustees, M. 
Hoskins, Wm. Davenport, B. M. Kelley; asses- 
sor, W. R. Fox. 

D.\LL.\S TOWNSHIP. 

This township is located in the northwestern 
pait of the county and was a part of Buena 
Vista precinct. In 1856 it was included in 
Spring Valley and in 1858 was given its present 
outline. It is mostly level and the land is ex- 
tremely fertile. 

The North "Coon" extends along its northern 
boundary and it is dotted by numerous small 
bodies of water. 

Swan lake at one time covered parts of sec- 
tion 27 to a depth of four or five feet. It used 
to be a great resort for sportsmen and afforded 
a good supply of fish. 

For many years it was a favorite resort for 
wild ducks and geese, large numbers of which 
were killed annually. This lake has just 
recently been drained and the long rickety 
bridge across it torn down. 

The drainage of' Swan lake will add many 
valuable acres of farming land to Dallas town- 
ship and will prove to be exceedingly fertile. 

The town of Dawson on the Milwaukee rail- 
road is located in the northern part. A grist 
mill built some fifty years ago and owned by 
J. F. Atkinson, formerly stood on the North 
"Coon" and was quite largely patronized. 

Some of the first settlers were R. D. Correy, 
W. E. Tolle, W. H. Adams, A. L. Town, Jacob 
Rhodes, .J. .J. Morrain, Mose Morrain, John 
Ganoe, Sr., Adam Collins and Wm. Currj\ 

The present township officers are: Justices, 
U. G. Tolle, C. H. Phillips; constables, J. E. 
Tolle, L. D. Robbins: trustees, A. C. Fagen, 
A. M. Doidge. J. D. Lisle ; clerk, Frank Ander- 
.son ; assessor, C. S. Francis. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



163 



SPRING VALLEY TOWNSHIP. 

This is one of the central townships of the 
northern tier and contains the city of Perry, 
the metropolis of the county. The Milwaukee 
and Minneapolis steam railroads and the Des 
Moines Interurban pass through this township 
and give it excellent shipping facilities. The 
North "Coon," Beaver creek and numerous 
smaller tributaries flow through Spring Valley, 
giving it an abundance of water. Thornburg's 
mill on the "Coon" river formerly did a large 
business and brought people from far and near. 

The first settlement was made in 1848, by 
Dutch Henry, an account of whom has been 
given. This interesting character, as explained 
before, left suddenly for parts unknown leaving 
all his possessions in whosoever hands they 
might fall into. Among the first settlers were 
Cornelius McKeon, Judge Thornburg, Harvey 
Willis, John McMillen, Michael Shively, Wil- 
son Minor and Jesse Bramfield. 

The officers elected for this year are : Jus- 
tices, L. B. Thornburg, A. D. Haskins; consta- 
bles, Dave Willis, Levi Thornburg ; trustees, D. 
B. Dubridge, A. W. Skinner, Henry Schnoor; 
clerk, R. S. Cross; assessor, Eli Brotherson. 

BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 

This township lies east of Sjiring Valley and 
is cros.sed by the Milwaukee railroad and the 
interurban. Slough creek and Beaver creek 
extend through the township and help to 
diversify the surface. Occasionally these 
streams get on a rampage and flood the valleys 
making some of the low ground somewhat un- 
certain for corn or small grain. 

Beaver was originally laid out in 1857. At 
one time it was thrown into Sugar Grove and 
Des Moines townships. Bouton, a small village 
on the Milwaukee, is quite a hustling little 
place. The interurban management is plan- 
ning to make an elaborate summer resort on 
Beaver creek and expects it to prove to be very 
popular. 

The first settler was Seth H. Dayton, whose 
claim is now known as the William Harris 



farm. Among some of the others were J. M. 
Townsend, Mrs. Gardner, C. C Burdick, Mr. 
McConnell and the Walworth family. By 1869 
the following settlers were added to the popula- 
tion of Beaver township: Thos. Todd, J. H. 
Biggs, J. Kirby, A. J. Reed and Joe Storms. 

The following officers have been elected for 
1907: Justices, J. W. Wright, Albert Dial; 
constables, Chas. Gardner, W. A. Morrill; trus- 
tees, L. L. Martin, John Hansen, J. P. O'Mal- 
ley; clerk, Joe Gardner; assessor, E. E. Gray. 

COLFAX TOWNSHIP. 

Colfax township lies west of Adel and has 
many prosperous people. Panther creek crosses 
the township from north to south and the Mil- 
waukee railroad extends through the southern 
part. 

Colfax was for many years part of Adel 
township, but in 1859 it was set off in its pres- 
ent form. 

The first settlers were William Franks, Jack- 
son Franks, Willis Franks, William Loper, 
John Tyer, J. N. Ludington and John Metz. 

The people believe in religion, morality and 
education. 

There are nine schools located two miles 
apart. 

The Methodists have a good church on sec- 
tion 21, the minister from Adel generally fill- 
ing the pulpit here. The Christians have 
recently built a fine church on section 18. 

The German Baptists or Dunkards are 
numerous in the northern part. 

The German Baptist association was organ- 
ized in 1869 with Christian Long as bishop. 
The early members were Mrs. Long, wife of 
Bishop Long, his son and daughter, Henry 
Stitzel and wife, John B. Diehl and wife, Henry 
Miller and wife, Jacob Rowland and wife, 
Emanuel Couchenour and wife. The congre- 
gation built a church on section 4 in 1873 at 
a cost of $1,400. • 

The farmers are unusually prosperous and 
have beautiful farms with elegant homes. 

Josiah Ludington one of the early pioneers 
is still living on his farm in section 15, hale 



164 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and hearty and is a kindly typical gentleman 
of the old school. He and his estimable wife 
enjoy having their friends call and visit them 
and they both extend a warm-hearted hospi- 
tality characteristic of old times. 

Mr. H. D. Nelson who owns a farm in section 
18 was a noted electrician and a man of un- 
usual ability. For years he conducted a myste- 
rious workshop which was a source of consider- 
able gossip. It was even hinted that it was the 
rendezvous of counterfeiters and U. S. detectives 
worked on this clue but there was nothing to 
it. The following from the Adel Record -will 
throw some light on this remarkable char- 
acter: "A few days ago we had the privi- 
lege of visiting Mr. Heniy Nelson who lives 
about nine miles northwest of here in Colfax 
township. We had heard much of him as an 
electrician and an inventor and supposed many 
of the wonderful thing's reported of him by his 
friends were somewhat exaggerated. We were 
surprised to find that the half has not been told. 
For over forty years Mr. Nelson has been a 
student of electricity. When but a boy in his 
teens he determined to devote his life to search- 
ing out the deep and hidden mysteries of elec- 
tricity. When he was but sixteen years old he 
had a workshop lighted with electricity. 
Thirty-five years ago he knew about the X-ray 
of which so much has been said lately. Twenty 
years ago he knew how to reverse the current 
in a magnet thousands of times in a second, 
a thing which the scientific world supposed 
Tesla of New York to have found out for the 
first time a few yeai's ago. 

"For the past twenty years Mr. Nelson has 
devoted his time with most persistent industry 
to giving the world an electric motor that would 
develop its own electricity. Of course the 
scientific world ridicules the thought that such 
a mechanism can be made, much less by a 
rural scientist. We believe' in the man and his 
works. For thirty yeai-s he has labored, keep- 
ing his plans and counsels to himself and never 
for a day lost confidence in himself. He is 
certainly a master mechanic and has a work- 
shop fitted up mostly by his own labor that is 



a marvel of perfection. He owns a nice farm 
on which he has a pleasant home. He is a man 
of striking personality and an intelligent con- 
versationalist. He is in communication with 
many eminent scientists who acknowledge that 
he has gone beyond them in many respects." 

Mr. Nelson finally abandoned his scientific 
experiments and disposed of most of his splen- 
did equipment. He was a remarkable man in 
many respects and was certainly a gifted elec- 
trician. 

The present township officers are as follows : 
Justices, H. B. Ludington, W. B. Dawes; con- 
stables, Lew Huffman, S. T. Wilcox; trustees, 
S. A. Wilcox, Elwood Beasley, Ed. Van Cleve; 
clerk, C. W. Lamb; assessor, F. M. Snyder. 

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP. 

This township is in the west part of the 
county between Linn and Dallas. Mosquito 
creek and Panther creek extend into Lincoln 
and these with large ditches and numerous tile 
drains give it sufficient drainage. Like Wash- 
ington township it has no railroad but an inter- 
urban in the near future is expected. No better 
land for corn and oats can be found in the 
county and probably in the state than that of 
Lincoln township. 

Pilot lake was years ago quite a noted body 
of water. It occupied parts of sections 10 and 
;-!, including about a hundred acres. 

It was about six or eight feet deep, con- 
tained many fish and was a great harbor for 
wild game. It was drained in 1876 into 
Panther creek by E. M. Jones, the owner of the 
land. 

Buffalo bones were found in various places 
in the lake bottom. Some of these bones have 
been preserved by relic hunters, proving con- 
clusively that buffalo have roamed over this 
territory in the past. 

In former years a Mr. Clarke owned the 
land on wliich the lake was located and built 
a frame house 16x24 on the old stage road 
which passed by there. Here he kept store and 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



165 



hotel, accommodating as many as forty guests 
at one time with meals and lodgings. 

Lijicoln was at one time part of Buena Vista, 
;md in 1857 part of Iowa township. In 1867 
the board of supervisors set it off in its present 
form. 

The first settler is believed to have been J. R. 
Powell, the exact date of which cannot be 
definitely given. Mr. Clark and Mr. Jones 
have alretidy been mentioned. Mr. Wm. 
Mosier and the Thornburgs settled in the 
southern part of the township in an early day. 

The postoffice at Brough and the store kept 
by Jacob Knapp used to be familiar landmarks. 

When Wm. Mosier came to the township in 
Febiiiary, 1865, there were but two other 
families living there, Ja^. Powell and Nathan 
ITowells. Mr. Mosier states that no school- 
house had been built and that there were but 
three houses between his place and Adel. 
Isaac Smith and John King moved in soon and 
Wm. DeLa, R. W. DeLa and Nathaniel Allard 
followed shortly after. 

Wm. Mosier, Jas. Powell and Isaac Smith 
ch(we the name '"Lincoln" in honor of Abraham 
Lincoln. 

J. A. Thornburg, Jacol) Pitzenbergor and A, 
L. Stephens were pioneers of this township. 

Joseph Hoi-sley, a well known pioneer, said; 
"When I came to Dallas county in the spring 
of 187G, I settled in the north part of Lincoln 
township. The country was very new then. 
The houses were small and unpainted. The 
barns were mostly stables made of wild hay. 
There were no fences. People had to hire a 
boy to herd their cows. The roads wound any 
way, .so as to keep out of the ponds that were 
very numerous in those days. There were no 
churches, and the meetings were held in school- 
houses. The schoolhouses were only two miles 
apart. 

"Among the early settlers were Isaac Smith, 
E. M. Jones, John Coleman, George Leonard, 
E. J. Finley, Leo Arthand, H. A. Eveland and 
Ephraim Davis. The nearest railroad was at 
Perry, thirteen miles away. The first church 
was built in 1880, and was named Prairie Cen- 



ter M. E. church. The first preacher was a 
Rev. Archer. There was a cemetery located 
across the road west of the church." 

The township • has three churches, Prairie 
Center, Shiloh and Faii-view. 

The M. E. church at Prairie Center was or- 
ganized by John Coleman in 18(36 at the Valley 
schoolhouse. The church was built in 1880 
or about that time. 

Shiloh is a Christian church and wiis organ- 
ized in 1894 by Rev. A. C. Burnham at the 
Powell schoolhouse with a membership of 
twenty. The church building was erected the 
next year. The members whose names could be 
learned were as follows : John Leaky and wife, 
Wm. Shepard and wife, Jacob Knapp and wife, 
John Armstrong and wife, and Jacob Pitzen- 
berger and wife. 

They have a good church, erected in 1895, 
costing about one thousand five hundred dol- 
lars. Present pastor is Rev. Morrow, of What 
Cheer, and in connection with the church there 
is a good Sunday school. 

The Fairview church was organized in 1880 
or 1881 by Elder J. H. Painter, with twenty- 
seven members but had a short existence. It 
was re-organized in 1891 by Elder W. D. 
Swarin of Panoi'a, Iowa, with the following 
charter members: Lucy Allard, Coi'a Mc- 
Chesney, Viola Stichler, Minnie Foy, Mrs. 
Skinner, Mary Hays, Eugene McChesney, 
Joseph Hays and Mr. Skinner. W. D. Swarin 
became pastor of the new congregation and E. 
E. Stringfellow of Oskaloosa is now acting as 
such. He is also Sunday-school superintend- 
ent. The church building was erected in 1895 
at a cost of seventeen hundred dollars. 

The present towniship officers are as follows: 
Justices, W. F. Herring, Arthur Horsely; con- 
stables, Roy Jones, Dallas Hefflefinger; clerk, 
J. M. Grubb; trustees, H. G. Thornburg, N. A. 
Barrack, W. J. Booth; assessor, W. A. Warford. 

GRANT TOWNSHIP. 

Grant township formed parts of different 
precincts, being at various times included in 



166 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Bueiia Vista, Des Moines and AValnut. It as- 
sumed its present outlines in 1868. 

Beaver creek passes through the northeast 
corner, and a branch of Walnut creek drains 
the south central portion. The interurban rail- 
way crosses the northeast corner and the Mil- 
waukee steam road along the eastern boundary. 

The township in an early day was exceed- 
ingly wet and paiis of it were considered of 
little value for many years after other parts 
of the county had been well settled. Mai'tin 
Haley living on section 10 relates interesting 
accounts of the experiences of himself and his 
brother-in-law, Daniel Manning, and their fami- 
]ies in going to Dallas Center nine miles away. 
It was almost impossible to make the trip dur- 
ing the wet seasons without getting stuck in the 
mud. 

The horses would flounder about unable to 
find a bottom to some of the miry sloughs. Not 
infrequently this would necessitate the drivers 
getting out to pick their way in their Sunday- 
go-to-meeting clothes to a convenient stack of 
slough grass where they would convey great 
loads to the scene of disaster and extricate the 
team with the wagon and its inmates. 

Mr. Manning was accidentally killed some 
years ago by being thrown from his wagon 
during a runaway, but he left his family a fine 
farm and comfortable home where they dis- 
pense hospitality with an open hand. 

Martin Haley and his wife came to this town- 
ship many years ago poor in purse but strong 
and ambitious. Thej' have accumulated a com- 
petence and are warm hearted, social people. 

The first settler in the township was a Mr. 
Humphrey, who settled on section 22 in 1849. 
Among others who came within a few years 
were L. Morgan, J. D. Whitman, L. W. Briggs 
and A. Hofif. 

Many of the families of Grant township be- 
long to the Catholic church. They have a 
strong congregation and have built a costly and 
commodious church at Granger. 

Little did the early settlers think when they 
made their way over swampy paths that led to 
and from their primitive cabins that they 



would live to see the land drained and go past 
the hundred dollar mark; that they could talk 
to their friends miles away, hear talking 
machines, ride in automobiles, have machinery 
to do so much of the drudgery of the farm. 
But these and many more wonderful things 
have come to pass in the experience of settlers 
of Grant in common with settlers of the other 
townships of the county. 

Present township officers: Justices, R. F. 
Kilpatrick, J. F. Whipperman ; constables, J. E. 
Lennox, Louis Kohls; trustees, J. T. Eraser, 
Charles Greif, B. Gottschalk. 

D.^LLAS COUNTY TOWNS PERRY. 

The city of Perry is located in the northern 
part of Spring Valley township, Dallas county, 
Iowa, and includes parts of sections 9 and 10. 
The metropolis of the county, she exerts an 
influence in her afifairs political and commer- 
cial which marks her for continued growth. 
About her stretch contributive miles of terri- 
tory. She is the recognized center of an area 
extending as the spokes of a wheel from a hub 
and reaching to Des Moines on the south, Fort 
Dodge on the north. Cedar Rapids on the east 
and Council Bluffs on the west. In miles Des 
Moines is 34 miles distant, Fort Dodge 54, 
Council Bluffs 123 and Chicago 385. 

The town of Perry derives its name from 
Colonel Perry of Keokuk, who was one of the 
owners and projectors of the Des Moines Val- 
lej', now the M. & St. L. railroad, the locating 
of which led to the establishment of the town. 

In 1868 there was nothing to distinguish 
the present site of Perrj' from any other piece 
of prairie farm land. Across Frog creek, to 
the west of the present city, was the country 
store kept by D. J. Pattee, and the Alton post- 
office. And all around was prairie, with an 
occasional patch of plowed ground and here and 
there a farmhouse. In the year named, the 
Des Moines Valley railroad, which had been 
built up from Keokuk that year and the one 
preceding, was surveyed through this county. 
AVhen its location was assured, and the promise 
of a station obtained, John and Harvey Willis, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



167 



who owned adjoining pieces of land included 
in the site, laid out a town in the winter of 
1868-69. The original plat contained about 
220 acres, and five acres was given to the rail- 
way company for its depot grounds, in addi- 
tion to twenty lots south of Willis avenue. The 
town had the usual history of railway towns 
in this section at a time when the country 
was only sparsely settled. By the census of 
1880, the population was only 800. 

The change from a straggling town to a 
busy, rapidly growing little city came in 1882, 
when the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railway, being extended west 
from Chicago to Council Bluffs, reached here. 
The efforts which were necessary to secure first 
the road itself, which, it was threatened, would 
be laid out so as to pass north of the present 
citj', and afterwards to secure the location of 
the middle division here, would make quite a 
chapter of history in itself if fully told. 

But events have abundantly vindicated the 
wisdom and it is to be hoped rewarded the sac- 
rifices, of those who labor to secure these two 
advantages, which more than all else have made 
Perry the citj' she is today. Within three years 
after the Milwaukee road was built into the 
town, the population had grown to about 2,500, 
and since then there has been a steady growth. 

The government census of 1900 gave the city 
a population of 3,986, but no citizen familiar 
with the city and her peopled territory accepted 
the figures as a complete showing of her num- 
bers. This year the state census has been taken 
and while the numbers are not as yet officially 
announced, they will register a population of 
approximately 4,300. This represents the num- 
ber within the actual limits of the town. Could 
the houses just beyond the corporate limits be 
included within the lines and their occupants 
counted. Perry would rank among the 5,000 
class of citi&s. 

FIRST IMrRESSIOX XOT SATISF.\CTORY. 

S. J. Brumfield, one of the solid, substantial 
citizens of Perry, recalls with vivid recollection, 
his first trip to Dallas county. 



In the spring .of 1853, Jesse Brumfield, 
whose name is erroneously spelled '"Brimfield" 
in former sketch of Dallas county pioneers, his 
wife and two children, one a young girl, the 
other the narrator of this reminiscence, then 
a youth of twelve years old, and Mr. Jas. Hol- 
craft, started from. Indiana in a wagon for 
Adel, Dallas county, Iowa. They reached their 
destination safely and soon Mr. Brumfield Sr. 
and Mr. Holcraft started out on horseback 
to locate some land on "'Coon" river near where 
Perry now stands. They got lost, however, and 
after much traveling, reached the south end 
of Buffalo grove on Beaver creek, where they 
located. Mrs. Brumfield was very much dis- 
satisfied with the wild, uninhabited country 
that had been selected for her home, and so 
strong was her displeasure that the family re- 
turned to Indiana in the fall of 1854. 

Mr. S. J. Brumfield returned here in time to 
grow up with the country, and though more 
than a half century has elapsed since he made 
his first trip here, traveling by wagon and afoot, 
camping out at night and seeing Dallas county 
in her original state, he has never forgotten his 
early experiences, nor regretted the fact that 
he has made this favored spot his home. 

HARVEY WILLIS. 

For almost forty years one of the best known 
and highly respected of Perry's citizens was its 
founder, Harvey Willis. Born in Wayne 
county, Indiana, in 1831, his life was full of 
activity and strenuous effort until his death at 
Perry in April, 1901. 

In 1868, when Perry was laid out, he owned 
all the land between Willis avenue and Edna 
street (now Dewey avenue) and from Eighth 
street west to the road just this side of the river. 
He was then a large stock dealer and interested 
in many other enterprises. At the age of nine- 
teen he joined the California gold seekers and 
made his way by boat to St. Joseph on the Mis- 
souri river, from thence overland 2,000 miles 
to the new Eldorado. He walked almost the 
entire distance, encountering many dangers 
from savage Indians and suffering the usual 



168 



PAST AND PRESENT OF IWLLAS COUNTY, 



hardships of this overland journey. He 
reached Sacramento without losing his scalp, 
washed out gold dust and in August, 1851, 
started home by way of Panama, which he 
crossed on foot and after reaching the gulf 
coast, took passage for New York. Here he 
fell in with some confidence men who relieved 
him of part of his gold dust. He reached his 
Indiana home again with a little money and a 
wealth of experience. He married MLss Eliza 
J. Webster and in 1859 came to Dallas county, 
locating within a mile of the present site of 
Perry. Three years later he bought 240 acres 
adjoining his home farm, paying $1,800 for 
the land on which the city of Perry is built. 

The first thirteen years of his residence in 
Dallas county wei-e spent in a log cabin, sixteen 
by twenty feet, built by himself. He was prom- 
inently identified with the interests of Perry 
from the time of its inception until his death. 

He built the first bridge across the "Coon" 
river north of Adel, and also built 'the first free 
bridge across the Des iloines river in the city 
of Des Moines. 

John PI. Willis, a brother of Han'ey Willis, 
owned the land upon which the south part of 
Perry stands, and assisted his brother in laying 
out the town. 

Mr. Willis was a member of the Indiana legis- 
lature before coming to Dallas county and since 
coming here has served as mayor of Perry and 
member of the county board of supervisors. 
His son, Quincy Willis, is now deputy state 
treasurer. 

The piece of ground so familiar to all as the 
"Triangle," was deeded as a gift to Perry in 
1899 by J. H. Willis and wife. It was a val- 
uable gift, being valued at that time at $10,000. 

Among the early citizens of Perry are : D. J. 
Pattee, W. H. Chandler. Robert Ginn, A. D. 
Haskins, H. A. Chappelear and H. A. Hoj't. 

The first house was a frame building erected 
on lots 11 and 12, block 20, by B. B. 
Campbell. J. H. Conley was the first mayor. 
D. J. Pattee was the first merchant and the first 
postmaster, which latter position he held for 
manv vears. 



Perry had, at one time, the largest steam 
fiouring mill in the countj'. This was built in 
the summer of 1875 by Otis and Selby at a 
cost of $12,000. For many years this mill had 
an extensive trade at home and abroad. 

EXPERIENCES OF HOX. P. A. SMITH. 

Hon. p. A. Smith, well known to so many 
Dallas county citizens, used to leave Perry off 
his route when making a political or social 
itinerary. He states that his experiences here 
in 1868 were such that he avoided the town for 
thirty years, but has now overcome his antipa- 
thy and thinks the people are all right. To ex- 
plain why Greene county's distinguished citi- 
zen cherished such a deep-seated grudge, it is 
necessary to relate the following: 

In 1868 he turned some horses out on the 
prairie and they strayed away. He came down 
through the country riding a broncho, looking 
for the lost horses, and rode into town, all 
tired out and hungry. Perry was not on the 
map at that time and it was Alton, Perry's 
predecessor, consisting of one store and a black- 
smith shop, that Mr. Smith rode into that 
morning. He got some crackers and cheese, 
all the eatables he could get at the store, and 
while eating them he became aware that the 
natives were taking an unusual interest in him. 
They would talk together in groups and then 
glance at him and talk it over again. It was a 
little mysterious to him, but everyone who 
knows Pa Smith knows it takes a good deal 
to bother him. When he had finished his meal 
he went out to untie his pony and resume his 
journey. A man stepped up to him and began to 
ask him numerous questions that, to Mr. Smith, 
seemed quite impertinent, and answering them 
all as civilh' as he could, he was about to 
mount his pony, when the man announced 
himself to be constable, and asked Mr. Smith 
to remain awhile and not hurry away. He was 
looking for a horee thief and Smith being a 
suspicious looking character, they would have 
to know his identity. There happened to be 
a man from Smith's own neighborhood in 
town, and to make mattei"s worse, this man had 




MAIN STREET— PERRY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



171 



never heard of P. A. Smith. That was a long 
time ago and we could excuse him then. It 
was a settled fact by that time that something 
was wrong and public opinion had branded 
the peaceable man as a horse thief. Mr. Smith 
always was a shrewd man and persuasive, al- 
ways ready with convincing argument and he 
finally brought the Perryites to understand that 
a man could not be identified by strangers, and 
got the constable to consent to accompany him 
toward the rolling prairie, where even the neigh- 
bor's dogs knew him. They met an old Quaker 
who knew them both and Pa Smith was identi- 
fied and turned loose to commit what further 
depredation he would. 



The first school teachers in Perry were Jesse 
Macy and Miss .1. Perkins. The high school 
building \vas erected in 1876 at a cost of $12,- 
000. There are now four school buildings, 
styled the Otley building, the Webster, the 
Williard and the Webster. The Otley build- 
ing was named for Colonel Otley, one of the 
early pioneers of Perry and the man who laid 
out Otley 's addition. 

The census of 1907 showed a school popula- 
tion of 1,099. 

W. B. Thornburgh. the present superintend- 
ent, is serving his third year in that capacity 
and with marked ability. He has twenty- 
seven assistants, including special teachers of 
music, drawing and penmanship. The splen- 
did school system is one of the city's strong 
drawing cards and the increasing attendance 
will soon necessitate the construction of more 
school buildings. 

NORMAL COLLEGE. 

No institution in the county is more entitled 
to credit for giving j^oung people moral and 
intellectual training and worthy ambitions than 
the Perry Normal College. 

This was founded in 1892 by H. C. Wall 
and later conducted by Wall and HuUy, until 
it came into possession of Professor W. M. Tan- 



in 1895, who for many years worked with 
tremendous energy and enthusiasm to make it 
a good school. Nowise daunted by difficulties 
and obstacles that would have staggered a less 
resolute man, Mr. Tarr kept the school on its 
feet and made it a power for good. Hundreds 
of young people who have made pronounced 
success in teaching and other pursuits owe 
their successes in great part to W. M. Tarr, 
whose genuine interest and sympathy aroused 
in them a desire for an education. Two years 
ago Mr. Tarr sold his interests to E. L. Meek 
and G. E. Weaver, who have recently disposed 
of the school to the present owner, C. Durant 
Jones. Mr. Jones has made some improve- 
ments that will doubtless increase the efficiency 
of this institution and make it continue to be 
a power for good in the future as it has in the 
past. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The Perry Chief, one of the official county 
papers, was founded in 1874 by J. W. Jones and 
Ed. D. Lunt. The different owners and changes 
in partnership in succession are as follows: 
Jones & Lunt, E. D. Lunt, Lunt Bros., Ed. 
Lunt, A. C. Newton, Lowry Goode, W. W. Wit- 
mer, F. M. Hoeye, W. H. Gallup, Pinkertou 
& Wilson, Hoeye & Harvey, A. M. Harvey. 
Goode & Witmer were owners but a few 
days. Newton traded the Chief to Goode for 
a half interest in what is now the Des Moines 
Daily Capital and Goode traded it to Witmer 
for stock in the Leader. The Daily Chief was 
started a few years ago by A. M. Harvey and 
the two papers have a large circulation in Dal- 
las, Greene and Boone counties. They are 
printed on a new and expensive linot3^pe, are 
ably edited and exert a wide influence. 

The Advertiser was founded in 1885 by C. 
J. Pratt as a democratic organ. Dr. Trout of- 
ficiated at the "horning" and received the first 
paper nin off by Lew Griswold. For many 
years it was strongly partisan and championed 
its principles in an aggressive style. Sam Car- 
rell took charge of the Advertiser in 1891 and 
for thirteen years continued to espouse the cause 



172 



PAST AJSID PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



of democracy. The paper was purchased by R. 
E. Zierwekh, the present proprietor, who is a 
republican and has changed the policy of the 
paper. It is one of the official papers of the 
county, has a fine new press and has a good 
patronage. We are indebted to the Advertiser's 
souvenir edition for many important facts rela- 
tive to Perry's history. 

The Reporter, started by 0. H. Griswold and 
purchased by F. M. Hoeye, was merged with 
the Chief, forming the Chief Reporter. The 
Press, started by F. M. Hoeye and sold to Mr. 
Shaffer, had but a brief existence. The Bulle- 
tin, run by E. A. Tryon and C. 0. Carter, had 
a longer life, but in 1898 was bought up by 
the Advertiser and Chief. 

The Once a Week, the Herald, American 
and other minor publications, had but transi- 
tory lives. 

The Pilot, a temperance paper founded re- 
cently by_ C. Durant Jones, is published as a 
free lance and has an original and witty way 
of tailing what it thinks. 

Lew Gri-swold and E. A. Tryon have job 
printing establishments and turn out high-class 
work. 

CITY WATERWORKS. 

One of the things of which the people of 
Perry are justly and pardonably proud, is the 
water system, built, owned and operated by the 
city. Constructed in 1891 at a cost of about 
$20,000 it has been since that time extended 
and improved until it represents at the present 
time an investment of probably over $40,000. 
The supply of water has been equal to every 
demand made upon it, while the quality is, in 
the judgment of all who have examined it, as 
good as is to be obtained anywhere on earth. 
It is slightly mineral, soft, pleasing to the 
taste, and entirely free from lime, so that when 
used in boilers no sediment is deposited. Both 
the Milwaukee and Minneapolis roads use it 
in their engines passing through here and pro- 
nounce it the best on their systems. The plant 
consists of a pump of 750,000 gallons daily 



capacity and driven by engines and boilers of 
ample power. An air compressor, costing com- 
plete about $2,000, greatly increases the ease 
and rapidity of pumping. 

So far as being a good investment is con- 
cerned, the waterworks of Perry have not only 
afforded the city fire protection, but the profits 
have been sufficient to make vast improvements 
and to pay off the original loan, known as the 
Pattee water loan. 

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND HEATING PLANT. 

The electric light company was formed in 
1892 and was in the same building as the wa- 
terworks until the explosion in July, 1894, 
which totally destroyed the building. 

This is owned by the Perry Electric Light, 
Heat and Power company, of which W. B. 
Brown is president, Mrs. H. B. Brown, vice- 
president and C. R. Lyon, secretary. The ma- 
chinery with which the plant is equipped is 
exceptionally good and efficient for the purpose. 
The service is all night on a moonlight 
schedule. 

In conjunction with its light plant, this 
company also operates a heating system, which 
now furnishes hot water heat to about one hun- 
dred residences and between forty and fifty of- 
fice blocks and business houses. M^ater is heated 
by exhaust steam, and is forced by two powerful 
pumps through mains to all parts of the sys- 
tem, through radiators in the buildings sup- 
plied, and back again to the station to be again 
sent out. The entire plant of the company 
represents an investment of upwards of $75,000. 
Other improvements are in contemplation for 
the present year. The offices of the company 
are in the basement of the Brown block. 

PERRY GAS COMPANY. 

The Perry Gas Company is a new enterprise 
in the city of Perry. This company was 
granted a franchise at a special election held 
in May, 1905, and was made up of Perry peo- 
ple. 

Perry Gas Company officers for 1907 : 
Josiah Petty, president; S. M. Thornily, vice- 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



173 



president; H. P. Ward, secretaxy; B. C. Dill- 
enbeck, treasurer. 

This concern being new, it is not known 
what they are able to accomplish. They fur- 
nish gas for cooking purposes as well as for 
light. Everything used in the erection of this 
plant is modern and up-to-date. This adds one 
more to Perry's list of valuable and useful 
institutions. 

THE PERRY NTRSERIES. 

One of the largest establishments in Perry, 
both in volume of business done and in the 
number of hands employed, is the Perry Nur- 
series, whose ample offices and storage rooms 
are located in the northwestern part of the city. 
These nurseries were established in 1872 by 
Geo. H. Barton, now Judge Barton of Oregon. 
Afterward they passed into the ownership of 
the Edmondson brothers, E. F. and W. J., and 
are now owned and managed by the former, 
E. F. Edmondson. For many years past the 
business of the concern has increased at the 
rate of nearly twenty-five per cent annually, 
until it has now reached very large proportions. 
The traveling salesmen of the nurseries cover 
nearly the entire state, and have regular cus- 
tomers in all sections of Iowa. This nursery 
is the originator of the "free replacement" sys- 
tem, that is, the replacement without cost of all 
stock which died the first year. This system 
has been faithfully followed, even during the 
years of drought, when, because of conditions 
impossible to overcome, there was great loss 
of trees. This nursery is an enterprise of which 
Perry is justly proud, and the value of which, 
both because of its large business and its large 
employment of labor, is greatly appreciated. It 
is also valuable as an advertisement for Perry, 
since its twenty or more salesmen, visiting all 
parts of Iowa, tell everywhere the good points 
of this excellent little city. 

CHURCH DIRECTORY. 

First Methodist Episcopal church i< situnfed 
on the corner of Tliird and Warioid streets. 



Sunday — Class services at 9 :30 a. m., preaching, 
10:30; Sunday School, 12:00 m., W. B. Thorn- 
burgh superintendent; preaching, 8:00 p. m. 
May to September and 7 :30 September to May. 
Prayer meeting Wednesday evening. Presi- 
dent board of trustees, M. L. Diddy ; of Ladies' 
Aid Society, Mrs. S. S. Dilenbeck; of Epworth 
League, Alpha Coleman; of Women's Foreign 
Missionary Society, Mrs. A. H. Collins. Rev. A. 
H. Collins, pastor. 

St. Patrick's church, early mass, 7:30; 
high mass and sermon, 10:30; Sunday school, 
2 :00 p. m. Rev. James Cleary, pastor. 

First Congregational church is situated on 
corner of Fourth and Warford streets. Sun- 
day — preaching service, 10:30 a. m. ; Sunday 
school, Rev. Povey superintendent, at 12 :00 m.; 
Young Peoples' Society, Miss Clements, presi- 
dent, 7 :00 p. m. May to September and at 6:30 
September to May; preaching, 8:00 p. m. May 
to September and 7:00 September to May. 
Mid-week services Wednesday evenings. Ladies' 
Guild, Mrs. II. J. Holmes, president, meets first 
Thursday afternoon each month; Ladies' Mis- 
sionary Society, Mrs. D. I. Loomis, president, 
second Thursday afternoon each month; junior 
society of Christian Endeavor, every Wednes- 
day afternoon ; choir practice every Friday 
evening, L. A. French, chorister; church 
clerk. Miss Carrie Forgrave; secretary of board 
of trustees, A. S. Holmes; Deacons, Oardell, 
Kessler and Livingston. Rev. J&sse Povey, min- 
ister. 

Unity church is located on the corner of 
Third and Lucinda streets. There being no 
resident minister at present, no regular services 
held. Sunday school at 12 :00 m., J. Ashmore, 
superintendent. Church president, A. J. Ross. 

First Baptist church, situated on corner of 
Fourth and Lucinda streets. Sunday — preach- 
ing at 10:30 a. m. and 8 p. m. ; Sunday school, 
M. P. Bonine, superintendent, at 12:00; Bapt- 
ist Young People's Union, Hiram Colborn, 
president, at 7 :00 p. m. Prayer meeting on 
Wednesday evening. Trustees, E. F. Edmond- 
son, .Tohn McDowell, Geo. Gillispie. Chas. F. 
McMann, pastor. 



174 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



Church of Christ, situated on coruer of Third 
and Lucinda streets. Sunday — preaching, 10 :30 
a. m. and 8 p. m.; Sunday school, at 12:00, 
E. 0. Kinzie, superintendent; Young People's 
Society Christian Endeavor, at 7 :00 p. m. 
Trustees, E. O. Kinzie, John Diddy and Eli 
Barnard. Elders, H. T. Munn and Win. Duu- 
dore. George Calloway, pastor. 

CHfRCHES. 

Catholic — The first Catholic church was 
built in 1876, the first priest being Father Har- 
ney. The present jia^tor is Father Cleary. 

The present magnificent St. Patrick's church 
was completed in 1902 at a cost of more than 
$25,000. It is constructed of Stone city lime- 
stone and presents a massive appearance. It is 
one hundred and four feet long by forty-six 
feet wide, with a tower ninety-eight feet high. 
The main entrance is "from the west through 
large double doors into a spacious vestibule, and 
there is also a smaller entrance from the south 
under the tower. It is most conveniently ar- 
ranged and has a seating capacity of five thou- 
sand. 

The visitor to St. Patrick's church is im- 
pressed with the prevailing harmony of things, 
and there are many feature? to be seen, while 
not innovations in church buildings, are, never- 
theless, new to the West. The finish of the 
interior is Gothic, and in its entirety Ls com- 
plete in every detail. The ceiling is supported 
by ten heavy hardwood hammer beams, from 
which hang chandeliers in cluster globes, while 
the ceiling and upper walls are massed with 
incandescent lights. Within and on each side 
of the sanctuary are two arches, separating the 
side altars from the main altar. Each of these 
arches contain fifteen lights. The most artis- 
tically arranged feature in the church is the 
large arch of the sanctuary, built after the 
style of the proscenium theatre arch, and set 
with forty incandescent frosted globes. The 
sanctuary is spacious and has entrances from 
two sacristies. The chapel has a direct exit to 



the parochial residence. Another interesting 
portion of the edifice is the gallery and choir 
loft, which is commodious and arranged ac- 
cording to the best acoustic principles. A high 
railing of quarter-sawed finished oak and green 
burlap adds to the beauty of the rear of the 
auditorium. On the left side of the roomy 
vestibule has been built the baptistry, well ar- 
ranged for the comfort and convenience of 
parties participating in baptism. The fresco- 
ing produces a most pleasing effect, being a 
blending from a sky blue down to an olive 
green. The altar railing is a beautiful piece of 
workmanship, and the altars harmonize and 
correspond with the elegance of the interior. 

The glazing is a notable feature of the 
church, and the peculiar style of stained glass 
augments the interior beauty. Over the altar 
within the sanctuary are five pretty emblematic 
windows, the gift of Father Cleary, and over 
the organ loft is a circular window, ten feet in 
diameter, representing St. Cecelia at the organ. 
This handsome window is the gift of the mem- 
bers of the choir. The first large window on 
the south side of the auditorium represents St. 
Patrick and St. Mary, and is in memory of 
Patrick and Mary Graney. Next represents 
The Agony in the Garden, and was donated 
by Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson, and the third 
repre.sents the Annunciation, and was the gift 
of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Nash. The first panel 
windows on the south side are in memory of 
Mrs. James Graney and Thos. Gorman, and 
the second are a donation of Peter Reel and 
wife and in memory of Margaret Quigley. On 
the north side the first large window represents 
Our Lady of Lourdes and is in memory of 
John Dooley and Peter McCann, and the one 
representing the Apparition of the Sacred 
Heai't to Blessed ilargaret Mary was donated 
by Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O'Malley. The panel 
windows on the north side bear the names of 
Mrs. Anna Slaninger, A. J. Slaninger, Minnie 
and George Webber, Mrs. K. Voelker, Mrs. Eliz- 
abeth Heberer and John Heberer. The chapel 
windows were donated by Mrs. Edward Maher, 
Cornelius and Anna Horrigan and Wylie Mc- 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



175 



Lees. The vestry windows by Martin Flan- 
nigan. In the baptistry are four windows, the 
gift of Mrs. Mary Hickey and the children of 
Mr. and Mrs. John Dignan. The window in 
the tower vestibule was donated by Anna 
O'Donnell, and those in the main vestibule by 
Margaret, Marie, James and Henry O'Connor. 

The church was dedicated Tuesday, August 
12, 1902. An immense crowd witnessed the 
impo.^ing ceremonies. Rev. Bishop Cosgrove 
of Davenport had charge of the services. After 
dedicatory services were held. Father Lambert 
preached the morning sermon. At the conclu- 
sion of mass a class of thirty-six young people 
was confirmed. 

The music for the occasion was especially 
well prepared and added to the interest of the 
dedication. The lecture of the evening on 
"Science and Eeligion," was delivered by the 
eloquent Father Lambert to a large audience. 
The collections for the day amounted to $500, 
and the proceeds from the evening supper, $150 
more. 

An account of the dedication of this mag- 
nificent church would be incomplete without 
referring to the earnest and stupendous efforts 
put forth by the pastor. Rev. James Cleary, 
who came to Perry to begin his work July 
25, 1898. It was not until November 1, 
1900, that any move was made to create an 
interest for a new church. Father Cleary sub- 
mitted three propositions to his people — first, 
to Vjuild a new church at a cost of about $12,- 
000; secondly, to remodel the old church, and 
thirdly, to leave the old church as it was. A 
vote was taken, and sixty-one voted to build a 
new church and nine voted against it. On No- 
vember 11th, Father Cleary appointed a build- 
ing committee composed of John P. O'Malley, 
P. 11. O'Connor, J. W. Anderson, John L. Dig- 
man, A. J. Rozum, Con. Graney, Jas. Donahue, 
H. A. Nash, J. C. O'Malley, A. J. Slaninger. 

On June 16, 1901, the contract for the build- 
ing was let to McCavick & Squires of Marshall- 
town. The architect wa.s Geo. P. Staudubar 
of Rock Island. On August 18, 1901, the 
corner stone was laid by Father Lambert of 



Chicago, and on August 10, 1902, the church 
was formally opened and dedicated by Bishop 
Co.sgrove. 

The church has its own steam heating plant, 
which was put in by Wallace & McNamara of 
Des Moines at a cost of $1,100. There are four- 
teen radiators in the building. There are 281 
incandescent lights and globes, and it takes 216 
yards of Brussels carpet to cover the sanctuary. 

The Catholics are strong in numbers and 
are very prosperous and the building at Perry 
is a .splendid monument to their thrift and zeal. 

BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The Perry Baptist church was organized in 
1869 in a schoolhouse four miles south of 
town. The place of meeting was moved to 
Perry in 1870, Rev. E. R. Swain and Rev. A. 
E. Simons being the first pastors. In 1905 the 
Baptists built a neat and attractive church on 
the corner of Fourth and Lucinda. It was the 
first edifice in town to be erected entirely of 
cement. 

METHODIST El'ISCOPAL CHURCH. 

This church was organized in October, 1869, 
Rev. I. F. Miller being pastor. The first Meth- 
odist church was built in 1874 on the corner of 
Third and Warford, at a cost of $3,100. This 
membership has long been unusually strong in 
numbers and has made a steady growth, until 
now it munbers nearly five hundred members. 

CONGKICGATIONAL CHURCH. 

The first church in Perry of this faith was 
organized in Goff's Hall, December 12th, 1883, 
with Rev. Marshall as pastor. A Sunday school 
was made up with S. C. Goff superintendent. 

The Congregationalists built a church in 
LS88 on the corner of Third and Otley. In 1905 
a new church with all the modern conveniences 
was built on Fourth and Warford. The pres- 
ent pastor, Jesse Povey, has had charge several 
years and is exceedingly popular. The church 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



has three societies that are of especial merit: 
The Ladies' Guild, started in 1889, the Auxil- 
iary, in 1904 and the ilissionary society, re- 
cently organized. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

The new Christian church building was dedi- 
cated December 25th, 1898. It was built at a 
cost of $10,000, and has one of the best audi- 
toriums in the city, comfortably seating about 
seven hundred and fifty persons. It is built 
in theatre style with a handsome circling gal- 
lery. The interior finish is all of solid oak. 
Besides the auditorium proper, there is a lec- 
ture room which opens into the auditorium, 
and seven or eight Sunday school rooms. The 
church has a good membership and much in- 
terest is taken in its mission. 

UNITAEI.VN CHURCH. 

This church is not so well organized or so 
strong numerically as the others, but the con- 
gregation owns its building and is out of debt. 

The last person to preach regularly was Miss 
Elizabeth Padgham. Since her removal no 
regular minister has been employed. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Presbj'terians number about one hun- 
dred and fifty. The present minister, W. J. 
Creswell, took charge in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. 
A. W. McPherson, until their removal from 
the city recently, were active M'orkers in the 
church and Sunday school and contributed 
very much to the interest manifested. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The Perry volunteer fire department: Fred 
Knell, fire chief; Wm. Doss, first assistant; 
Henry Miller, second assistant; Lewis Crist, 
foreman of hose cart No. 1 ; Geo. Leonard, fore- 
man of hose cart No. 2 ; Philip Scurry, assistant 
foreman of No. 2 : Charles Council, foreman of 



hook and ladder; Wm Miller, assistant fore- 
man. 

The company was organized by Fred Knell, 
the present chief, in 1878, and is now composed 
of thirty-five members and a chief. The fire- 
men built a building by their own efforts by 
popular subscription, holding fairs, etc., at a 
cost of $5,500, not counting donated labor. It 
is a two-story brick structure. The lower story 
is for fire-fighting appliances; the upper story 
for assembly halls, dances, reading room, store- 
room, etc. In the rear of the lower part is the 
city jail, made of steel, and a good, sanitary 
jail. There are three hose carts and a hook 
and ladder cart, and the water is furnished by 
stand-pipe system, with direct pressure from 
duplicate pumps if desired, the water being 
taken from gravel beds. Perhaps to no other 
man is so much credit due for the excellent 
condition of the fire department as to Chief 
Knell, who has been in active sei-\ace as chief of 
the department for twenty-nine years. 

In 1879 Perry had grown to be a town of 
nine hundred population and her only means 
of fire protection was the old-fashioned "bucket 
brigade." A. W. Otis, who owned a grist mill, 
and Fred Knell, jeweler, conceived the idea of 
organizing a fire company. In February, 1879, 
a meeting was held in the old blacksmith shop 
of F. M. Hain on AVillis avenue, where the 
Perry fire department was duly organized with 
a membership of fifteen. A. W. Otis was elected 
chief and served one year when he was suc- 
ceeded by Fred Knell. 

The property of the department at this time 
consisted of a hand engine and three hundred 
feet of hose. Four big wells were dug in differ- 
ent sections of the town and the.se furnished 
the water supply for fighting fires, which were 
not infrequent because most of the building 
were then built of wood. 

In 1880 a city hall and fire department 
building was erected on the city's lots on First 
avenue. The city council abandoned the old 
building in August, 1904, and turned it over 
to the fire department. It was soon razed to 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



177 



the ground aad today nothing remains but the 
memorable spot. 

In 1887 the city council made a ruling that 
the membership of the fire department should 
always consist of thirty-six and such it has 
since remained. In this year the old hand en- 
gine was replaced by a new Watterus steamer 
and the hose increased to nine hundred feet. 

PEERYS DISASTROUS FIRE HISTORY. 

Perry has been the most severe sufferer from 
fire of all Dallas county communities and prob- 
ably of all towns of similar size in Iowa. 

In November, 1898, in a great blaze there 
went up $200,000 worth of buildings. Twenty- 
two business houses on both sides of Second 
street from Lucinda south, including Opera 
House and Masonic Temple, melted down like 
glass. The first fire of the evening started in the 
Oxford restaurant. This was extinguished, but 
an hour later a second fire started in John 
Mitchell's livery barn. The barn was de- 
stroyed, fifteen horses perishing in the flames. 
The fire was now on both sides of the street and 
it seemed for a time that the city was doomed 
to total ruin. 

The Madrid fire department hurried to Perry 
and joined with the local company in helping 
subdue the fire fiend. Des Moines sent a com- 
pany of firemen who arrived about the time 
the fire was brought under control. 

After a most desperate and courageous fight 
the fire was cornered after it had glutted the 
Gamble furniture store, and was confined to 
the territory it then occupied. 

Many persons had their living rooms in the 
business blocks on Second street and these went 
with the others. 

The fire was supposed to be the work of in- 
cendiaries and the result of a deliberate attempt 
to lay the entire city in ashes. 

In the days of the old hand engine the de- 
partment held a firemen's tournament in which 
the teams from twenty different towns in this 
neighborhood participated. It was one of the 
most successful events ever held in the town up 
to that time. 



In 1891 the department was called to Cam- 
bridge, Iowa, to help save that town from being 
entirely wiped out by fire. In just fifty-six min- 
utes from the time the alarm was received at the 
engine house the steamer had been loaded on a 
Milwaukee train and was ready for action in 
Cambridge. The Perry waterworks system was 
put in in 1892, when the department added six 
hundred feet more of hose and also bought a 
new hose cart. In 1899 the city purchased 
a hook and ladder truck for the department 
and at the present time the equipment and ap- 
paratus of the department is all in first-class 
condition and is fully ample for the city's 
needs. There are forty-two hydrants in the 
city and six miles of mains, so that no city of 
5,000 inhabitants in the state has any better 
fire protection than Perry. 

The hardest work the department was ever 
called upon to do was in October, 1898, when 
they fought fire for seven hours. Two blocks 
of business houses were destroyed and but for 
the splendid work of the fire boys, at least two 
more blocks would have been burned and per- 
haps the whole business section of the town. 
The fire originated in a livery barn at the cor- 
ner of Second and Lucinda streets and spread 
rapidly to the stores on both sides of Second 
street as far south as Warford. It was a cold, 
disagreeable night and the boys worked from 
11 p. m. to 6 a. m. The Des Moines depart- 
ment was called, but the fire was under con- 
trol before they arrived. Fortunately none of 
the boys were injured during this trying ordeal, 
in fact, it is a remarkable coincident that in all 
the history of the department not a single mem- 
ber was ever hurt while on duty. 

J. R. Coleman was chief of the department 
at the time of the "big fire." He was elected 
to succeed Wm. T. Mott, who only served six 
months. With the exception of six years, Fred 
Knell ha.s been chief of the fire department 
since its organization in 1879. From 1893 to 
1898 the men who served in the capacity of 
chief were: Arthur E. Willis, Thos. H. White, 
Newt. Hart, Harry L. Smith. Wm. T. Mott and 
John R. Coleman. 



178 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



In July, 1904, Chief Knell suggested to the 
members of the fire department, that inasmuch 
as the old city hall and engine house were in 
a dilapidated condition and the city not finan- 
cially able to erect a new stiiicture, that the 
department proceed at once to build a new 
home for themselves. 

The boys all fell in with the idea and in- 
dorsed all that Chief Knell proposed. An ele- 
gant brick building ha.s been erected at a cost 
of $5,000. The city council appropriated $750 
and the rest was obtained from fairs, games, 
shows, barbecues, etc. The department now 
is well equipped and is a credit to the city. 

In 1906 the Bulkley brothers had their big 
fire, and others suffered also, the loss being 
something like $50,000. Two fires following 
within a month of each other in 1907 cau.'^ed a 
loss of nearly $50,000 again. 

The city has recovered from the deva.stating 
efifects and most of the burned districts have 
been rebuilt with elegant, substantial build- 
ings that reflect the indomitable energy and 
invincible character of its citizenship. 

In all these destructive fires the fire depart- 
ment has rendered inestimable service and 
saved the city from complete destruction. It is 
now better equipped than ever before and it 
is to be hoped that Perry . will never have a 
repetition of these wide-reaching fires. 

Perry is one of the few Iowa towns that has 
a superior court. This was secured in 1907 
and Attorney W. H. Fahey was appointed first 
judge; Adrian Cross was named first clerk and 
the first meeting was held in the library build- 
ing May 21st. 

The first petit jurors drawn w-ere: T. D. 
Neff, Dallas Center; H. L. Lenocker, Dexter; 
Ward McClure, Dallas Center; F. A. Gates, 
Waukee; A. J. Mofifett, Jamaica; A. D. Dickey. 
Jamaica; Harry Dayton, Woodward: Bert Dye, 
Dallas Center; C. W. Dixon, Perry; Y. T. Macy, 
Adel; Erve Wilson, Dawson; Lew Holling, 
Dawson; L. N. Book, Adel; W. P. Hutchens, 
Redfiekl; II. M. Shivelv. Perrv. 



THE BURNS GANG. 

The notorious Burns gang was a menace to 
the business interests of Perry for many years. 

The leader, Tom Burns, was a man of con- 
siderable ability and po.ssessed a suavity of man- 
ner that would have enabled him to make a 
decided success in most any legitimate occupa- 
tion. 

He chose, however, to follow the more un- 
certain and hazardous life of a criminal and 
gathered about him a band of thieves with 
headquarters near Angus. It is believed that 
this gang was a part of a regularly organized 
association whose operations covered a wide 
scope of country. Much of the petty thieving 
in and about Perry and the disposal of stolen 
goods was traced to the Burns gang and num- 
erous arrests were made. 

They would often make their appearance on 
the streets of Perry with various kinds of goods 
which they w'ould offer for sale at prices far 
below the worth of the goods. 

They displayed a boldness and energy in 
their operations worthy of a better cause, but 
which finally led to their undoing two years 
ago and the criminal leader himself, who had 
so long eluded capture by the police, was caught 
red handed in the act of stealing and sentenced 
to the penitentiary. 

This last attempt to secure goods without go- 
ing through the formality of paying for them, 
was made at Robinson's clothing store. The 
thieves were detected by A. S. McCammon, who 
notified the officers and the aristocratic and 
gentlemanly-appearing Burns was soon taken 
into custody. 

The arrest and conviction of the leader led 
to the breaking up of the band, and it is be- 
lieved that the members have all sought more 
congenial fields of industry and that Perry is 
rid of the depredations of this famous band. 

COMMERCIAL CLUB. 

Perrs- has for some time maintained a com- 
mercial club composed of wide-awake busi- 




CITY FIRE HOUSE— PERRY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



181 



ness and professional men. It has been a 
potent factor during these years in the city's 
growth. 

Perry being one of the division points of the 
Milwaukee system, has received a large share 
of its cash circulation from this source. The 
Commercial Club is making active efforts to 
increase the city payroll by securing factories 
and making Perry a manufacturing center. 

The present officers are as follows : President, 
Allen Harvey; secretary, Adrian Cross; treas- 
urer, n. J. Holmes. Board of directors: B. C. 
Dillenbeck, J. P. O'Malley, E. J. Kelley, W. H. 
Heaton, C. R. Lyon, P. C. Rude, J. C. Bryan, 
Josiah Petty, W. B. Robinson, P. H. O'Connor, 
Mart Bills, L. B. Morgan, Dr. I. N. Paul, Wm. 
Wolfe, Louis Crist. 

A few years ago the business men and active 
property owners raised a fund which they 
used for building an automobile factory. These 
were constructed for a firm that failed to com- 
plete their part of the contract and the build- 
ings are left in the hands of the club. 

Perry has excellent shipping facilities and 
is destined to be a large city with varied indus- 
tries. 

The Commercial Club is one of the most 
important association in the city and takes 
the lead in an open-handed way in all enter- 
prises calculated to be of public interest. 

It tends also to cultivate sociability among 
its members and at their informal banquets 
the spirit of good fellowship is strengthened 
and a proper civic pride aroused. 



The people of Perry, both young and old, 
show a zeal for games, races and various sports 
equal to their energy and enterprise in busi- 
ness. A district fair was formerly conducted 
on the old fair grounds in the southeast part 
of town and was attended by large crowds. 
Some noted horses have been owned by Perry 
people and many were the spirited races con- 
ducted on the old fair grounds. The property 
was disposed of, however, a few years ago and 



now neat residences are being erected on the 
historic grounds that used to echo to the shouts 
of frenzied spectators of games and races. 

Street fairs have been held that attracted 
throngs of visitors from different counties. 

One of the Iwst remembered Fourth of July 
celebrations was in 1902. Fully ten thousand 
people spent this day at Perry. 

James Brenton, mayor of Des Moines, was 
the speaker of the day and delivered one of 
his characteristic addresses in the presence of 
an immense gathering at the fair ground. 

The potato race, greased pig race, foot races, 
wonderfully and fearfully conducted, were all 
in evidence and everj'one was gloriously .jubi- 
lant. 

Some excellent races were held in which 
Louie Foutz, Red Ribbon, Bonnie A., Paddy 
Boy and Baby Mine distinguished themselves 
and added fresh laurels to their fame. 

The Perry Red Stockings crossed bats with 
the Purity Candy Company of Des Moines with 
three to one in favor of Perry. 

Perry has had some ball players of more 
than ordinary reputation. In recent years the 
club known as Gardner's Indians won many 
successes on hard-fought fields. 

The advent ofthe Interurban and the equip- 
ment of BeaA-er Park will probably revive 
many sports that have languished for a time 
and many former contests will be re-enacted. 

VIOLET HILL CEMETEKY. 

Just beyond the corporation line of the city 
on the northeast is situated "Violet Hill," the 
resting place of more than two thousand bod- 
ies which were once active in the city's enter- 
prises or who opened their eyes to the light 
of day here and were called beyond before 
their time. It is a beautiful place, the loving 
care of hundreds of Perry's residents make it 
so. Its walks and drives and many of the lots 
are uniformly perfect from a landscape view- 
point. 

About a cemetery there hovers a cloud of 
bitter partings. No visit 1o the plot where lies 



182 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



the form of one once dear and still cherished 
is without a bitter heart pang. The silent grief 
of the tenders of the graves bedews the flowers 
with the tears of those whose earthly hopes 
and prayers were laid among the garlands 
which decked the casket of a mother, wife, 
father, husband or child. 

Yet to go to an unkempt and desolate spot, 
— there to mourn for one whose clay has dwin- 
dled back to dust beneath a crest of nature una- 
dorned — is infinitely more pathetic than to 
steal quietly beside a mound enriched with 
sweet and fragrant bloom and there to dwell 
in memory's hall upon the happy moments that 
together were shared while, quick and alive, 
full of rosy hopes and valiant ambitions, the 
still form beneath clasped your own hand and 
planned for the future and eternity. 

Amid perfect order and care grief is in part 
assuaged. Nothing of the poignant pain is lost, 
yet a feeling of harmony and love of Nature 
steals into the heart, warming it unconsciously 
to the thought that in such a place Death's 
sleep can be naught but peaceful. 

The north part of the cemetery is the orig- 
inal plot. j\s the city grew these quarters be- 
came cramped and people asked for better lots. 
Then the council purchased the tract between 
it and the road on the south and laid it out 
in lots. The portion in the new part lying 
to the west of the main driveway was sold to 
the Catholic church of Perry and beneath its 
sod the membei"s of their faith have found 
rest in consecrated ground. 

Just within the gateway and to the right has 
been erected the Soldiers' monument — not so 
much to commemorate those whose bones lie 
interred within the circle of its shadow, as to 
cherish with patriotic love and fraternal tender- 
ness the unmarked resting place in the South- 
land where perished those who went forth to 
battle but returned not with the thin line of 
Blue at the close of the war. Redfield post of 
the G. A. R. each year lays upon the base of 
their marble shaft the garland tribute to the 
unnamed yet unforgotten martyrs to the cause 
of slavery. ' 



The naming of the cemetery has been a 
matter of a great deal of argument. Two 
months ago the council had presented to them 
a large number of names. They chose "Silent 
Mound" from the list and for a time it was 
known under that caption. But protests came 
thick and fast and two weeks ago at their meet- 
ing they granted a petition asking that "Violet 
Hill" be the substituted name. Living in 
Perry are many people who for years before it 
became a cemetery knew the place by no other 
name than Violet Hill. Among its grasses 
and along its slopes hundreds of the growing 
generations have gathered the choicest blooms. 
Associated as the name is in the minds of 
many it seemed to them appropriate that it 
should be officially termed as such and in the 
thought the council concurred. 

ROLL OF HONOR. 

Departed soldiers whose graves are honored 
by Perry relatives and friends: 

CIVIL WAR. 

Abraham Bennett, D 2nd Iowa Infantry, 
died September 11, 1866; Jackson Wells, E 
153rd Illinois Infantry, died December 1, 1883 ; 
B. B. McElree, 2nd Iowa Battery, died July 
14, 1880 ; Wm. Snyder, E 153rd Iowa Infan- 
try, died July 14, 1880 ; W. A. J. Chappelear, 
E 78th Ohio Infantry, died November 26, 
1882 ; Wm. Miller. H 151st Pennsylvania In- 
fantry, died November 19, 1883 ; C. B. Thorpe, 
F 11th Illinois Infantry, died April 3, 1885; 
Arthur Agy, K 102nd Illinois Infantry, died 
April 11, 1889; David Carlisle, B 4th Michigan 
Infantry, died December 13, 1889 ; H. H. Car- 
dell, E 4th lown Cavalry, died February 9, 
1890; Christopher Hudson, D 27th Massachu- 
setts Infantry, died December 31, 1890; Geo. 
Gilroy, A 1st New York H. Artillery, died 
•July 18, 1891 ; W. Dorman, G 28th Iowa In- 
fantry, died January 21, 1892; John M. Rob- 
erts, B 6th Iowa Infantry, died April 18, 1892 ; 
.John West. 2nd Iowa Battery, died September 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



183 



2, 1892; R. H. Elder, C 39th Iowa Infantry, 
died September 14, 1892 ; F. M. Hain, C 46th 
Iowa Infantry, died December 19, 1892 ; Henry 
H. Neil, E 13th Iowa Infantry, died March 
28, 1893 ; A. M. McKeeyeer, C 22nd Iowa In- 
fantry, died September 4, 1893; J. T. New- 
land, H 44th Iowa Infantry, died February 
9, 1894; F. L. Smith, R 1st Wisconsin H. 
Artillery, died July 19, 1894; Park C. Wilson, 
E 30th Iowa Infantry, died September 29, 
1894 ; B. F. Wood, D 1st New York H. Artil- 
lery, died May 24, 1895 ; Lewis Hardenbrook, 
F 6th Indiana Infantry, 16th Indiana Infan- 
try Mexican War, died May 16, 1895; John 
AVheeler, M 2nd Illinois Artillery, died Febru- 
ary 11, 1896; John F. Field, C 147th Illinois 
Infantry, died May 27, 1897; Jas. Ridgeway; 
J. K. Taylor, B 7th Illinois Infantry, died Sep- 
tember 15, 1897 ; Peter Hines, 2nd Iowa Bat- 
tery, died March 27, 1898; David Hastie, D 
2nd Iowa Infantry, died May 22, 1898; James 
Moorehead, H 57th Illinois Infantry, died June 

3, 1898; John Early, G 51st Ohio Infantry, 
died July 23, 1898; Phillip B. Barker, B 4th 
Indiana Cavalry, I 7th Indiana Cavalry, died 
November 21, 1898; John E. Graney, K 149th 
Pennsylvania Infantry, A 16th V. R. C, died 
November 24, 1898 ; J. B. Mills, F 93rd Illinois 
Infantry, D 4th V. R. C, died April 12, 1899; 
John B. Preston, B 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, 
died July 9, 1899; T. W. Orvis, I 2nd Iowa 
Cavalry, died February 11, 1900; Wesley F. 
Marsh, M 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, died July 
28, 1900; Gabriel Johnson, C 46th Iowa In- 
fantry, died December 30, 1900; L. D. Gam- 
ble, D 11th Illinois Cavalry, died January 7, 
1901 ; Allen Hughes, C 46th Indiana V. Infan- 
try, died Sept. 5, 1901; John Conley, died 
November 24, 1901 ; T. J. Jones, B 77th Ohio 
Infantry; J. W. Kelley, C 35th Iowa Infantry; 
James Rouse, captain 45th Illinois Infantry; 
W. C. Darmer, E 115th Illinois Infantry ; Wm. 
C. Cole, G 164th Ohio Infantry; A. Mulder, 
navy ; H. S. Danks, B 11th Michigan Infantry ; 
Peter Munsen, D 38th Iowa; W. J. Smith; 
Isaac Bolander, B 46th Illinois Infantry ; M. J. 
Roland, E 4th Illinois Cavalry; S. D. Marck- 



ress, H 1st New Hampshire, died August 16, 
1903 ; 0. H. Conner, Iowa Infantry, died May 
9, 1905; F. C. Whitcomb, A. 14th New Hamp- 
shire Infantry ; D. E. Dougherty, C 79th Ohio 
V. Infantry; D. B. Smith, E 77th New York 
Infantry; E. J. Stebbins, K 39th Illinois In- 
fantry; John Aldrich, Co. K 47th Iowa In- 
fantry, died December 3, 1906 ; Jason E. Webb, 
Co. K 5th Ohio Infantry; L. D. Curler, Ver- 
mont Light Infantry, died October 25, 1906; 
Geo. F. Pyle, died December 17, 1906; Wm. 
Brown, Co. G Ist West Virginia Cavalry; W. 
A. Harris, Co. I 46th Illinois Infantry, died 
January 3, 1907 ; Albert L. Wilcox, Co. F 88th 
Illinois Infantry, died May 28, 1907. 

SPANISH AMERICAN. 

Frank C. Munn, B 52nd Iowa Infantry, died 
September 2, 1898 ; Edgar Ellett, C 4th Mis- 
souri Infantry, died September 19, 1898; W. 
Cunningham. 

REGULAR ARMY. 

Roy Scandrett, 7th U. S. Division. 

WAR OF 1812. 
A. G. Webster, Wm. Hoyt. 

SEMINOLE WAR. 

John Lynch; Thomas Bailey, E 3rd U. S. 
Infantry, died February 3, 1903. 

MOWRER CEMETERY. 

Jacob Alum, G 17th Iowa Infantry; Wm. 
Otterman, K 11th Indiana Cavalry. 

CROCKER CEMETERY. 

J. J. Fessler, B 15th Iowa Infantry, died 
November 11, 1899; Asa Petty, B 37th Iowa 
Infantry, died June 18, 1897. 



184 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



CARNEGIE LIBRARY. 

One of the handsome buildings of the city 
is the Carnegie library, erected three years ago. 
This was secured through a $10,000 gift from 
Carnegie under promise that the citizen? would 
levy an annual tax of $1,000 to support it. 
An additional donation of $600 for books was 
obtained through the efforts of Mrs. A. W. 
McPherson, president of the library commis- 
sion. 

Among those who have taken an active in- 
terest in the library are Mrs. P. C. Rude, A. 
M. Harvey, D. D. McCall, Dr. Brown, P. H. 
O'Connor, Mrs. A. J. Ross, Mrs. W. H. Mc- 
Cammon and Miss Kate Dana. 

The public library has grown in favor with 
people of all classes, and the claims made for 
it at the time it was secured have been exceed- 
ed by the interest since manifested in it and the 
popularity it has achieved. 

It has nearly 2,000 volumes on hand and 
the number is being increased each year by 
purchase and donations. 

Present officers of Library Association ; Pres- 
ident, Mrs. Rude; vice president, ]\Irs. Henness; 
secretary, A. M. Harvey. 

PATTEB PARK. 

The land for the public park was donated 
to the city in 1903 by David Pattee, a wealthy 
business man of Perry, and a citizen who has 
always been generous and public spirited in all 
matters that pertained to the interest of his 
home town. 

The citizens raised $1,800 to improve the 
park and work has been well started that will 
ultimately make this one of the most attractive 
places in the vicinity. 

The land lies southwest of town and is divid- 
ed by Frog creek. The park committee, com- 
posed of John Shortley, 0. F. Roddan, Lew 
Crist, Jas. Wimmer and J. P. O'Malley, wid- 
ened the lower portion into a veritable lake. 
Trees have been set out and considerable of 
a start made in the way of landscape garden- 



ing. The womens' clubs have been enlisted 
in the work of beautifying the park and the 
future will show the good effects of their work. 

PERRYS STORES. 

If there is one particular feature of Perry 
of which her citizens are proud, it is her stores. 
Following the big fire of 1898 came the re- 
building of the ruined area. Upon the site 
of the ruins were erected temples for merchan- 
dising such as no city of Perry's size can equal. 
Among the traveling fraternity her stores are 
known and quoted as models, and their fame 
extends far and wide over the territory. To 
the home people the mammoth stocks, excellent 
service, high quality and courteous treatment 
always accorded patrons, makes trading else- 
where a matter of irritation. To strangers com- 
ing once to trade it is a revelation and engend- 
ers a feeling which brings them again and 
again to our city. 

The train service on the Milwaukee and the 
M. & St. L. has aided in the development of a 
large out of town trade and from Minburn. 
Dallas Center and even Waukee on the south, 
Angus, Rippey and as far north as Dana, each 
day brings in the shoppers. The same is true 
on the Milwaukee, even to a greater extent. 
As far east as Cambridge and as far west as 
Manilla, Perry is chosen in preference to all 
other cities as the town for shopping in all 
lines. 

Many of the merchants have established a 
fare-paying rebate plan and thus the visit 
of their out of town customers is made without 
expense and the satisfaction they feel has aug- 
mented the numbers with each passing season. 

The one big allurement next to well arranged 
and complete stocks of good quality is of course 
price. In this our stores are to be compliment- 
ed. Buying as cheaply as do the big stores of 
the larger cities, with none of the larger element 
of store expense and advertising to consider, 
the home merchants give to their customers 
the benefit of the saving and on even quality 
goods are able to undersell their larger com- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



185 



petitors and have no trouble in retaining the 
trade here. 

Even mail order houses have a constantly 
less influence. Gifted as they are with the 
country's best ad. writers, whose ability to mis- 
represent is a known accomplishment, and who 
can picture and describe a third rate article un- 
til it looks and reads like a mammoth dlspeuia- 
tion of providence, their influence is rapidly 
waning before the same price.< of better goods 
offered at home, where the choice is made from 
the articles themselves, where freight is never 
mentioned and where it is possible to secure 
time on purchases in case of need. People gen- 
erally are fair minded and those who investi- 
gate are always the on&s who never buy away 
from the stores of their home town. 

HANDSOME HOMES AND LAAVNS. 

No city in the state can present to the visitor 
a more beautiful perspective of green lawns, 
perfectly tended, than Perry. It is at once the 
pride of the individual and tiie community 
which entei"S into the beautifying of the homes. 
Dotting the greenswards are numerous shrubs 
and bushes, each lending in their season an 
unstinted Avealth of bloom, their varying colors 
and .shades in striking contrast to the velvet 
carpet of green beneath. 

Beneath the spreading branches of the ti'oes 
which line the walks the A'iew is one of pleas- 
ing harmony. The gentle undulations of the 
surface, not too level and far from hilly, pile 
up one on the other a series of well appointed 
homes. 

A few years ago there was formed in Perry 
a Civic League whose purpose was to inspire 
the more artistic keeping of the lawns and their 
decoration. The life of the league was never 
apparently an enthusiastic one, yet its influence 
was felt if not expressed. A marked change 
was evident along the better residence streets, 
and their example inspired increased efforts 
evcrywheic. Few attempts had been made 
l)reviou.-ly toward lawn decoration, but the 
(liought lirnught out the ingenuity of the most 



artistic and as their labors took form and 
pleased the eye the spirit of imitation carried 
the work farther over the city. 

The absence of fences to a marked degree 
aids in the toning of the landscape and adds 
to the view a distance and absence of close 
quartered dwellings. Whole blocks are marked 
without a division fence, while others are only 
used to enclose gardens. The miles of cement 
walks, their uniform color and surface stretch- 
ing into the distance as a ribbon, allows of per- 
fect trimming along their edges, and aids as 
much in beautifying as they have in improving 
in a material way. The handsome residences, 
many pictures of which are scattered through 
out this edition, show forth the enterpi'ise and 
care of the property owners as well as the thrift 
and worldly chattels of the men whose money 
has erected them. 

A stranger coming into the city remarks 
favorably of the handsome homes and the order 
which surrounds them. It is the first impres- 
sion gained after leaving the business streets 
and more than ever the advantage gained in 
keeping the heightened effect apparent after 
viewing the nuignificent store buildings, works 
til the lietlcr advertising of tiie city. 

NAMES OF STREETS. 

The city of Perry, including the proposed ad- 
ditions which will constitute the new corpora- 
tion lines, lies in almost a perfect square. The 
streets are seventy feet and the avenues 100 feet 
wide, running north and south and east and 
west. The C, M. & St. P. railway crosses the 
city east to west between Rawson and Bateman 
streets. In giving their description we com- 
mence with First avenue. 

First avenue runs north and south between 
the limits, crossing the tracks of the M. & St. L. 
railroad just south of Willis avenue and west 
of the Triangle. 

Second street (1st east of First avenue) from 
Park street north to Otley avenue forming the 
east boundary line of the Triangle and inter- 
sects Railroad street which runs southeast from 



186 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Willis avenue to Evelyn street where it abuts 
Third street. 

Third street (2nd east of First avenue) 
begins at corporate limits north of Johnson 
street and runs south to Willis avenue, where 
it becomes South Third street which crosses 
the M. & St. L. tracks at Estella street and runs 
to the south corporate limit. 

Fourth street (3rd east of First avenue) be- 
gins at North Corporate Umits, runs south to 
M. & St. L. track at Center street, where it be- 
comes South Fourth street to south corporate 
limit. 

Fifth street (4th east of First avenue) from 
North corporate limit to M. & St. L. track 
south. 

Sixth street (5th street east of First avenue) 
begins at city cemetery Park avenue north run- 
ning south to North avenue. 

Seventh street (6th east of First avenue) be- 
gins at North street extends south to Willis 
avenue at which point Black street becomes its 
continuation to North Avenue south. 

Eighth street (7th east of First) extends 
from North corporate limit making east boun- 
dary line of city cemetery to Brown's addition 
at North avenue south. 

Ninth street (8th east from First) runs south 
from the C, M. & St. P. grounds at Bateman 
street to Willis avenue. 

Tenth street (9th east of First) commences 
at C, M. & St. P. grounds at Bateman street 
and runs south to corporate limit making a 
slight jog to the west at Willis avenue. 

Eleventh street (10th east of First) runs 
from C, M. & St. P. grounds at Bateman street 
south to Willis avenue. 

Twelfth street (11th east of First) extends 
from C, M. & St. P. grounds at Bateman street 
to North avenue on the south at Brown's addi- 
tion. 

North avenue runs east and west from 5th 
street south to 12th street east. 

East Center street runs south from North 
avenue east of South 5th street to corporate 
limit. 



Grove street extends south from North ave- 
nue to Connors Pond. 

West Center street commences at First ave- 
nue south of Ann' street and runs east to M. & 
St. L. tracks. 

Ann street (1st south of Estella) extends 
from South First avenue east to M. & St. L. 
track. 

Estella street i-uns east and west from West 
Fourth street to Twelfth street east. 

Evelyn street runs east and west from West 
Fourth street to Twelfth street on the east. 
crossing the M. & St. L. track at South Third 
street. 

First avenue constitutes the di\'ision line of 
east and west hence all streets west of First 
running north and south have the term West 
prefixed, so 

West Second street is the first west of First 
avenue and runs from Park street on the north 
to the corporate limit south and crosses the 
M. & St. L. track at Warford street. 

West Third street (2nd west of First avenue) 
runs from Park street on the north to south 
corporate limit and crosses the ]\I. & St. L. 
track at Lucinda street. 

Otley avenue extends from Twelfth street 
east to West Fourth street, forming the south 
boundary line of the Triangle and crossing the 
M. & St. L. track at First avenue. 

Willis avenue, which constitutes the line of 
division north and south extends from Twelfth 
street on the east, west to the M. & St. L. tracks 
at First avenue and forms north boundary of 
the Triangle. After it crosses the M. & St. L. 
tracks it is known as 

West Willis avenue and runs to the west 
corporate limit. 

Warford street (1st north of Willis avenue) 
crosses the city east and west from Twelfth 
street to West Fourth and crosses the M. & St. 
L. track at West Second street. 

Lucinda street (2nd north of Willis avenue) 
extends from Twelfth street on the east to cor- 
porate limit on the west, crossing the M. & 
St. L. track at West Third street. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



IS'; 



Pattee street (3rd north of Willis avenue) 
commences at western corporate limit, crosses 
the M. & St. L. track at West Third street 
and runs east to C, M. & St. P. grounds at 
Eighth street. 

Bateman street (4th north of Willis avenue) 
begins at West Fourth street and runs east to 
C, M. & St. P. grounds at Eighth street. 

RaAvson street (1st north of C, M. & St. P. 
track) runs from western corporate limit to 
C, M. & St. P. grounds at Eighth street. 

Dewey avenue (2nd north of C, M. & St. P. 
track) extends from west limit to Twelfth 
street east. 

North street (3rd north of C, M. & St. P. 
track) extends from west limit to Twelfth 
Twelfth street. 

Pine street runs north from Dewey avenue 
to North street just west of Twelfth street. 

Summer street from Dewey avenue to North 
street north of C, M. & St. P. round house, 
1st street east of Eighth street. 

Vine street from Dewey avenue north to 
North street. 

AVinter street north from Dewey avenue to 
North street 3rd street east of Eighth street. 

Paul street (4th north of C, M. & St. P. 
track) east from West Fourth and Twelfth 
street. 

Park street (5th north of C, M. & St. P.) 
from West Fourth street to Twelfth street. 

Fitzgerald street (1st north of Park) from 
Third street to Fifth street. 

Johnson street (2nd north of Park) from 
Third street to Fifth street. 

Center street commences at West Fourth 
street and runs east, between Paul and Park 
streets, to First avenue. 

Willow street extends from West Second 
street to First avenue, between North and Paul 
streets. 

SOCIETIES. 

If any of the social, beneficiary or improve- 
ment societies are not represented in Perry, it 
must be that they have been overlooked. There 
are so many that a writcup of their history. 



times of organization and the work they are 
doing would fill an entire volume. The three 
oldest are the Ancient Order United Workmen, 
the Good Templars and the Masonic lodge. 

ANCIENT ORDER UNITED WORKMEN. 

This was organized in the spring of 1877, 
with the following named persons as charter 
members; D. J. Pattee, P. C. Rude, J. E. Reed, 
W. L. Warren, M. W. Slocum, H. J. Holmes, 
G. Harlan, P. H. Dunlap, W. F. Cardell, S. 
Parmenter, D. W. Payne, N. Endequist, H. 
Courtney, C. Lombard, J. S. Gross, S. Pang- 
born. L. H. Pickerell, A. T. Hart, E. W. 
Brady, J. P. Spalding and C. H. Ainsley. 

The first officers were: W. F. Cardell, M. 
W.; Dr. P. H. Dunlap, P. M.; H. J. Holmes, 
G. F. ; J. E. Reed, overseer; C. Lombard, guide; 
S. Parmenter, I. W. ; A. T. Hart, O. W. ; J. P. 
Spalding, financier; W. L. Warren, receiver; 
D. W. Payne, recorder. 

GOOD TEMPL.VRS. 

Perry Lodge No. 235, 1. 0. G. T.— This lodge 
was organized February 1, 187S. There were 
sixteen original members, which list was in- 
creased to fifty the first year. 

The officers for 1879 were: W. F. Cardell, 
W. C. T. ; Mrs. H. J. Holmes, W. V. T. ; H. J. 
Holmes, secretary; Q. A. Willis, financial sec- 
retary; Mrs. C. L. Lane, treasurer; I. N. Willis, 
marshal; S. R. Ems, chaplain; J. H. WilHs. 
P. AV. C. T. ; Mrs. C. Pierce, W. G. ; J. J. Van- 
Xorden, W. S. 

MASONIC LODGE. 

Otley Lodge, No. 299, A. F. & A. M.— This 
lodge was organized in 1871, with the following 
members: S. Pangburn, Robt. Hastie, Ira 
Doty, F. M. Hain, H. A. Chappelear, Horatio 
Hall and Luma Gee. 

Charter officers : S. Pangburn, W. M. ; Robt. 
Hastie, S. W. ; Ira Doty, J. W. Present ofiicers : 
R. E. Zerwekh. W. M.; D. Sager, S. W.; N. E. 



188 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Hart, J. W. ; Dr. Stevenson, secretary ; W. W. 
Phillips, S. D.; H. G. Giddings, J. D. ; Eli 
Brotlierson, tyler. The lodge is equipped with 
splendid pai-aphernalia and under the inspira- 
tion of the present master has become especial- 
ly proficient in the ritualistic work. In the 
spring of 1907 Otley Lodge held a -Masonic 
gathering that included lodges from all over the 
county. Adel, Woodward and Dallas Center 
lodges came with their teams and conferred 
degrees. Representatives came from nearly 
all the Masonic lodges in the county and a large 
crowd witnessed the work and then sat down 
to an elegant banquet. It was an enjoyable 
affair and the guests highly appreciated the 
courtesies extended to them by their Perry 
brethren. 

Palmyra Chapter No. 86 received its charter 
in 1878. The fii-st officers were : H. A. Hoyt, 
H. P.; B. B. Selby, K. : R. Ginn, scribe; H. D. 
Haskins, C. H. ; C. E. Cox, P. S. ; S. Pangburn, 
R. A. C; W. H. Chandler, M. 1st V.; E. D. 
Selby, M. 2nd V. ; S. 0. Conger, M. 3d V. 

CI\^C SOCIETIES IN 1905. 

The following information ha.s been secured 
regarding the societies as they were conducted 
in 1905. Possibly some names may have been 
omitted : 

CIVIC SOCIETIES. 

Hazel Camp No. 4045, R. N. of A., meets 
every second and fourth Wednesday evenings 
of each month at Elliot hall. Oracle, Mi-s. W. P. 
Mowrer; past oracle, Mrs. William Graham; 
vice oracle, Mrs. Ross Green; receiver, Mrs. 
William Doss; recorder. Miss Mona Mowrer; 
chancellor, Mrs. Henry ililler. 

Templeton Tent No. 67, K. 0. T. M., meets 
everj' second and fourth Monday nights of each 
month at A. 0. U. W. hall. Commander, J. E. 
Banyard; record keeper. T. H. White; finance 
keeper, H. S. Taylor. 

Palmyra Chapter, No. 86, R. A. M., meets 
on Wednesday evening on or after full moon. 
M. E. H. P., T. H. White; E. king, E. C. Ham- 
lin; E. scribe. H. P. Ward; treasurer. Allen 



Breed; secretary, H. L. Thomas; captain host, 
W. W. Phillips; P. Soj., A. W. Trout; R. A. C, 
T. J. Gilbert; M. 3d V., H. H. Davis; M. 2nd 
v., M. A. Bills ; M. 1st V.. H. J. Holmes ; guard, 
H. M. Stevenson. Meets at Masonic Temple. 

Otley Lodge, No. 299, A. F. & A. M., meets 
on Monday evening on or before full moon at 
Masonic Temple. W. M., F. C. Hamlin ; S. W., 
W. W. Phillips; J. W., M. A. Bills; treasurer, 
H. J. Holmes; secretary, H. M. Stevenson; S. 
J).. W. H. Winegar; J. D., R. E. Zerwekh; S. S., 
H. G. Giddings; J. S., A. D. Sager; tyler, H. 
W. Chambers. 

Gerard Commandery, No. 56, K. T., meets 
second Thursday evening of each month at 
Masonic Temple. E. Com., A. Smart; Gen., 
H. M. Pattee; Capt. Gen., J. M. Woodworth; 
S. W., F. C. Hamlin; J. W., Allen Harvey; 
P., T. J. Gilbert; treasurer, Allen Breed; R., 
H. L. Thomas. 

Perry Chapter, No. 142, 0. E. S., meets every 
second Friday evening of each month at Ma- 
sonic Temple. W. M., Mrs. Isabel Manning; 
W. P., Dr. A. W. Trout; A. M., Mrs. Bertha 
L. Phillips; secretary, Mrs. Fannie L. Thomas; 
treasurer, Miss Sina Barnard; Con., Mrs. M. A. 
Bills; A. Con., Mrs. Nellie Rissler; marshal, 
Mrs. Josie Leonard; Adah, Miss Nora Lutze; 
Ruth, Miss Luella Tolbert ; Esther, Mrs. Maggie 
Rait; Martha, Miss Beulah Miller; Electa, Mrs. 
Lanora Gilbert; chaplain, Mrs. Mary Davis; 
warder. Miss Hazel Dunbar; sentinel, Cyrus 
Smith; organist, Mrs. Maud Elliot. 

Perry Camp, No. 180, M. W. A., meets first 
and third Wednesday evenings of each month 
at Bailey hall. V. C, Barney O'Brien; A., 
Thomas Beatty; C, H. Miller; B., M. L. Hil- 
dreth; E., Will Dyer; W., Jesse Brody; S.. Fred 
Ebner. 

Dallas Lodge, No. 98, A. 0. U. W., meets 
first and third Monday evenings of each month 
at A. 0. U. W. hall. M. W., J. F. Ahrens; 
F., E. J. Cole; R., H. S. Taylor; Fin., J. R. 
Coleman ; Rec, W. J. Cole. 

Spring Valley Aerie, No. 1084, F. 0. E., 
meets first and third Tuesday evenings of each 
month at Harvey hall. Past Pres., T. Harris; 




RESIDENCE STREET— PERRY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COL'NTY, 



191 



Pres., Fred Ling; V. Pres., C. Tucker; C, Roy 
Daly; secretary, E. Daly; treasurer, J. P. O'Mal- 
ley; trustees, F. L. Morgan, F. R. Jacobs and 
Wm. Howe. 

Burnbra Castle, No. 41, Highland Nobles, 
meets every second and fourth Wednesday even- 
ings of each month at Bailey hall. P., John 
Cortner; C, G. H. Thornbrue; E., Mrs. Mary 
Lutze; secretary, Harry Steltzer; treasurer, A. 
C. Cole; escort, Sam Reele; G., Wm. Coil; 
S., Chas. Coil. 

Perry Encampment, No. 115, I. 0. O.-F., 
meets first and third Friday evenings of each 
month at I. 0. 0. F. hall. C. P., U. G. Tolle; 
H. P., John Slociuu; S. W., U. G. Putnam; S., 
A. W. Powell; F. S., N. H. Annis; treasurer, 
J. W. Diddy. 

Pattee Canton, No. 15, Patriarchs Militant I. 
0. 0. F., meets second Monday evening of each 
month at I. 0. 0. F. hall. Capt., E. F. Miller; 
Lieut., E. J. Diddy; E., M. Bugbee; clerk, E. E. 
Brokaw ; Acct., L. M. Resser ; S. B., W. S. Craft ; 
G., H. P. Calonkey; S., E. T. Dayton; P., M. N. 
People. 

K. and L. of G. P., No. 90, meets every sec- 
ond and fourth Friday evenings of each month 
at A. 0. U. W. hall. P., Adah Hindert; V. P., 
Mrs. Mary Guinn ; secretary, Mrs. Hattie Gris- 
wold; treasurer, Mrs. Leona Habernicht; C. 
Mrs. A. U. Coates; C. G., Mrs. F. S. Habernicht. 

Hinderson Lodge, No. 15, M. B. A., meets 
every first and third Friday evenings of each 
month at K. P. liall. P., A. W. Bills; V. P. 
Willard Spencer ; secretary, Lena Knell ; treas- 
urer, Fred Knell; chaplain, Sarah Hagar; 
Cond., Geo. Hagar. 

Redfield Post, No. 26, G. A. R.. meets every 
first and third Saturday evenings of each month 
at K. of P. hall. Com., G. W. Johnson; S. V. 
C, Geo. McKean; J. V. C, J. E. Kent; Q. M., 
R. S. Cro.ss; C, W. A. Ulum; A., L. P Wilcox. 

Perry Court of Honor, No. 182, meets every 
second and fourth Friday evenings of each 
month at K. of P. hall. C, Mrs. Estella M. 
Hoops; P. C, Mrs. Hattie Miller; V. C, Mrs. 
John Briggle; Rec. and Treas., J. J. Courtney; 
C, of T., Mrs. J. J. Courtney; chaplain, Mrs. 



Hattie Beatty; Con., Mre. Mary A. Lutze; G , 
Mrs. Myrtle Simpson. 

Perry Council, No. 24, J\L N. R., meets every 
second and fourth Saturday evenings of each 
month at A. 0. U. W. hall. P., H. A. Pad- 
dock: A'. P., Rosetta Reinke; secretary and 
treasurer, W. H. Ogle; G., Mrs. Chas. Walker; 
0. G., Fred Roades; I. G., Joe Flint; Chap., 
Nettie Fait; deputy, Frank Gourdey. 

Horeb Lodge, No. 408, I. 0. 0. F., meets 
every Tuesday evening of each week at I. 0. 
0. F. hall. N G., D. W. Hall; V. G., A. W. 
Powell; P. Sec, E. J. Diddy; R. Sec, Carl Tay- 
lor; treasurer, A. S. Holmes. 

Atkins Lodge, No. 135, K. of P., meets every 
Thursday evening at K. of P. hall. C. C, 
S. E. Dime; V. C, Clarence Bobblett; K. of 
R. and S., T. H. White; M. of S., T. H. White; 
prelate, Roy Emms; M. W., J. K. Young; 
M. of A., Dave Willis; inner guard, Earne 
Lester ; outer guard, Harry Steltzer. 

Perry Lodge, No. 407, B. P. 0. E., meets 
first and third Wednesdays of each month at 
Elks' hall. E. R., W. J. Edmondson; E. L. K., 
T. H. White; E. L. K., Ralph Chandler; E. L. 
K., Scott Snyder; secretary, LI. C. Modlin; 
treasurer, A. S. Holmes; guard, Tim Dooley. 

Lady Hollister Llive, L. 0. T. M., meets first 
and third Thursday evenings at K. of P. hall. 
L. C, Mrs. Baccus; M. at A., Mrs. Braman; 
chaplain, Mrs. Marsh ; sergeant, Mrs. Will Bar- 
ker; record keeper, Mrs. Lyford; finance keeper, 
Mrs. Elder. 

Edna Rebekah Lodge, No. 263, meets second 
and fourth Thuredays of each month at I. 0. 
O. F. N. G., Mrs. Frank Long; V. G., Mrs. 
Lyons; P. G., Mrs. Skinner; C, Mrs. Gillispie; 
Fin., Mrs. Thornburg; secretary, Mrs. Case; 
treasurer, Mrs. Marion Diddy: captain, Mrs. 
Stevenson. 

Aria Temple, No. 3, Rathbone Sisters, meets 
firet and third Tuesdays of each month at 
K. of P. hall. M. E. C, Mrs. Emma Kelley'; 
E. S., Mrs. Belle Smith; E. J., Mrs. Nannie 
Culbertson ; M. of R. & C, Mrs. E. Forgrave ; 
M. of F.. Mrs. Earnie Lester; Mgr., Mrs. Len 



192 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Willis; 0. G., Ruby Eckman; protector, 
Mayme Mullen. 

Woodbine Lodge, No. 24, Degree of Honor, 
meets first and third Saturday evenings of each 
month A. 0. U. W. C. of H., Mrs. Warren; 
P. C. of H., Mrs. Phillips; L. of H., Mrs. Bald- 
win ; C. of C, Mrs. Gilligan ; recorder, Mrs. C. 
E. Taylor; receiver, Mrs. Moffitt; financier, Mrs. 
Geo. Chapman; usher, Mrs. Lutze; inside 
watch, Mrs. A. McCullough; outside watch, 
Mrs. Moffitt. 

Poweshiek Tribe, No. 15, I. 0. R. M., meets 
every second and fourth Thursday evenings 
of each month at A. 0. U. W. hall. S., Carrie 
Beeler; S. R., C. A. Lance; J. R., Joe Hagar; 
C. R., A. Powell; K. of W., Robt. Cross; P., 
Earl Freestone. 

Banyard Division, No. 7, U. R. K. 0. T. M. 
C, T."h. White; R. K., J. E. Banyard; 1st 
Lieut., Ross Lisle; 2nd Lieut., Ray Hall; Col. 
2nd Bat. 9th Reg., F. S. Banj^ard. 

Pilot Lodge, No. 124, B. of L. F., meets sec- 
ond and fourth Tuesdays of each month. M.. 
W. A. Rouse; V. M., Geo. Donahue; P. M., 
W. B. Howe; secretary, Geo. Rait. 

0. R. C. meets every Tuesday at 2:30. Chief, 
William Brubaker; secretary, J. B. Coakley. 

Spring Valley Council, No. 401, K. & L. 
of S., meets first and third Friday evenings of 
each month at A. 0. U. W. hall. P., G. J. 
Jarnagin; 1st V. P., Mrs. L. L. Wright; 2nd 
V. P., Mrs. A. W. Ogden; Pre., Mrs. Nettie 
Newberry; Cor. Sec, Mrs. Nellie Overton; Fin. 
Sec, Mr.5. Dora Skinner; treasurer, James Mil- 
ler. 

Bona Dea Hive, No. 16, L. 0. T. M., meets 
every second and fourth Thursday evenings of 
each month at K. of P. hall. L. C, Jennie L. 
Burnam; P. C, Mrs. Mary Banyard; R. K., 
Mrs. Lydia Griswold; C, Mrs. Mary Piatt; M. 
at A., Mrs. Sarah Bellamy; S., Mrs. Mary 
Zerung; treasurer, Mrs. Mary Ahern. 

Perry Division, No. 208, B. of L. E., meets 
first and third Mondays in K. of P. hall. Chief, 
H. Nichols; 1st Asst., Otto Christenson; Ins. 
Agt., Ben Moore; treasurer, Fred Selee. 



L. B. Beardsley Lodge, No. 86, B. of R. T., 
meets Monday afternoons. Master, A. J. Ful- 
ler; secretary, 0. C. Chamberlain. 

We must not pass lightly over the work of 
the clubs of the city. It has added much to- 
ward the social and mental culture of the 
women of Perry. There are many social clubs 
which are enjoyed by both ladies and gentle- 
men, but no attempt is made to tell of their 
meetings. Our object is to mention those clubs 
which are grappling with an outlined course 
of study. And indeed, much credit is due the 
woman who, together with her household 
cares, gives a few moments each day to mental 
training. By uniting their efforts for public 
advancement, in the federation of clubs to 
which many of the organizations belong, they 
are enabled to carry out ideas for the needed 
improvements of street and park and assist in 
other ways those things which call forth public 
interest and support. Among the individual 
clubs are to be mentioned those that follow and 
a brief outline of their work is given. 

CITY FEDERATION. 

Perhaps first of all the clubs should be men- 
tioned the City Federation, not because of the 
work done in the past, but because of future 
work planned, and the broadness of its pur- 
poses. As yet it is in its infancy, being organ- 
ized in the month of October, 1904. So far 
the way has been blocked by many pitfalls, 
but at the close of one j^ear's work the club 
hopes to be known as a well established organi- 
zation, with some good work well begun. 

The object of the City Federation is to bring 
into communication with one another the vari- 
ous women's clubs of the city, that they may 
become mutually helped and advance the inter- 
ests of the community. 

The membership consists of the Monday 
Club, the Twentieth Century, the Sorosis, the 
Wednesday, and a number of associate mem- 
bers. 

Clubs desiring to join the Federation must 
make application in writing to the secretary, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



193 



showing that their chief purpose is educational. 
A majority vote of the members of the execu- 
tive board shall be necessai-y to admit any 
club. Each club miist pay the annual dues 
upon admission. 

Any woman whose name has been pre- 
sented to the board at a preceding meeting, 
by any member of the Federation, shall be 
elected to membership in the same manner as 
any club. 

A number of committees have been appoint- 
ed, and all are active. The present officers are : 
Mrs. H. G. Giddings, president; Mrs. T. F.- 
Johnson, vice-president; Mrs. 0. F. Roddan, 
recording secretary; Mrs. R, E. Zerwekh, cor. 
secretary ; Mrs. Mary Henness. trea.-<urer. 

MONDAY CLUB. 



SOROSIS CLUB. 

The Sorosis club originally was composed of 
a number of the members of the C. W. B. M. 
of the Church of Christ, who wished to become 
more familiar with the plays of Shakespeare. 
And since that time the club has devoted at 
least a part of its time to his works. Last 
year the study was limited to Shakespeare, but 
for the coming year it is planned to give every 
other week to the poems of Browning. The 
membership, which' is limited to fifteen, is com- 
plete and consists of Mrs. B. Roy Emms, presi- 
dent; Mrs. Yingling, vice-president; Miss And- 
rews, secretary and treasurer; Mesdames Leaf, 
Johnson, Griswold, May Johnston, Green, Kel- 
ley. White, and Misses Flora Bailey, Edith 
Piatt, Millie Campbell and Goldie Johnson. 



The Monday Club limits its members to the 
number of twenty. It has always been known 
as a good working club. The past year the 
members have devoted their time to the study 
of Paradise Lost and the Bay View Magazine. 
The officers the past year were: Mrs. P. C. 
Rude, president ; Mrs. O. F. Roddan, vice-presi- 
dent; Mrs. Henness, secretary and treasurer. 

The members consist of Mesdames Bice, H. 
J. Holmes, T. J. Gilbert, McColl, Wallis, Dilen- 
beck, Modlin, May Johnston, Henness, Roddan, 
Rude, Chandler, McArthur, Aiken, Gill and 
Brown. 

TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB. 

The Twentieth Century club is a club but 
two years old. It started out like most literary 
clubs, a Shakespearean club, but last year 
changed its study to the Bay View course, tak- 
ing up Russia and Japan. The club officei"s 
are : Mrs. T. J. Gilbert, president ; Mrs. Harry 
Reynolds, secretary and treasurer. The mem- 
bers are Mesdames Aiken, Pattee, Mowrer, 
Shortley, Reynolds, Holmes, Gilbert and Misses 
Helen Hastings, Emma Clements. Mao Miller. 
Anna Adams, Mae and Martha Pnttcr. 



WEDNESDAY CLUB. 

The Wednesday club is one of the most faith- 
ful to study. The year just closed was success- 
fully spent with Robert Browning and the 
French artists. This club always plans for the 
year at least one special day program to which 
the other clubs of the city are invited. April 
25 w-as set aside this year, Mrs. Frank Herriott 
of Des Moines, giving a talk on the works of 
Browning. The outgoing officers are: Mrs. 
L. A. French, president; Mrs. L. B. Morgan, 
vice president; Mrs. Fred Seeley, secretary and 
treasi;rer. The membership, which is limited 
to fifteen, is composed of Mesdames Giddings, 
Harvey, Seeley, French, Pierce, Zerwekh, Mc- 
Phcrson. Morgan, Nichols, Willis, Thornburgh, 
Huston. Clarke and Miss Clara Raife. 

king's DAUGHTERS. 

The King's Daughters, while not a literary 
club, should be mentioned because of their 
charitable work. The ladies have given a num- 
ber of entertainments the past few years, the 
proceeds of which have gone entirely for fur- 
nishing goods and clothing for the poor. Their 
needles are constantly busy, in order to furnish 
llic nrcessarv articles. The officers are: Mrs. 



194 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



L. B. Morgan, president ; ^Nlrs. Richardson, vice 
president; Mrs. Sager, secretary; Mrs. Wallis, 
treasurer. 

CHAUTAUQUA TRAVEL CLUB. 

The niembei-s of the Chautauqua Travel 
club will continue their study through the sum- 
mer changing from their regular work," The 
Chautauqua Travel Program to that of the 
Lives of the Poets. Many have enjoyed the 
special day planned by this club. Their num- 
ber is limited to ten, consisting of IMesdames 
Hoyt, Howard, Thomas Van Patten, Martha 
Leonard, Moore, Draper and Heaton. The 
officers the past year were: Mrs. Van Patten, 
president; Mrs. Ben Moore, vice president; Mrs. 
Ray Heaton. secretary; Mrs. H. L. Thomas, 
treasurer. 

rOLITICAL EQUALITY CLUB. 

The Political Equality Ckib have disbanded 
their meetings for a time, but hope in the near 
future to again take up the work. The club 
still claims a membei*ship of sixty. 

MUSICAL GUILD. 

The Musical Guild is made up of the musical 
talent of Perry and has a membership of twen- 
ty-five ladies. They are now taking up a three 
years' course of study by W. S. B. Mathews. 
The work is outlined by a committee of which 
Mrs. L. B. Morgan is chairman. During the 
year an open session was given to which two 
hundred of their friends responded to the in- 
vitations issued. To their efforts Perry is in- 
debted to the honor of first heai-ing Mrs. Carrie 
Jacobs Bond. Those holding office are: Miss 
Clara Raife, president; Miss Sadie Moore, vice 
president; Mrs. E. H. Pierce, secretary; Mrs. 
B. C. Dilenbeck, treasurer. 

mother's club. 

The Mother's Club, which was organized just 
last January, has been having very successful 



meetings. The program? have been varied ami 
interesting. The topics for the day were chosen 
by the officers, who are composed of Mrs. R. R. 
Stockwell, president; Mrs. Spencer, vice presi- 
dent; Mrs. Doidge, secretary; Mrs. Mower, 
treasurer; Mrs. Bartlett, chaplain. 

perry's valuation. 

W. J. Doss, assessor for Perry for the year 
of 1907, reports as follows: 

Value of real estate $1,654,104.00 

Value of personal property 584,796.00 

Total $2,238,900.00 

One mill levy on one-fourth of real vnlue 
gives $559.72. 



.\nnual report of h. a. rouse, city treasurer, 

FOR JULY, 1907, 

corporation fund account. 

April 3, 1906, Balance (overdraft) _ 1511 55 

Received from County Treasurer $ .^763 IS 

Received from Sewer account 2115 74 

Received from P. H. O'Connor. Mayor... 584 50 
Received from Perry Electric Light, Power 

& Heat Company 290 01 

Received from G. W. Gillispie 12 00 

Received from A. Cross _. 4 94 

Paid out on sewer account for Engineers, 

Inspectors and labor 34.34 74 

Paid out for interest on bonds and orders 535 58 

Paid for labor, salary, and material 4912 59 

April 1. 1907 to Balance 1624 09 

$10394 46 $10394 46 

WATER FUND ACCOUNT. 

April 3, 1906, Balance $ 13 17 

Received from .\. Cross for water collec- 
tions 9690 79 

Received from A. Cross for coal sold 175 00 

Paid out tor labor, repairs, and salaries.. 1888 36 

Paid out for coal 2970 57 

Paid out for printing and books 55 99 

Paid out for collections to A. Cross 204 90 

Paid out for collections to H. A. Rouse. . 100 52 

Paid out for new pipe lines and water 

mains 1435 68 

Paid out for new wells and machinery... 746 97 

Paid out for interest on bonds and orders 543 35 

April 1, 1907, to Balance 1932 62 

$9878 96 $9878 96 

CEMETERY FUND ACCOUNT. 

April 3, 1906, Balance $ 416 08 

Received from A. Cross, clerk 355 00 

Paid out on orders for labor and ma- 
terial 563 55 

April 1, 1907, to Balance 207 53 

■ $771 08 $771 08 
LIGHT FUND ACCOUNT. 

April 3. 1906. Balance $ 1125 S3 

Received from County Treasurer 2305 25 

Paid out for lights 2795 51 

April 1, 1907, to Balance 635 57 

$3431 08 $3431 08 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



195 



SEWER FUND ACCOUNT. 

April 3, 1006, Balance $ 208 80 

Received from County Treasurer 1152 7G 

Paid two orders. $500 each 1000 00 

Paid interest on orders 26132 

April 1, 1907. to Balance 100 24 



Amount of orders now out. 



ROAD FUND ACCOUNT. 

April .?. 1006, Balance $ 649 66 

Received from County Treasurer 568 29 

Paid out for labor and crossings 

April 1, 1907, to Balance 



$1217 95 $1217 95 



LIBRARY FUND ACCOUNT. 



April 3, 1006, Balance $ 

Received from County Treasurer 

Received from Corporation Fund 

Paid out on orders for labor, salaries and 

books, and heat and lights 

April 1, 1907, to Balance 



18 78 

1152 62 

60 00 



$1231 40 $1231 40 



FIRE FUND ACCOUNT. 

.\pril 3, 1906, Balance (overdraft) 129 

Received from County Treasurer $ y/6 34 

Paid out for salaries, hose and labor 1275 

April 1, 1907, to Balance 829 16 



$1405 50 $1405 50 



3ALANCE IN ALL FUNDS. 



overdr 



April 1. 1907. B: 

poration Fund 
April 1, 1907, B; 
April 1, 1007, B; 
April 1, 1907, B: 
April 1. 1907, Bj 
April 1, 1907, B: 
April 1, 1907, B; 
April 1. 1907, Ba: 

Fund 

April 1, 1907, To Balance in all Funds 



Cor 



: in Water Fund $1932 62 

e in Cemetery Fund 207 53 

ance in Light Fund.... 

ance in Sewer Fund.... 

ance in Road Fund.... 

ance in Library Fund.. 

ance, overdraft, in Fire 



635 57 
100 24 
290 28 
194 64 



829 16 



April 1, 1907 



$3360 88 $3360 88 
H. A. ROUSE, Treasurer. 



The .'^pade factory has been running about 
two years ; employs twelve men and is equipped 
for making Buffalo staple pullers and dies for 
sheet metal. The officers are Henry Osmund- 
son, president; A. H. Krieehbaum, secretary; 
Fred Myer, superintendent. 

The "Quicker Yet" wa.shing machine is man- 
ufactured by the Globe Manufacturing, Com- 
pany of Perry, Iowa. The business was estab- 
lished in January, 1907, and employs ten peo- 
ple. This is a stock company and is capitalized 
at twenty-five thousand dollars. 

The Citizens' State Bank of Perry, Iowa, 
was incorporated September 12, 1893, and or- 
ganized at that time by John Law and Charles 
E. Walker, with a capital of fifty thousand 
dollars. John Law was the first president ; Jay 



G. Duttun, fir.st vice president; and Charles E. 
Walker, first cashier. 

Its first directors were: J. G. Button, N. 
Henness, P. M. Joice, Leonard Walker, John 
Law and Charles E. Walker. 

Mr. S. S. Dilenbeck and B. C. Dilenbeck 
bought the controlling interest in March, 1898, 
and its present officers are: S. S. Dilenbeck, 
president; S. M. Thornley, vice president; B. 
C. Dilenbeck, cashier; John E. Hambright, 
assistant cashier. The present directors are: 
S. S. Dilenbeck, B. C. Dilenbeck, Mary Hen- 
ne8.<, Dr. I. N. Paul, Levi Bulkley, J. G. Dut- 
ton, S. M. Thornley, E. F. Miller and Helen 
Gamble Morgan. 

Since Messrs. S. S. and B. C. Dilenbeck have 
taken charge of the bank they have increased 
the suiplus and individual profits forty-two 
thousand dollars, so that the total surplus and 
undivided profits is now ninety-two thousand 
dollars. Their deposits when they took charge 
were about seventy thousand dollars, and they 
increased so that they now run between two 
hundred and fifty thousand and three hundred 
thousand dollars. The directors and stockhold- 
ers are among the strongest financial people 
of the county, the individual responsibility of 
the stockholders being about one million dol- 
lars. The individual stock is the greatest of 
any bank in the county. 

The First National Bank is the oldest estab- 
lished bank of Perry. Its assets are over half 
a million dollars. The officers are: D. Pattee, 
president; Allen Breed, vice president; J. M. 
Woodworth, cashier; H. M. Pattee, assistant 
cashier. The directors are : D. J. Pattee, Allen 
Breed. John Clements, A. S. Holmes, H. J. 
Holmes, W. H. McCammon, S. M. Holmes. 

The Perry Savings & Exchange Bank has 
a paid up capital of fifty thousand dollars. The 
officers are: Allen Breed, president; W. H. 
McCammon, vice president; H. J. Holmes, 
ca.shier; F. B. Wood, assistant cashier. The 
directors and .stockholders are: Allen Breed, 
A. B. McCoU, D. J. Pattee, A. S. Holmes, John 
Folz, W. H. McCammon, Fred Selee, E. E. 
Sheldahl, D. D. McColl, H. J. Holmes. 



196 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



The People's Savings Bank was organized 
in January, 1906, with a capital of twenty-five 
thousand dollars, and is making a remarkably 
good showing. The officers are: J. P. O'Mal- 
ley, president; G. W. Valandingham, vice pres- 
ident; John Carmody, cashier. 

CITY OFFICERS OF PERRY. 

H. C. Modlin, mayor; Adi'ian Cross, clerk; 
Howard A. Rouse, treasurer. 

GOUNCILMEN. 

J. C. Bryan, H. L. Thomas, third ward; 
Henry Miller, John Carmody, second ward; 
John Diddy, F. A. Wildman, first ward. 

P. D. McGoey, city marshal ; Geo. Gillespie, 
street commissioner; Fred Knell, chief of firei 
department; Dr. A. J. Ross, health physician.! 

WOODAVARD. 

As has been stated, the old trading point 
Xenia was established many years before a 
railroad was even thought of in Des Moines 
township. W. S. Craft and Dr. Brookings of 
Xenia moved to AVoodward and have been ac- 
tively engaged in business here since. Harry 
Parks, so well remembered by Woodward peo- 
ple, was also a former business man of Xenia. 

When Mr. Craft was county treasurer he still 
owned some lots in the old site of Xenia. It 
seems that he got the numbers mixed in some 
way and sold his own lot for taxes. He dis- 
covered his mistake soon after and quietly 
bought it back again — not so quietly, however, 
but that his friends about the courthouse 
caught on to the joke and enjoyed many a 
laugh and a good cigar at the expense of the 
genial and popular treasurer. 

In 1880 the Milwaukee Railroad tried to get 
a right of way past Xenia, but insisted on hav- 
ing the station on the level prairie land a mile 
and a half west of Xenia, which was situated 
on a knoll. So in 1881 Xenia was moved to 
the new site called Colton, now known as 
Woodward. 



The first new dwelling house was built in 
1881 by Al. Hughes, which still stands south 
of the house occupied by Mr. Meadows. 

The land for the new site was owned by Mr. 
Hutsinpillar, J. R. Cole and Dr. Sauks. H. R. 
Naiden, who occupies the brick house built by 
Dr. Sauks, was the first station agent employed 
by the Milwaukee. 

Craft, Parks & Leaming put up the first dry 
goods and grocery store on the site now occu- 
pied by Craft & Son. Dan Couch and Fred 
Miller kept a general store south of the brick 
occupied now by Mr. Naiden and later Mr. 
Couch kept a furniture store in the latter build- 
ing. 

The first doctors w^ere Brookings and Sauks. 
Mr. Brookings is one of the pioneer physicians 
of the county and is still active in his work. 

In 1882 Dr. Potter built a drug store on the 
corner where the State Bank now stands. The 
first child bom was Edith Potter, and the sec- 
ond her cousin, Paul Ward. 

S. 0. Conger was the original banker and 
remained the only one for nearly twenty years. 
He is still in business here. W. H. A. Parks 
was one of the pioneers of Woodward and his 
death two years ago was a great loss to the 
community. The following extract from the 
Perry Chief gives a sketch of his career : 

W. H. A. Parks died at his home in Wood- 
ward Friday morning at two o'clock of Bright's 
disease. He had been a sufferer for many 
months and death came to him as a relief. 
Mr. Parks was one of the men who had an 
active part in the development of the business 
of this community from an early day. He is 
widely known and the announcement will 
come as a sad message to countless homes. 

In an early day he came from Cincinnati to 
Waukee, where he clerked for a Mr. Blackburn. 
He had previously been a dry goods clerk in 
Cincinnati. 'In 1876 Mr. Blackburn was con- 
sidering the purchase of the Thornley Brothers' 
store at Xenia. Xenia was located east of where 
Woodward now stands. Mr. Blackburn did not 
make the purchase and Mr. Parks together 
with Charles Leaming bought the store. Later 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



19^ 



they moved to Colton, the present site of Wood- 
ward, where the firm name was Craft, Park 
& Leaming. In 1880 Parks sold out and came 
to Perry, where he went into business with S. 
M. Thornley in the place now occupied by 
Dowling & Wright. This was then the only 
brick building in town and this was the only 
exclusive clothing store. He sold his interest 
in this store to Mr. Thornley and bought the 
clothing store of Joe Walker & Son. In about 
1883 he returned to Woodward and went into 
business with J. W. McCracken, Newt. Skinner 
being associated with them a short time. Mr. 
ParlvS later turned his interest over to his son 
John and retired from merchandising and has, 
until his serious illness, been in the real estate 
and insurance business. 

Mr. Parks was about fifty-six years of age. He 
had accumulated considerable property by his 
good business judgment and attention to busi- 
ness. He leaves two married sons and a daugh- 
ter. One son resides at Woodward and the 
other recently went to Mingo where he pur- 
chased a lumber yard. These and the bereaved 
wife will have the sympathy of friends all 
over this portion of the country. 

Mr. Parks was a Mason, and belonged to the 
Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows and the 
Workmen. He was a member of Gerard Com- 
mandery of Knights Templar of Perry and of 
the consistory and shrine at Des Moines. The 
funeral will be held at the residence in Wood- 
ward Sunday afternoon. It will be conducted 
by the Masons. The Knights Templar of Perry 
will act as escort. All the Masonic brethren are 
urged to meet at the temple at eleven o'clock 
Sunday morning. They will go to Woodward 
on the 11:55 train, returning at 6:30. 



enson being its first pastor, present presiding 
elder of the Atlanta district. Among the min- 
isters who have since served the church are 
Revs. C. W. Anderson, J. F. Bryan, A. W. 
Harned, J. F. Gibson, A. J. Matthews, C. E. 
Knoll, R. R. C. Granthan, S. E. Brown, and the 
present minister. Rev. R. E. Harvey. The 
present membership is about two hundred. 
There is also a Sunday school of one hundred 
and seventy-five; an Epworth League of sev- 
enty-five; a flourishing Ladies' Aid Society 
and a Woman's Home Mission. The building 
is a veneered brick, and the church and par- 
sonage are valued at five thousand dollars. 

Methodism at Woodward will have a new 
home upon the completion of the edifice which 
will )je erected at a cost of twelve thousand dol- 
lai-s. Rev. R. E. Harvey, pastor of the present 
church, has worked several years to build this 
structure. It will be built of wood and brick, 
with stone trimmings. The church will seat 
.seven hundred and fifty and will be one of the 
neatest that have been proposed in the smaller 
Iowa towns. It will be erected on the site of 
the present churoh, which will be razed. 

ROBBINS CHAPEL. 

Six miles southeast of Woodward is a Metho- 
dist Episcopal denomination. The original 
class was organized about 1850 and was called 
the Center class. The new organization was 
made in 1898, at which time they built a new 
church, valued at eighteen hundred dollars. 
The membership is about twenty, with a Sun- 
day school of forty scholars. Rev. Mr. Harvey 
ministers to that congregation, as it is attached 
to the Woodward charge. 



CHURCHES. 



The Fii-st Methodist Episcopal Church of 
Woodward sprang from the church at Xenia, 
which last named church was organized early 
in the '50s and supplied by ministers from Des 
Moines. The Woodward church was organized 
the year the town was started. Rev. Wm. Stev- 



Hotel Charlotte, of Woodward, of which M. 
W. Siglin is proprietor, is a new building, 
erected in the fall of 1904, at a cost of ten 
thousand dollars, and contains twenty-two 
rooms. 



198 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Woodward Lodge, No. 460, I. 0. 0. F., was 
instituted October 19,, 1882, with eighteen char- 
ter members, the charter issued by the grand 
lodge being signed by George Whipple, grand 
master, and Wm. Garrett, grand secretary. The 
present membership is one hundred and sixty- 
two. This is regarded as one of the best lodges 
in the country, and the degree staff has taken 
hrst prizes in several contests of the Sovereign 
grand lodge. One of these contests wa.< held 
in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, in 1905, 
and in 1906 at Toronto, Canada. This is a 
prosperous, working lodge. Their present 
building is a two-story frame, erected in 1892, 
with the hall on the second floor, and an opera 
hall on the ground floor. This building will 
soon be torn away and rebuilt by a larger two- 
story brick building with basement under- 
neath containing a good furnace and a modern 
building throughout. 

The present officers are: J. F. Reed, noble 
grand; A. M. McColl, vice grand; M. A. Smith, 
secretary; P. C. Egan. trea.surer; D. J. Brook- 
ings, H. P. Calonkey, J. L. Grimm, trustees. 

Rebekah Gradation Lodge, No. 332, I. 0. 0. 
F., at Woodward, was instituted October 23, 
1896, with fifty-one members. This is a first 
class lodge, well known for its good work. Its 
officers are: Mrs. Effie Stuber, noble grand; 
Mrs. Clara Vernon, ^dce grand; Mrs. Marion 
Thomley, ti'easurer; Miss Ethel Grimm, secre- 
tary. Its present membership is eighty-six. 

A. C. Smith, one of the early pioneers, still 
lives in Woodward and is familiar with its 
early history. He is at present a member of 
the school board and is deeply interested in the 
welfare of the town. 

The first church was the Methodist Episco- 
pal, built where it now stands. A. M. McColl's 
father was the first Sunday school superinten- 
dent. 

J. R. Cole donated the ground for the Chris- 
tian church, and Mrs. J. W. Winkler and Mrs. 
John McCracken secured most of the subscrip- 
tions for tlie building. 



The Baptist church was built in 1892 and 
when the members were able to burn the mort- 
gage, they made it the occasion of a jollifica- 
tion. 

The first newspaper of the town was started 
by a Mr. Barrows. 

The Enterprise, started in 1887, and so long 
and ably edited by A. F. Ingalls, was recently 
sold to Charles Haworth, who has charge of it 
now. 

The following article relative to an incident 
of the early days was recently published in the 
columns of this paper: 

THAT LONE BUFFALO CHASE 

OLD TIMER TELLS HOW THE ANIMAL WAS 
KILLED NEAR WOODWARD. 

Everj-body reads the Enterprise and the buf- 
falo stories are coming to the front. If Abe 
LeMaster and Vic. Preston were alive they 
could relate a wonderful chase after a buffalo 
through this neck o' woods, and how Captain 
Berry with his hounds pursued the poor old 
monarch of tlie prairies on down through where 
Main street now is in Woodward into a corn- 
field south of Harry McFarland's home and 
west of Mr. Law's house in that low ground. 
There the final shot put an end to the lone trav- 
eler, who had no doubt come to look over his 
childhood haunts. The hide was removed, 
cut up in pieces, and sent round for cushions 
for reapers and to use instead of saddles, while 
the meat was cai'ved up and portions sent round 
about, as a great rarity. Those days had a his- 
tory as well as now, and it's kind of lonesome 
to be a '49er. Old Timer. 

John Colvin put' up the first meat market 
and a Mr. Lee erected the first hotel. 

Mr. G. C. Thomas was the first restaurant 
man, and J. W. Winkler the first grain buyer. 

Mrs. Emma Cook opened the first millinery 
store. Al Hughes and Joe Powell started in 
the livery business and Frank Batteys in the 
furniture trade about the same time. 

P. C. Egan was the pioneer blacksmith aud 
H. C. Burgess holds the honors as fust car- 
penter. 







CHRISTIAN CHURCH— PER IJY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



201 



The I. 0. 0. F. lodge was organized in 1882. 
This is one of the most notable Odd Fellow 
lodges in the United States. For years they 
have maintained a team and have reached a 
state of efficiency that is marvelous. P. 0. Egan 
deserves especial interest in keeping the mem- 
bers in training. This lodge has repeatedly 
taken first honors in county contests, in a state 
contest, in a national contest, and recently se- 
cured second place in an international contest 
held at Toronto, Canada. At the national 
contest held three years ago at Baltimore, 
Woodward team took first prize on second de- 
gree and second prize on first degree work, re- 
turning home with two silver pitchers as 
trophies of their skill. They have received sub- 
stantial money prizes that have enabled them 
to get excellent regalia and they are now pre- 
paring to erect a ten thousand dollar hall. The 
people of Woodward especially and the Odd 
Fellow lodges of the state take pride in the 
achievements of this lodge and expect it to win 
new laurels in the future. 

Peaceful Lodge, No. 464, A. F. & A. M., has 
a good membership and much interest is taken 
in the ritualistic work and in the principles of 
the order. Among some of the members who 
have done much in the past to raise the stand- 
ard of this lodge to a high plane have been 
S. 0. Conger, H. R. Naiden and W. H. A. 
Parks. The officers for 1907 are: James No- 
land, W. M. ; C. D. Harlow, S. W. ; W. D. Hall, 
J. W. ; H. S. Taylor, secretary ; S. 0. Conger, 
treasurer; I. S. Gilbert, S. D. ; 0. 0. Mortimer, 
J. D.; W. P. Dickerson, S. S.; J. G. Brolsma, 
J. S. ; J. W. McCracken, tyler. The lodge has a 
membership of seventy-five and owns its own 
hall. 

The first public school was taught in May, 
1882, by Mrs. E. Rhodes in the room in Fred 
Miller's building. The old brick schoolhouse 
was built in 1883 and was used until the new 
one was erected in 1907. The present school 
building is a handsome costly structure and is 
a matter of pride to all the citizens. From Mr. 
Woodrow down to H. A. Crawford, the schools 



have been well managed and a high educational 
standard kept up. 

The first wedding was a double one, the con- 
tracting parties being W. D. Hall and Laura 
Nance, and David Preston and Miss Ada Herd- 
man. 

Mr. Wilner built the original lumber yard 
and Frank Chapman the first feed and grist 
mill. 

The first sidewalk consisted of a narrow 
board anchored in the mud. When A. M. Mc- 
Coll became mayor he was instrumental in get- 
ting cement walks started and today the town 
has more than seven miles of cement walks. 

The most destructive fires occurring in the 
history of the town were in 1900 when the 
creamery burned, and in 1901 when the block 
from Craft's store to McColl's lumber yard was 
destroyed. 

In June, 1906, the Interurban railway en- 
tered Woodward and the town now has excel- 
lent freight and passenger service. 

We are glad to publish a poem contributed 
by Mrs. Enos Rhodes, who will be remembered 
as the first teacher of Woodward: 

woodward's smile. 

Once I boarded the Milwaukee, 

Viewed the towns along the way, 
Thought I'd visit in Chicago. 

'Twas too lonGsome there to stay, 
What were palaces of marble. 

All that science could compile, 
All the wealth of storied millions, 

If you found no Woodward smile. 

Then to Omaha, Nebraska, 

This Trans-Mississippi went; 
There enjoyed the varied scenery. 

To considerable extent; 
And the mayor smiled most blandly. 

When I praised their city's style — 
Hoped they'd strive on to perfection, 

Win and wear the Woodward smile. 

Then I strolled me out to Kansas, 

Fenceless fields and grassy plains. 
Where the ever present sunflower, 

Every royal sight retains; 
And the hospitable people. 

Your every sunny hour beguile — 
Never spy your Memory walking. 

Out to find a Woodward smile. 

Then I hied me to St. Louis, 

Old and full of legends rare. 
All brought forth tor my inspection 

Southern ideas, southern air; 



202 



TAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The southern view, seemed very narrow. 

But they praised it all the while, 
Saying "how you know there's perfect beauty,' 

Yes said I, "it's Woodward's smile." 

Strangers praise our little city. 

Cement walks — abundant shade, 
Well kept lawns, and homes of comfort, 

Happy people — no parade. 
But the highest type of beauty, 

Wreathed in glory all the while; 
Is the warmth, the light, the welcome, 

In the famous "Woodward smile." 



The Farmers' Bank of Woodward was estab- 
lished in 1902 by the Brenton Brothers. It has 
a capital of twenty thousand dollars and an 
individual responsibility of seven hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars. The officers are: 
Charles E.. Brenton, president ; G. H. Thornley, 
vice president; C. D. Hoon, cashier; G. H. 
Hall, assistant cashier. 

WOODWARD STATE BANK. 

This was started as a private bank in 1883 
by S. 0. Conger. It was organized as a state 
bank in 1902 and is now backed by thirty-two 
stockholders, including many of the wealthy 
men of the county. The present officers are: 
S. 0. Conger, president; Joseph Storms, vice 
president; H. S. Taylor, cashier. 

Woodward today is one of the most attractive 
up to date towns in the state. It has stores 
equal to those in the large cities, two banks, 
strong church memberships, with good build- 
ings, elegant homes, a gas plant, creamery, live 
newspaper, well laid out and highly improved 
streets. 

The people are noted for their thrift, energy 
and hospitality. The officers of Woodward 
are: S. B. Shumway, maj^or; 0. C. Miller, 
clerk; C. D. Hoon, treasurer; J. L. Grimm, 
assessor. The councilmen are: Wjn. Wade, 
C. E. Ramsey, Dr. A. R. Rogers, Leon Stuber, 
0. G. Meyer and A. B. Calonkey. 



Dawson is an unincorporated village of about 
three hundred and twenty-five residents, located 



on the Milwaukee Railroad in Dallas township, 
a few miles west of Perry. 

W^. E. ToUe owned land on which the town 
is built. In 1881 the Milwaukee road estab- 
lished a siding and grain house. The first 
residence was built by Milo Lee, who bought 
grain for some time for Allen Breed. C. W. 
Robbins moved a residence from Greene county 
over to the new town site and put in a small 
stock of goods. Mr. Disbrow was the third man 
to erect a dwelling. 

In the early history of the town, Shepard & 
Company had a general store ; Swiler Brothers, 
hardware; Finley & Tolle, general store; John 
Wright, restaurant. The first doctor to locate 
in the new place was J. T. Coveny, and the first 
railroad agent was H. E. Ozniun. 

M. T. Finley was the first postmaster, hold- 
ing that place for six years. 

In the early '80s the Chicago Coal Com- 
pany in prospecting for coal fields struck an 
area five miles west of Perry, which promised 
much and seemed favorable for not only a pay- 
ing mine but a town as well. They proceeded to 
open both. It was a good place for a town and 
around it lay an old and settled country. The 
Milwaukee was a new road then, the wheels of 
many trains had scarcely polished a shiny 
streak along its iron rails. 

Dawson became a hustling little market. 
The miners brought their families and houses 
sprung up thick and fast about the edge of the 
shaft. The coal suddenly seemed to give out, 
the mining stopped and an exodus commenced. 
The Dawson Coal Company was organized but 
that didn't help the coal fields so far as work- 
ing veins were concerned. The old shafts are 
still marked by the remains of the dumps, 
grown much smaller now because of road mak- 
ing and other uses to which they have been put. 
The old shaft is still open by the barn of the 
brick company and is a hole twelve feet square 
and some ninety feet deep. 

Another company, known as the Dawson 
Town & Gas Company, endeavored to restore 
prosperity for the little village, and follow- 
ing the find of excellent brick clay beds along 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



203 



the river and having a good chance for a shale 
mixture, they installed a mammoth brick and 
tile plant. This was in 1889. For a number 
of years they conducted the plant, but it be- 
came a losing venture to them and finally a 
receiver was appointed. In 1899 B. 0. Witter 
and son, R. S., together with Dr. Eldridge, pur- 
chased the entire plant from the Union Na- 
tional Bank at Omaha, and for three years the 
partnership lasted. Then Dr. Eldridge retired 
from the firm and father and son conducted a 
paying and growing business until the fire in 
190(1 

In later years another vein of coal has been 
opened in the land to the west of the town and 
the shaft, owned by Hutchison Brothers, is 
doing a big local business. Their shipping is 
not large because of the inconvenience of load- 
ing, but their fifty ton output is consumed regu- 
larly by wagons from the surrounding country. 
They are now sinking a new shaft to strike one 
of their leads and shorten the haul they are 
now compelled to make under the ground to 
get their coal to the hoisting cages. They have 
gone down forty-five feet of the one hundred 
and five they are to sink. They have a well 
timbered and safe mine — accidents are rare and 
nothing of a serious nature has happened to 
their workmen. They employ an average of 
thirty men including those who work above 
ground, and their payroll will average more 
than $1,000 per month. The payroll of the 
brick plant averages regularly half that 
amount, and both have the added advantage 
of being able to bring into the town the money 
from the outside, never having to pay a large 
per cent of their incomes to wholesalers for their 
product and placing their money in circulation 
entirely through the laboring people. 

The schoolhouse was already built on the 
present site and had been used some time before 
the town started. Some of the early teachers 
were: Geo. Coleman, Tilly Gilliland. Eliza J. 
Ridnour and C. W. Danks. An additional frame 
building was put up in 1895 and the present 
modern brick building in 1906. 



The first teachers of the new building were 
Ruth Hall, Bessie Finley and Gertrude Sas. 
Few unincorporated villages in the state have 
the school buildings and advantages that Daw- 
son possesses. 

The members of the board are: J. W. Ander- 
son, president; W. C. Hutchins, C. S. Francis, 
J. E. Tolle, Joe Roberts. The secretary is U. 
G. Tolle. 

The township officers, for Dawson is not in- 
corporated, are: R. S. Witter, clerk; A. M. 
Doidge, A. C. Fagen and J. D. Lisle, trustees. 
A. Gaskill is postmaster. 

Dr. Eldridge is leader of the Dawson Cornet 
band and the seventeen members are active in 
their practice and proficient in playing. Their 
services are in frequent demand and satisfac- 
tion always attends their efiforts. They have 
erected a band stand on the main street where 
every week in the summer they give open air 
concerts. 

Henry Leighty, the blacksmith, has recently 
patented a simple little attachment for a buggy 
or wagon tongue, which will aid in spreading 
the fame of the town. It is a hook manipulated 
by a spring which holds fast over the neckyoke, 
not allowing it to slip from the tongue. It is 
of the most simple constiniction and perfect in 
its operation. He makes two sizes, one for 
wagons and one for buggies. They are fastened 
to any tongue and will fit any size of neckyoke. 
The beauty of them is shown forth in the little 
effort needed to place them in position and the 
freedom of their operation. About Dawson 
many are in use and they are selling themselves 
everywhere. 

The United Brethren and Methodists are 
both represented. The Methodists have no 
church building yet but hold occasional serv- 
ice in the school building. The United Breth- 
ren membership is very strong and has a good 
church building. It was erected in 1895, the 
charter members being: M. T. Finley, H. F. 
Leighty, J. F. Chapman, Bart White and C. 
E. Brobst, together with their wives. A Sun- 
day school had been organized some time be- 
fore this by Mrs. Prince. M. T. Finley was 



204 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



superintendent of the Sunday school for many 
years after the church was built. The follow- 
ing ministers have served this congregation: 
Rev. Esslick, Wright, Haydeu, Hicks, John- 
son, Stark and Percy. There are about one 
hundred and fifty members and the church 
is full of life. 

The Modern "Woodmen society was organized 
in December, 1890. First ofheers: S. P. Rid-' 
nour, vice council; M. T. Finley, clerk. Pres- 
ent officers: J. B. Eiteman, vice council; R. 5. 
Witter, clerk. The Woodmen lodge is excep- 
tionally strong in numbei-s and financial rat- 
ing. 

The I. 0. 0. F. lodge was organized in 1902. 
First officers: R. S. Witter, noble grand; U. 
G. ToUe, secretary. Mr. Tolle has been secre- 
tary ever since; R. B. Hutchison is the present 
noble grand. 

The Ro3'ul Neighbors were organized in 
1901; Mrs. Bugibee, oracle; Mrs. Finley, re- 
corder. 

The Rebekahs were organized in 1903 and 
under the leadership of Mrs. Bugbee have 
proved to be a valued auxiliary to the I. O. O. F. 

The Witter brick and tile plant was one of 
the strongest business features of the town. 
They were turning out 20,000 brick a day 
and an enormous amount of tile at the time of 
the fire in 1906 which completely destroyed 
the plant. The firm employed from fifteen to 
twenty men and the destruction of the plant 
was a serious loss to the owners and the town. 

Some of the present industries are repre- 
sented by the following: Hutchison Brothers, 
coal mine; ^NI. M. Bugbee. furniture and meat 
market; Mrs. Bugbee, boarding house; Naylor 
& Roberts, general store; G. S. Powlison, gen- 
eral store; F. E. Robison, harness shop; L. S. 
Livingston, restaurant; Roy Leighty, barber 
shop; Ella Black, millinerj'; E. S. Shannon, 
druggist; U. G. Tolle, Neola elevator: R. S. 
Witter, elevator; A. Gaskell, postmaster; 0. K. 
Anderson, railroad agent ; Leighty & Eberhart, 
blacksmith and machine shops; A. F. Brown- 
field, livery; Dr. Eldridge, physician; Bank of 



Dawson, McCammon, president; J. McCrony, 
cashier. 



Bouton is situated on the Milwaukee road 
about five miles to the east of Perry. 
While the population does not exceed one hun- 
dred and fifty, the business done by the thriv- 
ing little place would lead to the belief of a 
much larger town. It is in the midst of the 
rich country which makes all this section noted 
and the wealth and money in circulation is 
far in excess of the average country commun- 
ity. 

The business representation there is what 
would be found in any other town, but the 
stocks of goods are far and away above the 
average. There are in Bouton the following 
firms: 

Dilenbeck Banking Company, Wm. Wolf, 
Thomsen & Lobes, general merchants; H. 
Schnoor & Son, general merchants ; Peter Han- 
sen & Son, furniture and general store; L. E. 
Thornburg, inrplements and blacksmithing ; W. 
Capp, livery; H. P. Seaman, lumber yard; M. 
W. Webster, restaurant; A. Dail, barber; J. W. 
Dissinger, stock buyer; W. R. Grant, manager 
Neola elevator. 

The early history of the town is unique. 
Soon after the Milwaukee road was built 
through here the people along the present 
site of the town commenced to ask for a sta- 
tion. At a mass meeting in a schoolhouse 
Martin O'Malley was appointed a committee 
to see superintendent Campbell of the road and 
secure, if possible, the station. He interviewed 
the official and secured the promise of a depot 
if the people would subscribe and buy for the 
company six acres of land. This was done and 
the railroad put in a side track, but made no 
effort to erect a building for a depot. 

Instead of using the sLx acres they only used 
three, so the unused portion was taken back by 
the grantors. The matter of a depot was fin- 
ally taken before the railway commissioners 
and in an investigation held in the room now 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



205 



occupied by the Schnoor store, it was decided 
that the word station, as the agreement ran, 
included the depot and the company was di- 
rected to build it. 

The depot was built about the fall of 1883 or 
near that time. Allen Breed was buying grain 
and J. H. Moore stock at that time and at 
Bouton they were represented by Wm. Wolf. 
Later Wolf went into business for himself and 
still continues there. 

D. D. Bryan opened tlie fii-st store there 
and later sold it to John P. O'Malley. An in- 
teresting story is told of D. D. Brj^n. He was 
the democratic appointee for postmaster and 
had served his term. The administration 
changed and by rights he should have lost his 
office. There wasn't a single republican to be 
found to take it and he was forced to hold over. 
The store, when sold, carried with it the post- 
office. O'Malley Brothers had it and then 
Thomsen & Lobes. But when Schnoor was 
appointed postmaster he moved the office into 
his store. 

J. C. Bryan platted the town of Bouton and 
the sale of lots and subsequent building has 
brought a number of families who wished to 
give up the active duties of farm life and enjoy 
the ease and quiet of life in a small place. 

The Bouton Columbian Club was organized 
in 1898 and thirty-three shares of stock was 
subscribed for and with money secured for the 
purpose, a two-story building was erected. The 
materials were secured at cost and in all $2,000 
was spent, although the value of the building 
is far in excess of that amount. The lower 
floor is occupied by Thomsen & Lobes, who 
have a well assorted stock, and the second floor 
is the hall of the town and quarters in its turn 
festivities and public meetings. 

This was the big building of the town until 
the Dilenbeck Banking company opened their 
handsome brick home on the corner. This in- 
stitution came into Bouton life for business 
May 15, 1903. W. S. Arthurs was the cashier 
and B. C. Dilenbeck of Perry the president. 
Both officials are still connected with the bank. 
The new building was opened September 1st, 



1904. The business has had a steady growth 
from the start and has brought to the town the 
money which rightfully belongs there and is 
placing it in circulation where it will do the 
greatest possible good. 

Three religious denominations are holding 
services there. The Ohio and the Missouri 
synods of the Lutheran church are represented, 
Rev. Schleanline being the pastor of the latter 
organization. The Methodist pastor is .1. F. 
Hunter. Church is held every two weeks in the 
latter faith and once a month in the Lutheran. 
Sunday school is held each week. While the 
memberships of the different churches are not 
large, they are each willing and anxious to aid 
in the prospering of their church and enthusi- 
astic meetings are held. 



The following excellent write-up of Minburn 
is taken from the Dallas Countv News of July, 
1879: 

This town is a station on the Des Moines & 
Fort Dodge railroad, located on sections 7 and 
8 in Sugar Grove township. It was laid out in 
1869 by J. B. Hill and D. F. Rogers. Among 
the first business men who came to Minburn 
were one Pierce, who kept a boarding house; 
D. F. Rogers, who commenced the sale of lum- 
ber; F. H. Baker, general merchandise; Thom- 
as Ullery, hardware; Wm. Moore, general store; 
F. H. Baker, above mentioned, first postmaster ; 
James Jennings, first ticket and freight agent 
of the D. V. R. R. Co., all in 1869. 

The first meeting of the Methodist Episcopal 
church was held in 1870, Rev. I. Mershon, pas- 
tor. In the summer of 1877 the Methodist 
society erected a neat and substantial chapel, 
thirty by forty-eight feet, which was dedicated 
in the following February. Services are regu- 
larly held in this place by Rev. W. C. Smith, 
pastor, "a man to all the country dear." 

In the summer of 1869 Rev. J. Hestwood 
of Adel organized a small class consisting of 
Rhoda A. Hill, Minnie J. Knowler, Abbie 
Baker and M. J. Newley. Some of the early 



20G 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



pastors were: Rev. D. Lamonte, J. R. Osborne, 
B. F. Shetterly and Wm. Abraham. 

The first services of the Presbyterian church 
were held in 1869, Rev. H. H. Kellogg, Jr., 
pastor. The Presbyterian church, built in the 
summer of 1871, is a good building, twenty- 
eight by forty-two feet. The church at present 
is without an}' regular preaching. The Metho- 
dist and Presbyterian churches each keep a 
good Sabbath school. 

The charter members of the Presbyterian 
church were: Eliza Luellen, Lizzie Lewellen, 
Ruth D. Rogers, J. M. Porterfield, Clara Porter- 
field and AVm. McFarland. Some of the early 
ministers were: Rev. Geo. K. Smith, Wm. 
Reed, P. H. Jacobs, W. H. Goodson and J. M. 
Smith. 

Mr. Charles Aschan has held the position of 
"section boss" since the railroad was first put 
through and is a worthy employe. 

Mr. Luther Gill is the agent of the Des Moines 
& Fort Dodge R. R. Co. here, and a more 
accommodating and gentlemanly railroad agent 
is seldom found. Mr. Gill entered the employ 
of the company in January, 1870, and the 
long time he has served in this capacity is abun- 
dant proof of his ability and worthiness. He 
is an attorney-at-law and a thorough student 
and will doubtless some day be promoted to 
some higher position in the gift of a company 
he has served for well-nigh a decade so faith- 
fully and well. 

Wm. Seidler occupies the same building in 
which he commenced business in January, 
1872. He keeps on hand a good general stock 
in his line, and being a thorough druggist and 
always attending to the business himself, there 
is no danger of poison being given when some 
harmless medicine is called for. School books, 
stationery, wall paper and notions of all kinds 
kept on hand. Try him if you have any oc- 
casion to purchase aught found in a drug store 
and you will not be likely to go away dissatis- 
fied. ' 

Tovey & Gardiner, general merchants, suc- 
cessors to J. Warford, have the largest stock of 
goods in town, consisting of dry goods, grocer- 



ies, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes and all 
other articles found in an establishment of this 
character. Highest market price paid for coun- 
try produce. The main room is twenty by 
forty-five, but with a storage room twenty feet 
long extending back. These gentlemen com- 
menced business here on the fourth of last 
month and have had a constantly increasing 
trade since that time. Will sell as cheap as 
the cheapest and expect to merit the patronage 
of the people. Mr. Tovey of this firm has been 
a resident of Dallas county for twenty-two years, 
is a fine scholar and a young man of much 
promise. His associate in business, Mr. Gardi- 
ner, was, prior to commencing business here, 
a highly respected farmer of Beaver township. 
He is also an old resident of the county. 

Brayton & Brother, hardware dealers, have a 
large stock of goods of the best quality and all 
in good condition. Also handle agricultural 
implements, tinware, pressed tin, pocket and 
table cutlery, pumps etc. The members of this 
firm are known by the public generally to be 
scnipulously exact in all their dealings and 
none in the community stand higher in the 
estimation of their fellow citizens. They are 
determined not to be undersold and are de- 
servedly receiving a large share of patronage. 
If you want anything in their line give them 
a call and you will get the worth of your 
mone}^ 

A. J. Knowles deals in general merchandise, 
and has a store room eighteen by forty feet, 
with a storage room eighteen feet square back 
of this. Keeps on hand a good stock of dry 
goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes, crock- 
ery and everything usually found in a general 
store. Mr. Knowles located here in 1872 in 
his present business and has at all times shown 
himself a consistent, honorable business man. 
He invites the public to give him a call. Go 
once and you will go again. 

Coates & Son, dealers in agricultural imple- 
ments, established themselves here last March 
and have done a wonderful business since that 
time— more than doubling the highest expec- 
tations of the firm. Deal in harvesters, reap- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



20^ 



ers, mowers, threshing machines, wagons, car- 
riages, plows of all kinds, pumps, Glidden wire, 
and in fact everj'thing in this line from a rake- 
tooth up. Are prepared to furnish repairs for 
all kinds of farm machinery. The members 
of this firm are old-time residents of the county 
and having established reputations, it is use- 
less for us' to attempt to say anything in their 
praise, but we will say this, they will not be 
undersold. 

M. Fries keeps a general store. He has re- 
cently located in Minburn with a good stock 
of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, caps, 
crockery, glassware, flour, and in fact, is pre- 
pared to furnish anything that may be called 
far in his line of business. Storeroom, eight- 
een by forty-six feet. Highest market price 
paid for country produce. Mr. Fries offers his 
goods for sale at bottom prices, and is already 
drawing a fair share of custom. Call and see 
him before you buy. 

M. W. Gribben, grain dealer, came here in 
February, 1878. He occupies the Warford 
warehouse and is doing a large business. Pays 
at all times the highest price for grain. He is 
a conscientious, straightforward man and is 
destined to play an important part in the grain 
trade of this section at a no distant date. Mr. 
Griljben is justice of the peace here and fills 
■ the office witli honor to himself and credit to 
his constituency. 

Mat. Crawford is a dealer in grain and live 
stock. Mr. Crawford estalilished himself here 
in 1878, previous to which time he carried on 
a farm in Beaver township. Pays the highest 
price for grain and stock. Does a large and 
prosperous business. He is an energetic busi- 
ness man and is highly esteemed by his fellow 
townsmen. 

Gill House, opened by Marcus Gill in 1874, 
is one of the best hotels on the railroad. This 
house is so well known by the traveling public 
that it is useless for us to make anj' comments. 
Always quiet and orderly and everything neat 
and clean. Frank Knowles, the present proprie- 
tor, took charge of this house about a year ago 
and succeeds fiilly in maintaining its old-time 



reputation. Frank is a genial, accommodating 
host and his lady, the hostess, is in every way 
eminently fitted for the position she occupies. 
Mr. Gill, the owner of the house, is a man who 
has been, and is, largely identified with the 
interest of Minburn. He has, by industry and 
economy, accumulated a fair share of this 
world's goods. He is also a man rich in char- 
acter, and commands the highest respect and 
esteem of all. 

The postoffice was recently moved into Bray- 
ton & Brothers' hardware store, C. V. Brown, 
postmaster. This is a position of considerable 
importance to the public and one that could 
not be better filled than by the present incum- 
bent. Always in his place and ever attentive 
to his duty as an officer. Also keeps school 
books, stationery and notions of all kinds for 
safe at the lowest prices. Mr. Brown came to 
Minburn in 1872, and from that time until 
recently, clerked for John Warford, who has 
lately moved to Dallas Center. He is uni- 
versally honored and respected by all who know 
him, and is the right man in the right place. 

F. J. Edmundson, blacksmith, is supplied 
with material and fully prepared to do all kinds 
of work. Is prepared with grindstones for pol- 
ishing, and gives particular attention to plow 
work. Mr. Edmundson is one of the pioneer 
citizens of Minburn and invites his old friends 
and new acquaintances to give him a call, 
promising to render complete satisfaction. 

Osborne Brothers opened a lumber yard here 
in 1875. They keep a full stock of lumber of 
all kinds constantly on hand and at the lowest 
figures. These gentlemen also own and operate 
a steam .saw mill with a planing mill attached. 
They are good mechanics and do an extensive 
business. As citizens they stand high in the 
estimation of the community. 

W. M. Mitchell deals in family and fancy 
groceries, hardware, tinware, etc. He has a 
good stock of goods and sells at the lowest liv- 
ing prices. Will pay the highest market price 
for butter, eggs, and all other kinds of country 
produce. Mrs. Mitchell has a millinery store 
in connection with the above and keeps on hand 



208 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



a good stock of goods ia her line. Ladies, give 
her a ctdl before buying. 

EdTN'ard Griebler manufactures Ivunber 
wagons, buggies, etc. All kinds of repairing 
done. All work warranted and complete 
satisfaction guaranteed throughout. ]Mr. Grieb- 
ler is a first-class workman and anyone 
desirous of purchasing or repairing any- 
thing of the kind will manifest wisdom by giv- 
ing him a call before letting the work. Will 
work cheap. 

J. E. Welch is a blacksmith. This shop con- 
tains everything necessary to good work, and 
Mr. AVelch understands his business and attends 
to it. Makes a specialty of ironing wagons and 
buggies, and in conjunction with Mr. Greibler, 
last above named, turns out some splendid 
work. He beheves that "resumption" is a suc- 
cess and is ready to do business on a specie basis. 
Look him over before you invest. 

E. R. Aiken, physician and surgeon, located 
here in 1869. He is one of the most successful 
physicians in the county ; has a large and con- 
stantly increasing practice. Mr. Aiken is one 
of. the pioneer professional men of Minburn and 
none holds a higher place in the confidence and 
esteem of his fellow citizens. Office at Wm. 
Seidler's drug store. 

John Gillam keeps an orderly and well-regu- 
lated hotel. No tired or hungry traveler need 
pass without being refreshed; receives a fair 
share of patronage. Mr. Gillam and his esti- 
mable lady spare no pains to make their patrons 
comfortable. 

W. H. Beagle, dealer in live stock, came here 
last winter; will pay the highest market price 
for stock at all times. He has already gained 
the confidence of the people of the surround- 
ing country and is doing a good share of the 
business in his line. See him before you sell. 

A restaurant is kept by Joel Cushman. Warm 
meals, ice cream, lemonade, fancy candies 
and ever5rthing to be found in a place of this 
kind at bed-rock prices. 

John Oakland has a livery and feed stable; 
keeps a stable well stocked with good horses, 
buggies, etc., and is ever ready to supply the 



traveling public at lowest prices. Mr. Oak- 
land came to Minburn in an early day and has 
grown with its growth and strengthened with 
its strength. 

There is a boot and shoe shop kept by P. 
Flynn. He is ani experienced woi'kman and 
can and does do good work. Has a good stock 
of boots and shoes for sale at the very lowest 
prices. Mr. Flynn is one of the early settlers 
of the place. 

A meat market is kept by N. Lane, who is 
well versed in the business, buys good stock 
and is always ready to supply his customers 
with a good article. 

Among the residences in Minburn. those of 
Luther Gill and Dr. E. R. Aiken are the finest. 

This is not an independent school district 
yet, but efforts are being made in that direc- 
tion which will doubtless culminate ere long 
in its severance from the balance of the town- 
ship, thereby greatly improving its condition. 
Much interest is taken in school matters here. 

This town has a temperance club of one hun- 
dred and sixty members and has been in active 
operation for over a year, and although one 
saloon yet struggles for life, much good has 
been done in educating and arousing the pub- 
lic mind to a realization of the evil influences 
and terrible effects of the use of alcoholic 
drinks. 

Captain A. J. Lyon lives on his large farm 
southeast of town about two miles. Captain is 
getting his farm in good shape for raising 
stock. 

W. W. Mortimer owns and resides upon his 
farm about two and a half miles east; raises 
good stock and knows how to take care of it. 

S. G. Birdsall, a few miles northwest, has a 
good farm. No man brings better stock into 
the market than Mr. Birdsall. 

D. F. Rogers owns a large farm just east of 
town which he carries on with considerable in- 
terest. Mr. Rogers is one of the first literary 
men in the county. 

John Scott, about two miles southeast, carries 
on a good farm, and is one of the most suc- 
cessful hog raisers in the township. 




JIKUl SCHOOL— I'KURY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



211 



These are but a few of the many worthy of 
mention, but time and space forbid us going 
farther. Minburn is situated in a good farm- 
ing country and special inducements are held 
out to those who wish to invest in land or real 
estate of any kind. Good society, which is 
always the outgrowth of good school and 
church privileges, can be enjoyed here. 

All things taken into consideration, the 
town and surrounding country are on the di- 
rect road to prosperity and anyone wishing to 
procure a happy home with the added privi- 
lege of engaging in some remunerative business 
.should by all means visit Minburn before lo- 
cating. 

Minburn at one time had a steam saw mill 
with a capacity of from 3,000 to 6,000 feet. 

They also had a planing mill in connection 
with their saw mill and for many years had a 
large trade. 

Minburn today will compare very favorably 
with the best towns of its size in the state. It 
is surrounded by land worth more than one 
hundred dollars an acre. It has hustling busi- 
ness men and a thriving trade is carried on. 

The Minburn Criterion, a bright and newsy 
pa])er. is printed by R. E. Zerwekh. 



Linden is an incorporated town with a popu- 
lation of three hundred and fifty, and is located 
on the Milwaukee road, in the south part of 
Linn township. It was started in 1879, at the 
time the Des Moines, Adel & Western Railway 
was built through the township. 

The land was owned by Elisha Evans and 
Matt Burnham. The first dwelling house was 
built by Jas. Lord, and the first business houses 
by Lew Manor and Billy Smith. 

Dr. Payne was the first doctor and is still 
a resident of Linden. He has had a large and 
lucrative practice during these years and has 
established an enviable reputation as a success- 
ful practitioner. He is a brother of Joe Payne, 
deceased, so well and favorably known nil over 
Dallas county. Dr. Payne ha.s. by carei'ul 



investments, accunmlated a competence and 
does not devote himself so strenuously now 
to his profession as in former years. 

Dr. Mallory also came to Linden about the 
time of its origin and has found the place so 
congenial that he has made it his home ever 
since. He has reached that state of opulence 
tliat allows him to make his calls in an auto- 
mobile. He is connected with his brother in 
the drug business, forming the Mallory Drug 
Company. 

Dr. Cleveland is a new resident of Linden 
but is building up a very satisfactory practice. 

One of the pioneers of Linden is Thos. Hoyt. 
In partnership with Dan Moorman and later 
with Henry Howell, he was actively engaged 
in the general merchandise business many 
years. Three years ago he reached the goodly 
age of threescore and ten, and he stated at 
that time that he had worked long enough and 
that younger hands would have to do the work 
he had done so long and so well. 

He is especially well known in Dallas and 
]ieighboring counties by reason of his devotion 
to masonry and his proficiency in the ritualistic 
work of that order. 

Of venerable appearance and pleasing in- 
tonation, he has greatly strengthened the re- 
spect for this society and impresses everyone 
with the sincerity of his devotion. 

Tom Thornburg, residing near Linden, 
came to this vicinity in 1856 and can certainly 
claim the title of pioneer. He is now a pros- 
perous stockraLser ; has represented Dallas 
county in the legislature and has held numer- 
ous positions of honor and trust. We are in- 
debted to Mr. Thornburg for much informa- 
tion concerning Linden. 

The Friends church of Linden was organ- 
ized in 1882 in schoolhouse No. 5 on the farm 
of Rev. A. W. Holloway. The charter mem- 
bers were : A. W. Holloway and wife, L. J. 
Holloway, J. F. AVillis and wife, Ann Willis, 
Thomas and Elizabeth Howell, Henry and 
Emma Howell and their infant daughter, Nel- 
lie yi. In 1883 the now church house was built 
iiiul finished about December 1st. 



212 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Barclay Jones of \A'aukee and Cyrus True- 
blood began a series of meetings which was 
very successful. Many souls were blessed and 
saved and many added to the church. Many 
have since been joined to the church. Many 
have moved away. At the present time the 
church membership is one hundred and four, 
with Sabbath school and Christian Endeavor. 
The church is also constantly contributing to 
mission work, both home and foreign. The 
church property now consists of church, par- 
sonage and out-buildings, valued at about 
$2,000. 

The Christian church of Linden was organ- 
ized in the spring of 1892 by Piev. A. C. Burn- 
ham. A good frame building was erected the 
following summer. Had about thirty charter 
members, among whom were: C. R. Johnson 
and wife, A. C. Burnham and wife, J. T. Ellis 
and wife, H. P. Broady and wife, John Mosher 
and wife, Mrs. Mattie Lilly and othei-s whose 
names cannot now be recalled. The dedica- 
tory sermon was preached by Rev. D. M. Hel- 
finstein, who was then president of Palmer col- 
lege for ten years. 

The present membership is something over 
one hundred. Have a good Sunday school, 
Christian Endeavor and Ladies Aid Society. 
The church property — church and parsonage 
—is worth about $3,000. 

Rev. A. C. Burnham preached here for seven 
years. Other ministers were: D. M. Helfin- 
stein, J. Grafton, Alonzo Thomas and R. A. 
Lewis, the present pastor. 

The present officers of Active lodge No. 529, 
F. & A. M., of Linden, are : E. C. Jacoby. W. 
M.; F. B. Miller, S. D.; M. G. Thomburg, J. 
D.; J. E. Hall, secretary; H. M. Lisle, treas- 
urer; J. D. Coffman, S. W.; E. M. Harden, 
J. W. 

This lodge was organized in 1892 and the 
first officers were: Thos. Hoyt, W. M. (for ten 
years) ; R. Moorman, S. W. ; "Wesley Wright, 
J. W.; T. A. Thomburg, secretary. 

Linden lodge No. 428, I. 0. 0. F., has a 
membership of sixty-three and is in good finan- 
cial condition. The following officers have 



been chosen for 1907 : L. Logston, N. G. ; C. 
W. Murry, V. G. ; C. R. Johnson, treasurer; 
Irvin Parker, secretary; I. N. Doyel, C. E. 
Summy, Ed. Cave, trustees. 

The Linden Guidon was edited by Aaron 
Smith, E. B. Crosswait and H. B. Tawney. 
John Coffman conducted a paper a .short time, 
when the entire plant was destroyed by fire. 
The present paper, a five-column quarto, is 
edited by C. E. Sinclair. 

The present brick schoolhouse was built in 
1892 at a cost of $4,000. The first school build- 
ing, a two-story frame, was burned down about 
fifteen years ago. 

The teachers for 1907 were: W. H. Kent, 
principal; Mary McMullen, grammar room; 
Olive Orton, intermediate ; Mrs. Florida Smith, 
primary. 

The first bank was formed in 1890, called 
the Farmers and Merchants Bank, with the 
following directors : E. Johnson, Chas. John- 
son, Thos. Hoyt, Sam Manor, T. A. Thorn- 
burg. The bank was sold the following year 
to Russell and Roberts and was later organized 
by Geo. Messenger as the Linden Savings Bank. 

The ]\Iethodist Episcopal church was the 
first one in town. This was moved in from the 
country, one mile east of town. 

The town is incorporated and has for its 
mayor, C. M. Dille ; clerk, J. A. Mallory. 

REDFIELD. 

Redfield is situated on the Milwaukee rail- 
road between Adel and Linden and is one of 
the oldest towns in the county. 

It was named in honor of Colonel Jas. Red- 
field, the brave and efficient colonel of the 39th 
Iowa, who was killed at Altoona in that mem- 
orable conflict' with the confederate soldiers. 
Colonel Redfield was an accomplished man and 
was honored by the Dallas county electoi-s in 
numerous positions of honor and trust. He mar- 
ried Miss Achsah Moore, who survived him 
nearly forty years. 

The first settler was David Daily, who came 
in the '403 and settled on section 4, part of 
which is now included in the town plat. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



213 



In 1850 the Cavenaugh brothers, Patrick, 
Thos. and Michael, purchased the Daily claim 
and entered land adjoining, on which they laid 
out a town and named it New Ireland. 

The town was surveyed and platted by O. D. 
Snialley, county surveyor. On lot 8, block 
2, the Cavenaughs built a hewed log house, 
eighteen by twenty-four, of somewhat more pre- 
tentious style and comfort than ordinary. They 
also built a saw mill on the present site of the 
Redfield mill. 

Thos. Camjjbell and Macy Maulsby erected 
the first stores and carried a general stock of 
goods. 

In March, 1860, the town being then fairly 
well started, Macy Maulsby and others peti- 
tioned the court to change the name from New 
Ireland to Redfield. This petition was granted 
in the following August by Judge Thornburgh, 
and attested by Cole Noel, clerk. 

A short distance south of Redfield a few 
dwelling houses and deserted streets mark the 
site of Wiscotta, at one time quite a lively 
town and a formidable rival of Redfield. 

Colonel Redfield, Mr. Wright, Noel and 
Lyon, Chance and Miller had stores and did 
quite a business. 

There were fifteen or twenty dwellings there 
a quarter of a century ago, a two-room school, 
taught by Lucy Shephard, principal, and Dora 
Sales, assistant, with an attendance of eighty 
pupils. 

The Friends had a meeting-house just east 
of the village. Horner's mill, which has been 
described, was located near Wiscotta. 

The fir.st postoffice was established at Red- 
field, which was located on the old stage road 
from Davenport to Council Bluff's, and called 
McKay. It was moved to Wiscotta in 1858 and 
conducted by Ira A. Smith until 1860, when 
it was moved back to Redfield and given the 
same name as that town. 

The town was laid out by Colonel Redfield 
before the tract of land was bought by the 
Cavenaughs. About the close of the war, when 
the main travel had been established on a 
trail a mile north, the stores and business 



houses were moved to Redfield and Wiscotta 
fell into the state described by a former presi- 
dent of the United States, as "innocuous desue- 
tude." 

PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

The present school building was constructed 
in 1867 at a cost of $3,200. The names of two 
of the early teachers, Ida Twichell and Maggie 
Mitchell, have been preserved. 

The teachers for 1907 were: E. J. Pollock, 
principal; Clara Harper, grammar teacher; 
Inez Wilcox, intermediate; Delia Rust, pri- 
mary; Nora Garland, assistant primary. 

The town has now outgrown the present 
building and plans are on foot to erect a large 
modern building. 

Among the pastors of the First Methodist 
Episcopal church of Redfield, since 1885, were 
the following: 

Rev. T. A. Lampman, 1885 to 1888; 0. D. 
Ellett, 1888 to 1892; Benjamin Shinn, 1892 
to 1896; T. W. Tippet, 1896 to 1897; C. H. 
Miller, 1897 to 1898; F. G. Clark, 1898 to 
1900 ; G. W. Ladd, 1900 to 1902 ; L. E. Bald- 
win, 1902 to 1903; Frank Winter, 1903 to 
1904 ; Victor AVest, 1905 to 1906; T. J. McKay, 
1906 and 1907. 

The membership of this church is one hun- 
dred and forty; A Sunday school with an en- 
rollment of eighty-five; also an Epworth 
League and a Junior Society and a Ladies' Aid 
Society. Rev. Mr. McKay serves also the 
churches at Linden and Colfax Center. The 
Linden church has a membership of eighty- 
five. The same pastors have mostly served the 
Redfield and Linden churches. The Linden 
church also has a Sunday school, Epworth 
League and Ladies' Aid societies. At Colfax 
Center they just have preaching services, but 
own a church building worth about $1,500. 
The Linden church property is worth about 
$4,000; frame building. The Redfield church 
property is worth about $5,000 or more. 

The Christian church of Redfield was organ- 
ized in 1862 by J. C. White, minister, who 



214 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



was then a resident of Adel. The following 
were charter members of the church: Mrs. 
Dr. Maulsby, LeRoy Lambert and wife, Abe 
Burnham and wife, J. M. McLucas and wife, 
Irwin Maulsby and wife, David Daly and wife. 

The first preaching was done by J. C. White 
in an old schoolhouse, which continued in that 
way about two years. The church gradually 
grew in numbers until the winter of 1864-65. 
They built a meeting-house, principally out 
of native lumber, which was taken out of the 
timber near Redfield and sawed there. The lum- 
ber for the seats was hauled by wagon from 
Des Moines. The house will seat about two 
hundred persons, but is not now large enough 
to accommodate the people who attend when 
there is regular preaching. There is no settled 
minister at the present time. Amongst the min- 
isters who have preached here were: J. C. 
White, James Gaston, J. Mad Williams, Isaac 
Errett, J. A. Walters, A. I. Hobbs, Messrs. 
Stout, Close, Swain and others of good ability. 

There are about one hundred and fifty per- 
sons enrolled as members, and a Sunday school 
of about eighty members. There is also a 
Christian Endeavor society and a Junior En- 
deavor and a Ladies' Aid society. Of the char- 
ter members still residing in Redfield, there are 
only two, namely, Mr. J. M. McLucas and wife. 

The officers of the Redfield Savings bank 
are: W. D. Scott, president; D. S. Patty, vice- 
president; J. J. Mahoney, cashier; and the 
capital stock is $10,000. The bank was organ- 
ized in August, 1901, with the present officers 
except cashier. The first cashier was Edgar 0. 
Winter, who served until February, 1903, 
when Mr. J. J. Mahoney was made the cashier 
and continues as such to the present time. The 
bank is in a healthy and prosperous condition 
with a steadily increasing business. 

State Bank of Redfield has a capital of $25,- 
000. Its officers are : S. M. Holmes, president; 
C. H. Tanner, vice-president; G. W. Curtis, 
cashier; Geo. W. Curtis, Jr., assistant cashier. 

This bank started in 1892 with a capital of 
$10,000, as the Bank of Redfield, with Mr. S. 
M. Holmes, president, and G. W. Curtis, cash- 



ier. Continued under that name until Febru- 
ary 1st, 1907, having added $6,000 to their 
surplus. On the first day of February they 
organized the State Bank of Redfield, increas- 
ing the capital to $25,000, and taking in as 
additional stockholders: C. H. Tanner, J. M. 
Kennedy, G. W. Arnifield and Geo. W. Cur- 
tis, Jr. Their present handsome brick building 
was built in 1892 and the business gradually in- 
creased until they found it necessary to add 
twenty feet to the length of the room. Mr. 
Holmes resides in Des Moines. In 1894 this 
bank laid out an addition to the town of Red- 
field called East Oak Park addition, and it has 
all been built up with residences. Also was 
largely instrumental in encouraging the erec- 
tion of a cold-storage building in the town. 

Our information in reference to early news- 
papei-s is somewhat meager. 

The Review was started in May, 1904, by a 
stock company, with C. G. Brown as editor. 
Mr. Brown had conducted the paper under 
the name of the Clipper from 1889 to 1904. 
In 1905 the company engaged G. V. Whaley 
to edit the Review. He was followed by John 
D. Coffman, and in February, 1907, Mr. C. G. 
Brown again took hold as editor and is get- 
ting out a bright, wide-awake paper and in- 
creasing the already large circulation each 
month. 

Among the old settlers still living are Pleas- 
ant Parker and wife, who came in 1855 ; J. M. 
McLucas and wife, 1858 ; Thos. Scott, a pioneer 
of 1855. Others are : Eva Dyer, Mrs. Foster, 
B. F. Raber and wife. 

The Dallas county's reunion of old settlers 
is held annually at Redfield in mid-summer. 
This is a celebrated event and people attend in 
crowds from all parts of the county. 

Old timers get together and live over again 
the scenes of early days. The annual renewal 
of these friendships is looked forward to with 
much pleasure. 

The visitors are given a royal welcome by 
the citizen? who very properly appreciate the 
presence of the venerable pioneers. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



215 



Exercises are held in the town park and 'd 
pleasant program is provided. 

Each year finds the ranks of the first settlers 
depleted in numbers by the hand of death. 

Many children born in this county in an 
early day and grown up here, are still com- 
paratively vigorous and arc now classed among 
the old settlers. 

MR. AND MRS IRWIN MAULSBY. 

Among the oldest settlers of Dallas county 
are Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Maulsby of Des Moines. 
While their home is in that place, they still 
have business interests in Redfield, where they 
have practically lived all- their lives and have 
seldom missed being present at the annual re- 
unions. 

Mr. and Mrs. Maulsby were both born in In- 
diana and came to Iowa among the first of the 
Hoosiers emigrating westward. Mr. Maulsby was 
born October 3rd, 1834. and came to Iowa in 
1852. For a time he worked on his father's 
farm, assisting in the building of the house 
' and well and splitting rails for fences, and then 
came to Redfield, or Irish town, as it was then 
called. He served as a clerk for a time and fin- 
ally bought out the business. He was post- 
master for a number of years when the mail 
was carried by the old-fashioned stage coach. 
When the stage would arrive he would look 
over all the mail, pick out what belonged here 
and send the rest on. During war time as he 
was distributing mail he would read the names 
as he came to them and if the party was pres- 
ent, he would say "here" and by the time the 
mail was sorted, there would be none left to 
put in the boxes. The store was always known 
as "Maulsby's Store" and it has retained it to 
the present time. This store was established 
August 8th, 1857, and remained under his 
active-management until 1893, when, on ac- 
count of his health, he found it necessary to 
retire from active management, though he 
still is senior member of the firm. His son, 
W. E. Maulsby, is active manager at the pres- 
ent time. 



When Mr. Maulsby first came to Redfield it 
was a village of one or two buildings and he 
has watched it grow to its present proportions. 
He owns real estate in and near Redfield and at 
Des Moines.. 

Mrs. Maulsby's maiden name was Pantha 
Caldwell. She was born July 6th, 1841, and 
came to Iowa in her girlhood days from Indi- 
ana with her father, William Caldwell. She 
was married to Mr. Maulsby in September, 
1861. They lived in Redfield until fifteen 
years ago, when they moved to Des Moines, 
i.heir present home. 

Besides the son mentioned there is a 
daughter Grace. Her husband, I. A. Hall, is 
engaged in the mercantile business at Lenox, 
Iowa. 

WISCOTTA MASONIC LODGE. 

J. H. Mills had an entertaining historical 
sketch of the Wiscotta Masonic lodge in the 
Redfield Clipper. We take the following para- 
graphs therefrom : 

They held their meeting June 14th, 1859, 
with J. W. McPherson as W. M.; Colin Mar- 
shall, S. W.; John Puffer, J. W.; M. J. Mar- 
shall, treasurer; J. M. McLucas, secretary; El- 
wood Lindly, S. D. ; Elwood A. Barnett, J. D. ; 
A. E. Smith, tyler; with members pi-esent, M. 
L. Mills, Wm. Thornburg, Ira Barnett and T. 
E. Harbour. Nine of these old worthies have 
long since heard the sound of gavel wielded by 
the hand of the Supreme Grand Master, and 
are today sitting in that grand lodge where 
refreshment is the order and labor is unknown. 
The other three are here yet calmly waiting 
for that welcome summons: "Well done thou 
good and faithful servants, enter thou into the 
joys of thy Master." One of these three, Broth- 
er McLucas, still meets with us, and we might 
stop here long enough to remark that no Mason 
in Iowa has a better record for attendance than 
he. Out of forty-five years in Masonry fifteen 
nights will cover his absence. 

Their first meeting was held upstairs in the 
l)uilding now owned and occupied by David 



216 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Martin, but llicn the residence of Colonel James 
Redfield, at that time a member of Pioneer 
lodge, Des Moines, Iowa. Their next meeting 
was held in what is familiarly known to the 
older citizens of this place as the old Stone 
building. Their meeting night was Friday 
night until December 14th, 1861, when they 
changed to Saturday night. They continued 
to meet in the old Stone building until it was 
considered unsafe, when thej' moved into a 
room in a house owned by Dr. Nelson. Their 
next move was July 19, 1862, when they met 
in a storeroom in Redfield, owned by Israel 
Redfield. It seems from as careful a perusal 
of the records as our limited time would give 
us that there was a skipping around for one 
or two years of Wiscotta lodge, as per order of 
the grand master to do the best they could 
while deeming the old Stone building unsafe. 
The Bible that has lain on the altar of the Wis- 
cotta lodge for forty-three years was a present 
from Colonel Redfield, who changed his mem- 
bership from Pioneer lodge to Wiscotta lodge 
about 1860. For a number of year? after its 
organization Wiscotta lodge grew at a rapid 
rate, and had we the time, we would be pleased 
to give you the names of all the members taken 
in from 1859 until 1864. Suffice to say they 
number some of the best men who ever lived 
in Dallas, Guthrie, Adair and Madison coun- 
ties. 

The present officers of Wiscotta lodge axe: 
G. M. Hollett, W. M.; W. E. Dixon, S. W. ; 
H. F. Chance, J. W.; G. W. Curtis, treasurer; 
T. C. Chance, secretarj'; W. C. Godwin, S. D.; 
Hiram Cahow. J. D. ; 0. W. Hollett, tyler; 
E. M. Maulsby, S. ; T. H. Short, J. S. ; George 
Chapman, M.; C. E. Cave, M. W. ; J. M. Mc- 
Lucas, chaplain. 

The officers of Redfield Chapter, No. 141, 
O. E. S., are: Mary Cave, worthy matron; J. 
D. Coffman, worthy patron; Jennie Maulsby, 
A. M. ; Robert Godwin, Jr., treasurer; Ethel 
Hollett, secretary; Mrs. J. D. Coffman, Cond.; 
Mary Hollett, Asso. Cond.; Roxie Nelson, 
Adah; Alice Godwin, Ruth; Sarah Mills, Es- 
ther; Pearl Nelson, Martha; Emma Nelson, 



Electa; Mrs. T. J. Cunningham, warden; 0. W. 
Hollett, sentinel; Anna Parker, chaplain; W. 
C. Godwin, marshal. 

The Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 346, is 
one of the strongest lodges of Knights in the 
county. The membership is large and the de- 
gree work is exemplified in an unusually able 
manner. The members are enthusiastic and 
often go to neighboring towns to assist in degree 
work. The present officers are: W. H. Hatha- 
way, C. C; E. SpiUers, V. C; H. E. Squires, 
K. R. S.; M. V. Leeper, treasurer; W. S. Stotts, 
M. F. ; L. D. Ford, prelate. 

BIG BL.\ZE AT REDFIELD IN MARCH, 1900. 
From The Clipper. 

The long anticipated and oft prophesied ca- 
lamity has happened in Redfield in the total 
destruction by fire at an early hour on last 
Sunday morning of the entire row of frame 
business houses fronting on Thomas street and 
extending from First to Second, the Park 
House being the only building saved from the 
holocaust. 

From 1:00 to 1:30 a. m. a blaze was dis- 
covered by Dr. Thornburg issuing from the 
Reynolds building, occupied by Jeffries Broth- 
ers with a racket stock. The location is mid- 
way between First and Second streets, and 
although the alarm was quickly given, and 
readily responded to by our citizens, the fire 
spread both right and left with such lightning 
like rapidity that the workers soon had to 
abandon the efforts to remove the goods from 
the burning buildings and turn their attention 
to the saving of the adjacent property which 
was in imminent danger. By the most heroic 
efforts with willing hands to carry the water 
and aided by the half dozen chemical extin- 
guishers belonging to the town, the Redfield 
Hotel, across the street from the Bandy build- 
ing, was saved, though it burst into flames at 
one time. The Park House, which -was in 
imminent danger, was saved in like manner 
and by tearing away Shephard's barber shop. 

On the opposite side df the street men 
climbed to the roofs of the buildings and with 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



•zi-; 



the chemicals and water kept the house fronts 
so saturated that they did not ignite, but much 
damage was done by the intense tieat. The 
liai-mon buildings are so blackened and the 
paint removed. The elegant plate glass front 
of Forsythe's pharmacy is ruined and their 
loss is $250 or more. The large glass in the 
Hobnes & Curtis brick was melted. Their 
loss is $200 or more. The total loss is esti- 
mated at $12,000 to $15,000, with only $3,000 
insurance. This disparity is explained by the 
fact that this has long been considered a sort 
of fire trap and insurance companies were not 
willing to take the risks except at extremely 
high rates. In two or three cases the insur- 
ance had expired and the parties liad hesitated 
about renewing — just the time when fire de- 
lights to go abroad. It never catches a sensible 
man napping but once. 

The origin of the fire is more or less a matter 
of speculation. Those first on the scene are 
certain that it was then confined wholly to 
the building occupied by Jeffries Brothers. Mr. 
Bert Jeffries had just completed the work of 
removing his family and household goods from 
that building to the Lank residence. He had 
but one stove going in the house and as all 
remember the summer like weather of that day, 
the fire in that stove had not been replenished 
since 10 a. m. His word is as good as gold in 
this town. Several members of the Masonic 
order passed the place on their way home from 
lodge as late as 10:30 p. m. and saw nothing 
out of the ordinary. In view of the fact that 
periodical and apparently systematic attempts 
have heretofore been made to destroy this town 
by the fire brand, is it presuming too much to 
presume that this final successful attempt has 
been made by a demon in human form? If 
that be true, then all of hell's furnaces com- 
bined are not hot enough to punish the mis- 
creant of a wretch who touched off the blaze 
of last Saturday night. 

Beginning with the Bandy corner, the losses 
are as follows: 

J. L. Bandy, two buildings, loss on build- 
ings, $2,000, on merchandise stock $3,000. tn- 



tal insurance $1,500. Mr. Bandy had just 
made the sale of his business to Mr. A. Stone 
and was to have begun invoicing Monday. 

The Clipper, upstairs in Bandy building. 
Total loss $1,000. Insurance expired and re- 
newal delayed pending removal to new location. 
(The presses, type and everything, except the 
editor, in pi among the potatoes in the base- 
ment.) 

Redfield Harness & Saddlery Company, in 
Bandy building. Loss $500. No insurance. 

Fred Harper, meat market. Loss $800, no 
insurance. Building owned by Thomas & 
Spillers, no insurance. 

Jeffries Brothers, loss $1,000, insurance $600. 

E. F. Stiles, grocer, loss $1,000, insurance 
$600. 

Betz & Spillers, grocers, loss $500, fully in- 
sured. 

Peppard block, loss $1,000. 

E. L. Scott building, loss $1,000, no insur- 
ance. 

Drug aUK-k of C. B. Walsh in Scott building, 
loss $1,000, insured for $600. 

C. "W. and H. V. Keefer, insurance expired; 
most of stock removed; loss on building, $1,200. 

The Sheppard barber shop building, owned 
by J. Winter, was pulled down to assist in the 
work of saving the Park House. The loss is 
perhaps $100. 

The Park House furnishings and also the 
personal effects of Mrs. W. A. Smith, living 
next door south, were all removed to avoid dan- 
ger. The residence of Mrs. P. A. Burns, nearly 
a block distant, was ignited by burning embers, 
but the fire was discovered and extinguished. 
A most fortunate circumstance is that there 
was no wind blowing, otherwise the loss would 
have been far greater. 

BOONEVILLE. 

Booncville is a small village five miles east 
of Van Meter, on the Rock Island railroad. 

The Boones were early settlers of this vicin- 
ity and the land upon which the town is built 
was owned by Mrs. Susannah Boone, wife of 
Wm. D. Boone. The township and town were 



218 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



named in honor of Mr. Boone, and their de- 
scendants are still numerous in this neighbor- 
hood. 

The town was laid out in 1871 by A. J. Lyon, 
sun-eyor, and the fii-st house was built by 
Geo. Baldwin. The village became a noted 
shipping point for cordwood and railroad ties. 
It developed into quite a thriving little place 
and was incorporated. It has not made the 
growth in recent years i^roportionate with 
other towns of the county, but the stores, bank, 
blacksmith shop and station do considerable 
business and are managed by capable men. 

Thirty years ago the business houses were 
represented as follows : 

W. H. Baldwin, general merchandise and 
postofRce; J. Winter, drugs and notions; Dr. 
Tidball and Morgan, physicians; Mr. Jones, 
proprietor of hotel; S. H. Bronson, stock 
dealer ; S. M. Cook, blacksmith ; Jones & Bald- 
win, wagon and blacksmith shop; J. V. Pace, 
wagon maker. 

There is a Methodist EpiscQpal church or- 
ganization and a good building. The pastor. 
Rev. Harwood. of Van Meter, supplies this 
charge. 

Forest Lodge No. 292, I. 0. 0. F., was or- 
ganized in October, 1874, with eleven members, 
as follows: 

L. Lambert. 0. Guernsy. S. S. Parker, Adam 
Heck, F. M. Evans, J. B. Harper, H. McCon- 
nell, Joe Winter, D. H. Fitch, E. Treefry and 
D. M. Flinn. 

First officers were : L. Lambert, N. G. ; S. S. 
Parker, V. G. ; J. Winter, Sec. 



Waukee is located in the south part of Wal- 
nut township, seven miles east of Adel, at the 
crossing of the Milwaukee and M. & St. L. 
railroads. 

No better land can be found in the state 
than that which surrounds Waukee. 

The town was laid out in 1869 by L. A. 
Grant, who then owned the land upon which 
the town stands. He built the first house near 



where the water tank now stands. W. J. John- 
son established the first general store. The 
town was incorporated in 1878, B. F. Halstead, 
G. S. Whalen, M. Sines, C. C. Taylor and C. F. 
M. Clark were appointed the committee on cor- 
poration and corporation election. 

The fii'st officers were : Mayor, C. F. Howe ; 
recorder, W. E. Humphrey; assessor, J. E. 
Huston; mai"shal, Samuel Shearer. Council- 
men : C. C. Tyler, P. Hogan, A. T. Blackman, 
W. Wood, T. Bates, C. F. M. Clark. 

The first postoffice was established in Octo- 
ber, 1869, with W. J. Johnson, postmaster; the 
present postmaster is M. F. Danforth. 

The population in 1905 was 340 ; the present 
mayor, Fred Whiting. 

The Waukee Savings bank was organized in 
April, 1900. , It has a capital of $10,000 and 
its present officers are: H. E. Teachout, presi- 
dent; H. L. Leonard, vice-president; H. M. 
Whinnery, cashier; J. R. Whinnery, assistant 
cashier. Directors: B. F. Jones, W. G. Harvi- 
son, H. L. Leonard, Dr. Geo. McMahon. S. C. 
Brumfield, H. M. Whinnery. 

Bank of Waukee was organized in 1901. It 
has a responsibility of $500,000. Does a 
general banking business. The officers are: 
S. M. Leach, president; Brenton Brothers, vice- 
presidents; S. F. Faft, cashier; E. R. Burkett, 
assistant cashier. 

One of the important industries that have 
^^'aukee for their shipping point is the Central 
Nursery, operated by N. C. Wragg, one of the 
hustling business men of the county, who not- 
withstanding his large interests, that call for 
his personal attention, has time to take part 
in educational, political and civic matters and 
to extend every courtesy possible to friends and 
strangei"s who come to Waukee. 

The founder of the Wragg Central Nurseries 
was John Wragg, a pioneer in the business, who 
came here in 1863 and purchased the grounds 
south of Waukee necessarj- for establishing the 
nurser}', which has a reputation for honest 
stock and fair dealing that is not limited by 
county or state lines. It can be truly said that 
the world is the market for this nursery ; for on 




INTERUKBAN DEPOT— PERRY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



221 



the desk of the proprietor may be found letters 
of inquiry from Australia, France, England, 
Holland and South America. 

As the business grew it was found necessary 
to purchase a tract of land within the limits 
of Wa.ukee, near the two trunk lines of railroad. 
Here are erected large, commodious buildings, 
with cold storage cellars attached. 

N. C. Wragg, present owner, is the youngest 
son of John Wragg, and was, so to speak, born 
to the business. Besides having inherited a 
love for nature, its wonders, beauties and com- 
forts, he received a practical horticultural train- 
ing that makes him an authority on these mat- 
ters and eminently well qualified to have charge 
of this important industry. He has a wide 
reputation over the state and has frequently 
been called upon to address large audiences in- 
terested in plant life. 

He was one of the leading speakers at the 
Han-est Home festival at Lamoni, Iowa, in 
October, 1906, and his address was extensively 
quoted and favorablj'^ commented on by the in- 
fluential newspapers of the state. 

Waukee owes much to the progressive spirit 
and business acumen of J. Wragg & Sons. The 
company has ever since its existence had a 
large payroll and has given lucrative employ- 
ment to many worthy men. 

The Davis nursery and the W. E. Wragg 
nursery, both located near Waukee, both being 
institutions of more recent date, are enjoying 
a good business and are rapidly extending their 
trade. 

The Presbyterian church was organized April 
24, 1870, by Rev. Wm. Campbell, who was ap- 
pomted for that purpose by the Presbytery of 
Des Moines. There were twenty-one charter 
members. The first regular minister, Rev. Geo. 
Piei-son, came in 1871 and remained five years. 
The present pastor is Rev. B. F. Ely, of Des 
Moines. The first ruling elder was J. A. Wick. 
He was succeeded in 1878 by J. R. Elliott. In 
1873 Mr. A. Tyler was made elder; .7. A. Wick 
and Jacob Snyder were on the first board of 
trustees. 



The Episcopalians built a church here in an 
early day and afterwards, the congregation hav- 
ing been greatly reduced by emigration and 
death, the building was sold to the Methodists, 
who now have a strong congregation. The 
present minister is Rev. Sheppard. There are 
two other charges connected with this church, 
one at Maple Grove, in Boone township, and 
one in Polk county, near Campbell. 

Methodist Episcopal church of Waukee has 
had the following ministers sei-ve the church 
since 1891 : 

Rev. Charles H. Flesher, 1891-3 ; Rev. C. C. 
Mabee, 1893-5; Rev. L. W. Archer, 1895-7; 
Rev. P. C. Stire, 1897-8; Rev. J. E. Nichol, 
1898-9; Rev. Paul Gardner, 1899-01 ; Rev. Wm. 
Blood, 1901-4; Rev. R. Burton Sheppard, 
1905-7. The last named is the present pastor. 
The membership at Waukee is about seventy- 
five. There is also a good Sunday school, Ep- 
worth League and Ladies' Aid Society. 

Rev. Mr. Sheppard is also pastor of the 
Maple Grove Methodist church, four and a half 
miles southeast of Waukee. The membership 
of that church is fifty-five. There is a union 
Sunday school and a Ladies' Aid society. 

The Methodists in 1874 organized the Wau- 
kee circuit, with A. J. Bai'ton in charge. Fair- 
view church had already been established two 
miles east of Booneville. It was at this place, 
in 1849, that Rev. Fleming organized the first 
Methodist society of Dallas county. In 1875 a 
lot was secured in Waukee and a building 
erected at a cost of $2,300. Among the first 
ministers were Rev. Lamonte and Rev. E. P. 
Vail. Their church was built in 1870 at a cost 
of $1,600. It was dedicated in 1871, Rev. T. 0. 
Rice, of Des Moines, preaching the dedicatory 
sermon. 

The Friends church is located two miles east 
and two miles north of Waukee. Their present 
pastor is Rev. Isaac Cook. 

The Christian church is a more recent or- 
ganization, but has a strong membership. The 
Christian minister. Rev. Rainwater, lives in Des 
Moines. 



222 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The Catholics have a congregation here, pre- 
sided over by Father Moran. of Granger. 

The various churches held union revival 
services during the summer of 1907, conducted 
by Rev. Birch, the noted revivalist of Winona 
Lake, Indiana. Much interest was ai'oused and 
many conversions made. 

The Young Men's Club was organized in 
July, 1907, and was the outgrowth of the union 
revival meeting referred to. The object of this 
association is to interest the young men in 
good reading, proper recreations and to 
strengthen their spiritual natures. It is to be 
conducted on the plan of the Y. M. C. A. and 
much good is hoped to be derived from it. 

Waukee has in the past witnessed the usual 
number of births and deaths of newspapers in- 
cident to small towns. 

The "Natural Gas," edited by E. R. Monroe ; 
the Waukee American, by C. D. Jones and 
later by Chas. Sinclair, and some other am- 
bitious papers had meteoric careers. McManus 
Brothers now publish an independent local 
weekly, established in January, 1907, which 
bids fair to become a permanent feature of the 
town and to exert much influence in its develop- 
ment. 

Thirty years ago a two-room frame building 
met the school requirements. The teachers em- 
ployeji at that time were A. C. Phillips, prin- 
cipal and Sarah E. Randall, assistant. 

By 1901 the school population had outgrown 
the facilities afforded and a new building was 
proposed. One of the churches was used tem- 
porarily for a schoolroom. The agitation for 
a new building resulted in the erection of a 
modern four-room brick building, valued at 
$6,000, which will doubtless fill the bill for 
many years. The teachers for 1907 were: S. 
S. Boylan, principal; Lenora Brewer, grammar 
room ; Josie Neiss, intermediate ; Bertha Davis, 
primary. 

Half a mile south of town is a well kept, 
beautifully located cemetery. It has well laid 
out walks and driveways and is kept in an 
ideal condition. The sale of lots provides suit- 



able means for keeping it in such an admirable 
condition. 

The present officials of Ne Plus Ultra Lodge, 
No. 401, Knights of Pythias, of Waukee, are: 
C. C, C. Wooley; V. C, W. E. Wragg; Prel., 
J. S. Leonard; M. of W., C. Carl; K. R. and 
S. and M. of F., A. B. Carter; M. of E., J. R. 
Whmnery; M. of A., S. L. Wilson; L G., M. 
Leonard; 0. G., C. Sines. The number of 
members is seventy-four. The charter mem- 
bers, March 21, 1893, and first officers: P. C. 
and D. D. G. C, N. C. Wragg; M. of E., T. F. 
Howe; C. C, E. H. Wright, 0. G., D. B. Blake, 
A. Smith; M. J. Wragg; M. of A., R. L. 
Hoeye; M. of W., W. Moore; M. and F., A. 
Basseler; C. Morris; V. C, J. Brown; 0. G., T. 
A. Husband; Prel., J. G. Wallace; M. A. Fa- 
gue ; K. R. and S., J. H. Carter ; and E. J. Mor- 
ris. 

Waukee Lodge No. 311, I. 0. 0. F., was or- 
ganized March 14, 1875. The following were 
duly installed by W. W. Moore: L. Swearin- 
gen, N. G. ; D. Bates, V. G. ; C. W. Robinson,' 
R. S. ; T. Bates, Treas. Appointive officers: E. 
L. Carrell, C. ; W. M. Cribbs, W. ; J. W. Black- 
man, 0. G. 

SWEPT BY FIRE IN DECEMBER 1901. 

The fire at Waukee occurred at nine o'clock 
at night, and was first discovered in the hay 
loft of Spencer Smith's livery barn. To the 
noiih of the barn was a lumber yard, an im- 
plement house, and a row of frame buildings. 
With a strong wind blowing from the south, 
and the town without any sort of fire protec- 
tion but buckets, it was impossible to stop the 
progress of the flames. The livery barn was 
full of horses and seven of them were burned. 
The number of buildings consumed was eight, 
together with the Advocate printing office, 
owned by A. J. Troup. The citizens had hard 
work to save the depot, postofficc and other por- 
tions of the town. This is the second big fire 
which ha? visited Waukee. The losses were: 

Spencer Smith, livery bam and contents, in- 
cluding horses, $2,000; insurance. $700. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



223 



Brenton .Bros., lumber yard and office, $10,- 
000; insurance, $5,000. 

J. H. Carter, implement building and con- 
tents, $2,500; insurance, $1,500. 

T. F. Howe, building and grocery stock, $2,- 
500; insurance, $1,500. 

L. L. Storer, restaurant, $1,500; insurance, 
$500. 

Advocate printing office, $500; no insurance. 

John Straw, shoeshop, $750 ; insurance, $500. 

A. J. Bassler, building and furniture stock, 
$1,500; insurance, $750. 

Waukee is able to make a creditable showing 
with other towns of the state of similar size in 
her stores, banks, shops, eating houses, etc.. 
and it will take high rank in the public spirit 
and energy of its citizens. 



The town is situated on land formerly owned 
east part of Dallas county, nineteen miles north- 
west of Des Moines, on the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul railroad and the Beaver Valley In- 
terurban. It has a poi^ulation of about 300 
and expects to double this within a year. It has 
a fine brick graded school with three teachers; 
Catholic, United Brethren and Christian 
churches. Odd Fellow lodge, Rebekah lodge, 
camp of Modern Woodmen of America, wom- 
en's club, bank, three general stores, two hard- 
wai-e and implement stores, clothing store, drag 
store, lumber yard, livery stable, weekly news- 
paper, barber shop, hotel, physician, two restau- 
rants, meat market, two shoe shops two eleva- 
tors two blacksmith shops, a cement block fac- 
tory (making building and sidewalk blocks), 
two stock yards, a telephone exchange, with 
connections with 15,000 telephones, open day 
and night. The town was incorporated la^t fall 
and the city council have ordered cement side- 
walks on every street in town, those in the busi- 
ness part to be eight feet wide and those in the 
residence portion four feet. A new addition has 
been laid out and many new residences will 
be built at once. A commercial club is organ- 
ized and doing business. The town of Granger 
is a live one. 



The town is situated on land formerly owned 
by Nathan Siberling, who came here from Ohio 
in the early history of the township and pur- 
chased a section of land. When Polk and Hub- 
bel built the old narrow gauge through this 
part of the county a little town called Kelsey 
had been started two miles north of the present 
site of Granger. The place was not easily ac- 
cessible and within a short time the owners of 
the road made a proposition to a number of 
farmers that if they would donate a thousand 
dollars to the Narrow Gauge company a depot 
would be established on section 12. Enterpris- 
ing men, like Abe Elefritz, C. F. Fitzsimmons, 
C. F. Hotchkiss, A. D. Hotchkiss, Jas. Fraser, 
E. E. White, C. F. Holmes and others, inter- 
ested themselves in securing this sum and the 
work of locating depot commenced. 

Mr. Siberling came out from Ohio and laid 
out the town of Granger. Francis Geneser and 
his son George, built a frame store building 
and conducted a general store for a short time, 
when it took fire and was burned. Mr. Geneser 
soon rebuilt with a good brick building and for 
a few years was the only merchant in the place. 
He also bought grain and stock and did quite 
a shipping business. J. A. Vail, the second 
merchant, lived here until his death five yeara 
ago. 

There are churches of good membership, 
and that have their own buildings of the 
United Brethren faith and of the Christian de- 
nomination. Rev. H. C. Rinehart, who also 
has appointments at Hopking Grove and Scan- 
dia Valley, is pastor of the United Brethren, 
and the latter is served by Rev. Knott of Des 
Moines, a student of Drake university. 

A conspicuous attraction, even to one ap- 
^proaching the city from a distance, is the new, 
strikingly beautiful, $14,000 Assumption 
Catholic church, situated on a pleasant grassy 
plot of two acres commanding a delightful view 
in all directions. Built of buff pressed brick 
with stone trimmings, with tasteful stained 
glass windows and surmounted by a cupola in 
which swings a majestic boll, it is a fine piece 
of architecture, and handsomely located. The 



224 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



interior finish, in the matter of altars, vestry, 
fountain and statuary, is in harmonious and 
elegant keeping. The correct acoustic con- 
struction of the building, and the good choir, 
make the music a very enjoyable feature, and 
with the particularly restful pews, form an en- 
semble of comfort and attractiveness truly 
metropolitan. 

A glance at the names on the memorial do- 
nations shows them to include many of those 
at present, or in days gone, most influential in 
social and financial circles. They are : on main 
altar, Daniel Manning; side altar on north, 
Thomas Smith ; side altar on south, Young Peo- 
ples' Altar society. The names of the follow- 
ing, with that of their wives, appear on win- 
dows; Jas. Sharrin, Jas. Hanley, Patrick 
Welby, Patrick Comer, Martin Healy, Peter 
Sullivan, John F. Geneser, John F. Manning, 
John F. Hickey, and F. Geneser and family. 
Also the names of Mary Manning, Josie Buck- 
ley, Lizzie Sullivan, Mary Welby, Robert Em- 
met Costello, John Lewis Costello, Jas. Henry 
Costello, John Burke, Mrs. Mary Burke, Cor- 
nelius Buckley, John A. Braniff, Eugene Cos- 
tello, W. A. Hallett and M. E. Hallett. 

The much admired bell was the gift of Mr. 
M. Costello, a sad coincidence of which was 
that it first uttered its solemn voice at his fun- 
eral. 

The pastor, Father J. J. Moran, who was 
born in Germany and educated at Rome, Italy, 
and in this country, is a liberally cultured gen- 
tleman who is held in high esteem by the 
community regardless of denominational lines. 
In thorough touch with the movementjj and 
questions of the day, when he became a priest 
he did not become any the less a citizen — but 
more, consequently his counsel is gladly sougnt 
in matters of public weal and enterprise; and 
an article from his pen, furnished by request 
for the local paper, upon "Building up the 
City," — which The News representative was 
shown by the editor, in the humble literary 
opinion of the writer woiild do credit to a met- 
ropolitan commercial exchange. 



During Father Moran's administration of 
church affairs at Newton, a fine church edifice 
was constructed and the organization gave other 
evidences of vigorous prosperity. Assumption 
is a large factor in the development of Granger 
and Father Moran an efficient citizen. The 
church was built in 1901 and the congregation 
organized some years before. 

The United Brethren church here has been 
in existence fifteen years, being an outgrowth 
of a country church in Grant township, which 
was organized by Father Jacobs, as this well 
known and honored patriarch was affection- 
ately called. It has a membership of thirty- 
five or forty, a good Sunday school and Ladies' 
Aid society. The church property is valued 
at $2,000 and is in charge of Rev. A. C. Rine- 
hardt. 

The Christian church of Granger was or- 
ganized by F. H. Lemon in 1894, and the 
church building was built in 1895. Among the 
charter membei's were, J. G. Ricke and wife, L. 
Swing and wife, C. Holmes and wife, K. Means 
and wife, A. J. Elifrits and wife, J. A. Elifrits 
and wife and others. 

In 1895 the building was erected at a co.st of 
$1,500. Among the ministers who have served 
this church were F. H. Lemon, a Mr. Sours, G. 
E. Roberts, Reynolds, E. Brandenburg. H. 
Knott, F. E. Boggess. 

There are about sixty membei-s. A good 
Sunday school, a C. W. B. M., that was organ- 
ized in 1898, a Christian Endeavor society. 

Town officers of Granger are: Mayor, J. M. 
DeLisle ; councilmen, J. T. Fraizer, L. H. Kin- 
sey. S. A. McClain, Channing G. Smith, Dale 
ileek and Arthur Baker ; clerk, J. H. Schulte ; 
treasurer, E. A. Clark; assessor, D. H. Stoner; 
marshal, L. Ewing. Regular meetings held on 
the first Monday evening of each month. 

The town supports an up-to-date eight page 
newspaper, edited by N. B. Fulmer. This was 
started in Januaiy, 1906, but it has already 
passed through the experimental stage and is 
now a permanent factor in helping the town to 
expand. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



225 



For a number of years the school was a one- 
room building, a short distance west of town, 
being in one of the sub-districts of Grant town- 
ship. 

The veteran pedagogue, J. W. O'Brien, taught 
the last year in this building. There were 
about seventy pupils enrolled, being the largest 
of any of the rural schools of the county in 
recent years. 

In 1905 the present handsome brick struc- 
ture was completed and the" town now has a 
modern foui'-room school, attractive laoth with- 
out and within. The teachers for this year 
were, A. F. Briggs, principal; j\Irs. J. E. Swing, 
intermediate; Mary Manning, j^rimary. 

D.VLL.VS CENTER. 

This is located, as its name would indicate, 
near the central part of the county and sur- 
rounded by rich farms. 

The original owners of the site were: Per- 
cival Hatton and R. D. Kellogg. 

The town was laid out in 1869 by Percival 
and Hatton, the surveyor being Francis Pelton. 
Later Huber and Vandercook's addition \va& 
made and a healthy growth has been made 
until it has reached a total of nearly 800. 

T. R. North and O. N. Steele were the first 
merchants. Mr. Steele's shanty east of the rail- 
road track was probably the first house erected. 
.T. E. Fleischman soon followed with dry goods 
and a general mixed stock and the place began 
to exhibit the hustling qualities that have char- 
acterized it ever since. 

Among some of the residents of Dallas Cen- 
ter who can claim the title of pioneer citizens 
are : .T. L. Loring, Barney Murphy, James Rich- 
mond, Dr. Criley, T. AV. Ferguson, Charles 
Ellermaii. .1. O. McClure, Henry Burns have 
lived noiir this vicinity for half a century. 

.1. L. Tjoring, one of the well known men in 
this ]iart of the county, has traveled past the 
threescore and ten mark but is still hale and 
hearty. He has traveled extensively by land 
and sea and is a man of varied accomplish- 



ments. He came to Iowa when there were 
but forty miles of railroad in the state. He 
is a civil engineer of unusual ability and sur- 
veyed the Fort Dodge road through Dallas 
Center, wading through swamps and driving 
stakes in the black mud that jsrevailed on 
this route. He has held various public posi- 
tions, litis been a merchant, editor, linguist, 
draughtsman and in all these lines has shown 
extraordinary talent. The younger Loring 
boys are in business here, Han'y being the 
present postmaster. 

A history of Dallas Center would not be 
complete without a sketch of the late W. H. 
Brenton, who came to Adel township in 1853 
and located neax' the site of Dallas Center and 
engaged in the stock business. He married 
Miss Mary E. Richmond in 1832. To this union 
three children were born, Chai'les, Clyde and 
Mrs. D. D. McCoil. Mr. Brenton was thrifty 
and far-seeing and began to accumulate farm 
lands while they were cheap. In 1873 he or- 
ganized a private bank at Dallas Center, where 
he continued actively engaged in business until 
his death. 

The name, W. H. Brenton still appears on 
the cards as president. The business interests 
are still carried on by the two sons who have 
largely increased the original estate and now 
announce a banking responsibility of 
$850,000. 

Among soine of the early residents and busi- 
ness men were: J. S. Easton, who conducted a 
lumber yard; J. E. Fleishman, Hoopes & 
Melic, E. J. M. Stevens, Shiller & Price, Mar- 
tin and Woodward, merchants; .J. Purinton, 
tinner and inventer of quite a successful 
jnitented hog feeder; 0. Mosher, banker. 

.1. B. Harper, one of the Dallas county 
teachers who holds a lengthy record for long 
and effective service in the schools, was first 
principal of the new building built in 1874. 

Dallas Center has one of the finest parks to 
be found anywhere. It \vas fondly hoped at 
one time by the early settlers here that the 
county seat would ultimately come to Dallas 
Center and that tlie courthouse would be erected 



226 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



in this park. Fates willed otherwise, however, 
but the park remains as one of the attractive 
spots of the town. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

The old brick building wa^s erected in 1874 
at a cost of $10,000. While this is still service- 
able it was not large enough, and a frame 
building standing just across the street north 
of this was used for several years as a supple- 
mentary primai-y room. Four years ago a 
second brick building, valued at $13,000, was 
constructed. Thi^ is made of bluff colored 
bricks, has a fine ventilating system operated 
by gasoline engine, large recitation rooms, li- 
brary, superintendent's office, play room in the 
basement, and fully equipped with all needful 
apparatus, reference books, etc. 

The present superintendent, W. H. Gem- 
^mill, has been in charge of these schools for 
the past five years and is retained for the com- 
ing year at a salary of $1,250. 

No town in the county, and it is believed 
no town of its size in the state, excells Dallas 
Center in its school facilities or in the quality 
of its instructors. The citizens take pride in 
the schools and no expense is spared in provid- 
ing everything that is necessary to keep up 
the high standard they have already reached. 

At the county exhibit in 1906 the work from 
the Dallas Center schools took fii-st rank in the 
high school exhibit and attracted much favor- 
able comment from prominent educators of 
the state. 

The oldest fraternal orders are the Masonic 
and I. 0. 0. F. Delta lodge No. 356, A. F. 
& A. M. — This lodge was established in 1876 
under dispensation. The first officers were: 
D. Smart, W. M. ; M. Y. Ustic, S. W.; J. E. 
Fleishman, J. W. ; C. B. Rathbun, Acting S. 
D.; 0. N. Steele, J. D.; W. H. Brenton, 
treasurer; 0. Mosher, secretary; A. Ustic, tyler. 
Present officers of Delta lodge No. 356, A. F. & 
A. M., are: Guy H. Hall, W. M. ; G. L. Cadwell, 
S. W. ; Benjamin Fox, J. W. ; E. L. Nazarene, 
trea.?urer; George H. Lorenz. secretary; C. A. 



Clark, S. D. ; E. J. Wallace, J. D. ; A. W. Cad- 
well, S. S.; H. L. Randall, J. S.; Captain J. 
Miller, tyler. 

Dallas Center lodge No. 248, I. 0. 0. F., was 
organized October 5, 1872, with six members, 
elected to the following offices: J. L. Loring, 
N. G. ; F. Hubbard, V. G. ; W. M. Clark, secre- 
tarj'; A. K. Clark, permanent secretary; S. S. 
Grossman, treasurer; W. P. McClure, wai-den. 

The lodge was installed by district deputy 
grand master, M. C. Twitchel, with Ward Red- 
field and M. C. Thomas, assistants. The present 
officers are: Jerry Osburn, noble grand; J. B. 
Collins, vice-grand; A. P. Miller, secretary; 
William Lackey, treasurer; S. A. Sumner, H. 
T. Burns and C. F. Ellerman, trustees. The 
lodge now has eighty members, is on a good 
financial basis and has money loan&d out. 

M. W. A. camp No. 2623. This order was 
organized at Dallas Center in December, 1894. 
Its officers are: James A. Ward, V. C. ; C. E. 
Bomberger, clerk; H. S. Burkett, banker; R. 
P. Lieutzing, ad\Tsor. The lodge owns a hall 
which was built in 1906 at a cost of $2,000. 
It meets the second and fourth Friday even- 
ings of each month. 

Rathman Rebekah camp No. 481, meets 
first and third Tuesdays of each month ; Bessie 
Gates, N. G. ; Mrs. Mary Miller, secretary. 

Richmond post, No. 230, G. A. R., meets 
Wednesday afternoons on or before full moon. 
John Fox, commander; John Lloyd, adjutant. 

Richmond post W. R. C, No. 347, meets 
first and third Friday afternoon of each month 
at 2 o'clock. Mrs. Esther Lloyd, president; 
Mrs. Hilda Repass, secretary. 

Brenton camp No. 91, S. 0. V.. Division 
of Iowa, me€ts Thursday nights on or before 
full moon each month. E. J. Butterfield, cap- 
tain; C. A. Clark, secretary. 

Fidelity camp. Royal Neighbors of America, 
3489, meets second and fourth Tuesdays of 
each month. Mrs. Blanche Butterfield, oracle; 
Alma Temple, recorder. 

The First Presbji:erian church of Dallas Cen- 
ter was organized in April, 1869, by Rev. Wil- 
liam Campbell, and its elders were: Samuel 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



22'; 



Scott and J. 0. Strong. Amongst the ministers 
who have served the church were ; Joshua Cook, 
the first pastor; George R. Smith, W. M. Reed, 
Prosper H. Jacob, W. H. Goodison, J. M. 
Smith, A. M .Tanner, Alex. H. Risk, Alexander 
Scott, Eugene A. Walker, M. NoeiT, L. M. 
Beebe, J. H. Marshall, G. T. Gurley and E. A. 
Oldenburg, the present pastor, who has been the 
pastor since February, 190(3. 

The membership is now about 130, but they 
started with nineteen. The church building was 
erected in the fall of 1871. Its present value is 
about $5,000. A new parsonage was built in 
1903 at a cost of about $3,000. They have a 
Sunday school with an enrollment of about 
125. Also an Endeavor society. Miss Ethel 
Wallace, president; and a Ladies' Missionary 
society, of which Mrs. Clyde Brenton is presi- 
dent; and a Westminster Brotherhood, a men's 
society of the church, which was organized in 
the winter of 1906-7, of which Mr. Clyde Bren- 
ton is president. The church is in a good con- 
dition. The Sundaj^ school superintendent is 
Mrs. Anna M. Ellis. 

The Christian church of Dallas Center was 
orgtmized in 1902 by Rev. Jesse S. Coffin, who 
lived in Des Moines. ^Vmong the charter mem- 
bers were: 0. 0. Warrington and wife, Melvin 
Bradley and wife, Joseph Price and wife, 
Marion Mortimer, Mrs. C. L. Kroh, Jane Scha- 
fer, Julia Schafer, James Schafer, Bert Schafer, 
C. A. Robison and wife and Mrs. Ward. At the 
present time the officers are : William Lackey 
and William Harris, elders; Dr. E. J. Butter- 
field, E. D. Harmon and William Danner, 
deacons; William Harris, treasurer; Alma 
Temple, clerk. Among the ministers who have 
served the church were: J. S. Coffin, MLss Flora 
Wilcox, W. E. Gray, Clinton Lockhart, Ralph 
V. Callaway and John H. Booth, the present 
minister. Only one charter member is now 
living here, Mrs. C. L. Kroh. 

They have a good frame building and base- 
ment under the entire .structure, valued at 
about $4,000, which was dedicated December 
26, 1902. The membership at the organization 
of the church was forty. It is now about 100. 



They have a good Sunday school with an en- 
rollment of about 125. Also a good Endeavor 
society thoroughly organized. Also a Ladies' 
Aid society. The church is free from debt and 
in a flourishing condition. 

^lethodist Episcopal church. Prior to 1873 
this church belonged to the Waukee circuit. 
Some of the first pastors were: Revs. G. S. 
Wharton, D. Thompson, H. M. Sexton, J. J. 
Caldwell, James Lisle and Cyrus Smith. 

The church was incorporated in 1873 by B. 
W. Thomas, J. W. Garmong, J. Slocum, J. M. 
Iloopes, M. Y. Ustic, F. Hubbard and J. Purin- 
ton as trustees. 

A parsonage was built in 187'6 at a cost of 
between $600 and $700. The chapel was built 
in 1877 on a leased lot. No. 13, block No. 39, at 
a cost of aboulj $600. 

The present pastor is Rev. C. J. Harned. 

Progressive Brethern church of Dallas Center 
was organized in 1886 by Rev. Noah Flora, 
with twelve members. Now has about one hun- 
dred. Erected a frame meeting-house in the 
summer of 1886, valued at $1,200. It has been 
ministered to by Revs. Noah Flora, S. B. Grisso 
and F. H. Rawlinson. There is a good Sunday 
school with an enrollment of about sixty 
scholars. 

Of the charter members now living here only 
one remains, Mrs. Annie Burger. There is a 
good Endeavor society, a Ladies Aid, etc. The 
church is making gradual progress. 

The German Baptist Brethren church is one 
and a half miles east of Dallas Center. Revs. 
John Weber, B. F. Miller, C. B. Rowe, M. W. 
Eikenberry, H. L. Royer and D. W. Wise, 
served the church as ministers. They served 
without salary and the work is divided among 
them. This church was organized about 1875. 
Nearly all charter members have passed away. 
Among those still living in the neighborhood 
are: Benjamin Rowe and wife, Joseph Rowe 
and wife, A. C. Brubaker, Abram Nigh- 
swander, Peter Hoff, and perhaps others whose 
names cannot now be recalled. The present 
membership is about 150. They have a good 
frame building, valued at about $1,500. There 



128 



FAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



is also a good, live Sunday school, the enroll- 
ment being about one hundred. They also 
have a society known as the Christian Workers ; 
also a Ladies' Aid society. The have a -nice 
cemetery at the church, which has been re- 
cently enlarged, and Ls well cared for. 

The Farmers' Mutual Insurance company of 
Dallas county, was organized the fifth day of 
February, 1895. It is a farmers' mutual in- 
surance company, organized by the farmers and 
taking farm risks only. It has a membership of 
about twelve hundred, and they have in force at 
this time, 1907, over $1,700,000. They insure 
against fire and lightning. The headquarters 
are at Dallas Center. Its present officers are: 
John Kent, president; John Royer, vice-presi- 
dent; D. W. Wise, secretary and treasurer. 
Each township has a director, and there are 
now thirteen directors. 

Citizens Savings bank was organized in April, 
1905. It has a capital of $20,000 and an ad- 
ditional liability of $20,000. Its officers are: 
William Lackie, president; G. W. Hammond, 
vice-president; H. M. AVhinnery, cashier; S. E. 
Emmert, assistant cashier. 

The Dallas Center Globe was established by 
Samuel G. Sloane in December, 1875. 

Mr. Sloane bought out the Dallas Center 
Mail, a paper that had been started just prior 
to establishment of the Globe. The Local edited 
so long and ably by J. L. Loring was sold a few 
years ago to E. A. Emmert, who started the 
New Times. The Times is now ten years old 
and under the direction of Mr. Emmert it is 
one of the best papers of the county. 

ELIZABETH WIXKLEY SNELL. 

The tolling of the bell Thursday morning an- 
nounced in melancholy tones the death of the 
oldest person in Iowa. At 10:45 the evening 
before, Wednesday, June 19, 1907, Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Winkley Snell had gone to her reward at 
the age of 102 years, ten months and thirteen 
days. Had she . lived until August 6th she 
would have celebrated her 103rd birthday. 

Only for the last fourteen weeks had Grandma, 
as all knew her, been in very bad health. Dur- 



ing that time she was bedfast and at the end 
of each day she seemed to be in a little worse 
condition that the previous day. But previous 
to that time her health, seemed to be about the 
same for many years, varying a little of course. 
Some days she would seem quite well and cheer- 
ful; other days, not quite so well. 

Until only a short time ago she could read, 
write and sew, and could talk as intelligently 
as anyone, although her speech was impeded 
some. The day of her hundredth anniversary 
she Avrote a whole page in an autograph album 
that was legible and neat. One remarkable 
thing about Grandma was her memory. It 
never failed her and her remembrance of 
things that happened years ago was remarkable. 
She seldom forgot anyone with whom she had 
been acquainted. Her mind was clear to the 
last it is thought, although she could not ex- 
press herself. 

Some yeai's ago Grandma gained her second 
eyesight and did not use glasses. Her chief 
pastime for many years was piecing quilts. She 
made a large number of these and generally 
gave them to friends as keepsakes. 

The funeral was ' held from the ^lethodist 
Episcopal church Friday afternoon. Sermon 
by Rev. Oldenburg, pastor of the Presbyterian 
church, assisted by Rev. Harned. The text was 
from Gen. 15:15: "Thou shalt go to thy 
Fathers in peace ; thou shalt be buried in a good 
old age." Special emphasis was placed, by the 
speaker, upon the quality of the good old age, 
so beautifully exemplified in the life of the de- 
parted. Rev. Oldenburg said, in part: 

''Through all her long life Mrs. Snell was 
bles.*ed with good health, except the last few 
years, when the great age brought its infirmi- 
ties. Her mind kept clear to the end, and her 
faith, which began in her childhood, grew 
ever stronger through the years and found its 
full fruition and sweetest expression in those 
last years of waiting for the final summons. 
Her sympathies were large and her circle of 
friends wide; she seemed to have a kindly in- 
terest in every person in Dallas Center. All 
loved to see Grandmother Snell and Grand- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



229 



mother Snell loved to see all, and today we 
somehow feel as if our own grandmother had 
departed. We miss her gentle influence but 
we rejoice in her coronation and her exceeding 
great reward." 

Selections were rendered by a quintette, con- 
sisting of Mesdames, H. M. Schamel, C. E. 
Brenton, J. A. Richmo"nd, and Messrs. John 
Lloyd and G. H. Loring; Bessie Black, organist. 

The floral offerings were elaborate and beauti- 
ful, among which was a wreath containing 102 
white roses and a bud, representing the 102 
rounded years and the one only partially filled. 
It completely circled the casket and was pres- 
ented by the W. R. C. of which Grandma was 
the oldest member. This organization attended 
in a body. The floral offering by the Ladies' 
Aid society was also fine. 

The attendance was very large, the church 
being completely filled. Quite a number from 
out of town were present. 

Interment was at Masonic cemetery. 

A kind, devoted mother, loyal neighbor and 
faithful friend, has passed to the other shore. 

Elizabeth Winkley was born August 6, 1804, 
at Fleet lodge (name of her father's farm), 
Fleet, Lincolnshire, England. She was chris- 
tened Elizabeth Grace at the age of four months 
at Fleet church by Rev. Richard Dodds, rector, 
who also married her. She was the only daugh- 
ter of John Winkley and great, great grand- 
daughter of the first churchwarden of Fleet 
church. 

She was married to Richard Williamson 
Snell, May 24, 1825. They were married in 
Fleet church by the rector, Richard Dodds. At 
the time of her marriage, when she was not 
quite twenty-one, she dropped the name of 
Grace according to the custom then of the old 
English families, and took instead the name of 
her father, Winkley, her name then being 
Elizabeth Winkley Snell. 

Mr. Snell was born and raised in Peter- 
borough, England, was christened in the old 
cathedral of Peterborough and all his ancestors 
are buried in the churchvard there. 



Nine children were born to this couple and 
all were christened and the older ones confirmed 
m the old Fleet church. But three are living. 
Four died in England and are laid away in the 
Winkley vault under Fleet church; Mary A. 
died in 1852 in Gaines, New York, and Richard 
died March 5, 1902, at Dallas Center, Iowa. 
Those living are: John Winkley of Michigan, 
William of Dakota and Mrs. Bragg of Dallas 
Center. 

The Winkleys were one of the leading fami- 
lies of Fleet. In 1756, William Winkley pre- 
sented the Fleet church with a tenor bell with 
his name engraved on it, and it is there at the 
present day. Her grandfather Winkley's name 
was on the rafters in large gilt letters, and her 
father, John Winkley, was made churchwarden 
in 1785. At the close of the war of 1812, he 
presented Fleet church with another bell; this 
was given as a thank offering. There was one 
brother,. John Winkley, who was made vestry- 
man of Fleet church when he was twenty years 
old. The last time Mrs. Snell saw this brother 
was December 25, 1833 ; at this time he was sea 
captain and had been into every port known at 
that time. 

In 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Snell with their fam- 
ily, came to America, and settled in Gaines, 
Orleans county, N. Y., where Mr. Snell died 
June 17, 1867. In February 1869, Richai-d 
and AVilliam came to Dallas county, Iowa,' and 
in December of 1869, the mother came to visit 
her sons. In 1870 Mrs. Bragg and her little son 
Porter came and since that time she and Grand- 
ma Snell made their home in Dallas Center. 

During all of these years, .since 1870, Mrs. 
Bragg has had the care of her mother and for 
nearh^ thirty years has faithfully, yet cheer- 
fully, ministered to lier wants day and night, 
not sparing any effort to prolong the life of 
her aged mother and make its final chapter 
days of pleasure as far as it was in her power to 
do so. The many days of constant care and 
nights of broken rest have left their imprint, 
but heedless of this, Mrs. Bragg cheerfully be- 
stowed her affection to the last. Any sacri- 
fice .she could make to alleviate any dis- 



230 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



comfort and brighten the life of her 
aged mother, was none too hard. "She unsealed 
the alabaster box full of fragrant perfumes 
of love and tenderness, sympathy and affec- 
tion, before it was broken over a dead body." 
"She spoke approving, cheering words while 
ears could hear them, and while a heart could 
be thrilled and made happier by them." Oth- 
ers may have cared for dear ones as well, but 
none with more tenderness than Mrs. Bragg 
did during the ten years she cared for her 
aged mother. 

Dr. B. H. Criley is one of the pioneer prac- 
titioners of the county and one who has 
achieved distinguished success in his profes- 
sional career. He is still in robust health and 
has a large practice. Drs. Butterfield and Huck- 
ins are younger in the work, but both are grow- 
ing in favor with the people and are well 
satisfied with their location. 

Dr. A. V. Kellogg, dentist, has a large and 
increasing business and is very successful. 

Dallas Center has many beautiful residences, 
good business blocks and prosperous citizpns. 
The present mayor, Henry Burns, an early set- 
tler, believes in law and order and refuses to 
make any compromise with wrong doing. 

The town probably represents more wealth 
per capita than any place of its size in the 
state aud the many attractions it has to offer 
makes it an ideal home for all who come here 
to dwell. 



De Soto is located in the western part of 
Van i\Ieter township on the Rock Island rail- 
road. 

The land on which the town is built was 
owned by Thos. Hemphill and Van Meters and 
was donated to the railroad company for a 
town site. The town was laid out in 1868 by 
County Surveyor A. J. Lyon, assisted by Ed 
Conger, present treasurer of the county, and 
the town named De Soto in honor of one of the 
railroad officials. 

This place was selected as one of the di- 



vision points and the 300 lots marked off in 
the original plat were rapidly disposed of at 
prices ranging from $25 to $500. Captain A. 
J. Lyon states that he was given permission to 
make the fii'st choice of lots. He chose lots Nos. 
1, 2 and 3, now occupied by Frank Irvin's 
hardware store. Afterwards a Mr. Jones 
selected one of these lots and was about to se- 
cure title to it when Mr. Lyon appeared and 
reminded the owners of their promise to give 
him first choice. 

The promise was made good and Lyon and 
Hemphill built the first house, which they oc- 
cupied for some time as a real estate office. 

The lirst residence was built by G. W. Smith 
in the eastern part of town. Other residences 
and business houses went up rapidly, some of 
the owners being Robert Hilyer, Mason Con- 
ger, Mr. Wood, J. D. Cavenor, A. Collins, and 
]\Ir. Haycraft. The first doctor w^as A. P. Mc- 
Cullough, who soon formed a partnership with 
Dr. Canjpbell. Ed Conger bought out Mc- 
CuUough and with Dr. Campbell conducted a 
drug store about a year. 

The eccentric Dr. Smith was an early set- 
tler in De Soto and remained there more than 
a quarter of a century. He had many esti- 
mable qualities, was generous and careless and 
somewhat of an orator. On one occasion while 
making an addr&ss from a wagon to a rollick- 
some crowd, the wagon was rolled down a hill, 
its occupant loudly orating until his voice was 
drowned in the distance. 

The first postmaster was A. A. Collins, an 
early merchant of De Soto. 

During the four years the town was a divi- 
sion point it grew very rapidly and business 
was humming. Saloons and gambling floiu-- 
ished and much disorder prevailed. This con- 
dition characterized most western towns in an 
eai"ly day, and it is extremely gratifying to 
note, in comparison, the orderly, progressive 
condition of these same towns today. 

The first railroad agent, Alex. Smart, is now 
at Perry in charge of the Milwaukee. He was 
followed by Ed Conger, who was agent twen- 
tv-one vears and a half. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



231 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

About the time De Soto was well started a 
frame building was erected near where Black- 
man's store now stands, which served the dou- 
ble purpose of school and church. We are in- 
formed ^that Mrs. A. A. Collins, wife of the 
postmaster, was the first teacher. 

Other early teachers were Professors Whitney 
and Crockett, the latter being also a minister. 

The present school building is a two-story 
brick, erected in 1870 at a cost of $5,000. 

Mrs. Jennie AVhinnery, primary teacher at 
De Soto, was the only lady ever elected to the 
county superintendency of Dallas county. 

The insti-uctors for 1907 were B. M. Cobb, 
principal; Mayme Larson, Nellie Burgoon, in- 
termediate; Eleanor R. Hammond, primary. 

Oak Hill cemetery is situated a half a mile 
south of De Soto, having been established in 
1878. Until this was secured there was no 
burying groun'ds near the place, the dead be- 
ing interred in some of the neighboring ceme- 
teries. 

Masonic Lodge, No. 256, A. F. & A. M., was 
chartered June 2, 1869, on petition of M. A. 
Knight, J. J. Van Meter, H. G. Van Meter 
and others. 

The fir.st officers of the lodge were: M. A. 
Knight, W. M.; J. J. Van Meter, S. W.; H. 
G. Van Meter, J. W. ; Z. W. Kelley, secretary ; 
J. D. Perkins, treasurer; C. C. Goodale, S. D. ; 
Jesse Lee, J. D. ; W. F. Brewster, tyler. 

This lodge was moved to Van Meter a num- 
ber of years ago the De Soto members retaining 
their membership there until 1905, when a 
new Masonic lodge was organized at De Soto, 
styled Amaranth Lodge No. 591. Its present 
officers are: J. H. Pyers, W. M. ; P. E. Rose, 
S. W.; P. H. Mitchell, J. W.; F. L. Hemp- 
hill, F. L. Hoch, secretary. 

De Soto I. 0. 0. F. Lodge, No. 400, was or- 
ganized in 1879 and now has sixty-five mem- 
bers. It has always been one of the strong 
lodges of the county and has long been noted 
for its social and charitable work. 

The present officers are: G. M. Kile, N. G. ; 
A. J. Chaplin, secretary. 



De Soto Camp No. 7811, M. W. A., was 
organized in 1900. It now has a membership 
of fifty members with the following officers for 
1907 : G. M. Kile, consul ; C. A. Fudge, AV. A. ; 
E. R. McKissick, banker; A. McNeley, clerk. 

The Methodist church organization was ef- 
fected in 1868 by Rev. Darby and was the 
first in the town. 

The first four or five years the members wor- 
shipped in private dwellings, schoolhouses and 
other buildings until in 1872 they were able 
to build an elegant brick church costing $6,000, 
which is still in use today. Some of the early 
pastors were Rev. Darby, Wm. Hestwood, J. 
W. Todd, T. McK. Stewart, W. D. Bennett, W. 
T. Bartholomew and Rev. Shenton. The present 
minister is F. L. Watkins. 

Ed Conger relates an incident in connec- 
tioji with Rev. Darby's pastorate that illus- 
trates some of the experiences of the early min- 
isters. Rev. Darby was holding a series of 
meetings some fourteen miles northwest of De 
Soto when he was requested to come back to 
his home town to marry a couple. 

It was in the midst of an old time Iowa 
winter and as the impatient bridegroom would 
not countenance any delay. Rev. Darby with 
many misgivings started out on his long drive 
facing a furious snow storm. He reached home 
late in the evening, cold and fatigued but per- 
formed the ceremony in his usual cheerful 
mood cheered no doiibt by the prospect of a 
fat fee. 

The bridegroom seemed to appreciate the 
extraordinary exertions that had been made 
in his behalf, and in a burst of generosity 
handed the minister a dollar and turning airily 
on his heel, as if to wave off" expected thanks, 
remarked that the minister need not trouble 
himself to return any change. 

Christian church of De Soto was organized 
in 1870. The old frame church built in 1870 
was blown down in June, 1871. It was re- 
built the same year, and the second building 
was torn down in 1907, a handsome church 
building of brick having been built in Decem- 
l)C'r. 1904, at a cnst of about nine thou.sand dol- 



232 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



lars, aside from a great amount of work that 
was donated. It has a membership of about 
three hundred persons. A Sunday school wdth 
an average of ninety to one hundred and thir- 
ty-five. An Endeavor society and a Junior En- 
deavor and Intermediate society. A Ladies' 
Aid and a C. W. B. M. society. The church 
is in good condition and flourishing. 

The first regiUar pastor was J. M. Crocker. 
He was followed by Wm. M. Roe, J. W. Mouser, 
B. W. Johnson, Neal Cheatham. A. M. Hag- 
gard, F. Waldon, B. W. Johnson, F. Morgan, 
T. W. Grafton, J. D. Houston, W. R. McRae, 
Wm. Semones, J. H. Ragan, J. H. McQuery, C. 
D. Stout, J. E. Denton, ^^^ AV. Williamson, 
A. D. Veatch and E. E. Mack, the present 
pastor. 

A number of very successful revivals were 
held by such men as A. I. Hobbs, J. W. Mous- 
er, Knowles Shaw. H. A. Northcutt, F. Wal- 
don, B. W. Johnson. T. E. Cramblet, W. B. 
F. Treat, Joel Brown, L. Anthony, E. L. Fra- 
zier, and others. The above named were all 
considered exceptionally fine preachers. 

Prominently identified with the early his- 
tory of this church were the following: J. 
M. Dodge, Z. W. Kelley. H. G. Van Meter, 
Geo. Hopkins, John Miller, James Routh. The 
above were elders. Other prominent members 
were: E. H. Haycraft, Geo. Hathaway, J. L. 
Snyder, John Cook, G. M. Adams, W. G. Wil- 
kinson, Mason Conger, W. L. AVilson, the pa- 
triarchs Joseph Van ]\Ieter, W. D. Gross and 
J. J. Van Meter, nearly all of wlmm are now 
dead. 

The Presbyterian church was organized in 
18B9, having a membership at first of twenty- 
five or thirty. A beautiful little church was 
erected in 1870 and dedicated that fall. 

Some of the early ministers were Revs. Bay- 
li.ss, T. S. Bailey, Wm. Campbell, John Syl- 
vanus, R. J. Hughes and M. L. Bardue. Prom- 
inently connected with this church were R. S. 
Walker, Mr. Collins, Wm. Paine, Ezra Mann 
and Geo. W. Leonard. 

So manv lo.?.?es occurred bv reason of death 



and removals that the church was disposed of 
and was moved away in 1882. 

A Fire Destroys Business Block. De Soto 
suffered a disastrous loss in 1897 in which five 
buildings were consumed including the hotel, 
Hoch's general store and an implement store 
—making a loss of $10,000. The store build- 
ings have been rebuilt and a hotel called the 
De Soto House established near the M. E. 
churcli, managed at present by Joseph Pay- 
ton. 

The Exchange Bank was organized in March, 
1892. It has a capital stock of $25,000, and 
does a general banking business. 

Its officers are : M. S. Kile, president ; F. M. 
Kile, vice president; Geo. M. Kile, cashier. 

The Brick and Tile Factory is owned by Kile 
& McKissick and is one of the important indus- 
tries of the place. The chief output is drain- 
age tile, there being an unprecedented demand 
for it in recent years. 

An excellent quality of clay is found near 
the plant and a number of men are constant- 
ly employed in producing this much sought for 
article. Mr. Wm. McKissick is a thorough 
miister of the busines.s, a practical brick-layer 
and one of the pioneer brick men of the coun- 
ty. Pie ran a factory in an early day a short 
distance east of De Soto and is now principal 
owner in an Adel plant. 

Although De Soto has a population of some 
less than 400, it makes up in quality what is 
lacking in nvimbers. 

It has long been noted for the superior ex- 
cellence of its schools, large church member- 
ship and orderly conduct of its citizens. 

The temperance movement that swept over 
the county in an early day found a strong body 
of sympathizers here. The saloons were closed 
out in 1876 and a higher moral tone has pre- 
vailed since. 

An important temperance movement was 
started in 1878 under direction of J. W. Har- 
den and a De Soto Temperance Reform Club 
with 400 members was started with the follow- 
ing officers: President, J. S. De Motte; vice 
president, J. J. Van Meter ; secretary, J. F. Per- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



233 



ry; assistant secretarj'. May Hemphill; treas- 
urer, Frank Hemphill; chaplain, Wesley Pay- 
ton. 

This organization had an uplifting influence 
that materially contributed to the high stand- 
ard of citizenship that signalize.* De Soto to- 
day. 

VAN METER. 

This hustling little town of 450 persons is 
located on the Chicago & Rock Island road, 
near the center of Van Meter township. 

Van Meter was formerly a great -coal mining 
point. Years ago it was the largest and most 
extensively worked mine in the county. The 
Chicago Coal Company, with J. L. Piatt, presi- 
dent ; John Walker, superintendent ; John Hon- 
icker, clerk ; and Ira S. Hall, weighboss ; oper- 
ated in 1879 and produced a large output of 
good coal. A shaft 257 feet deep was located 
about thirty rods northwest from the town lim- 
its and about the .same distance south of the 
main "Coon." The mine was first opened by 
Boag & Van Meter, who commenced sinking 
a shaft in 1878 and afterwards sold out to the 
Chicago Coal Company. Numerous houses were 
erected and a large number of miners found 
employment here. 

The railroad and the local trade made a 
demand that kept the mine nmning at its ut- 
most capacity. 

This mine finally came into control of J. 
L. Piatt and later of J. L. Piatt, Jr., and C. 
B. Piatt, who continued to operate it with vary- 
ing success until a few years ago, when owing 
to the difficulty in securing help and the in- 
creased cost of production, the mine was closed. 

Located near the abandoned coal shaft is 
the Piatt Pressed & Fire Brick factory. They 
secure a clay there that has no superior in the 
state. The clay used was obtained partly from 
the coal mine at a depth of 265 feet and partly 
from near the top of the bluff above the plant. 
The Van Meter buff brick and red facing brick 
are found in many of the best buildings of the 
state. C. B. Piatt has mastered the art of 



scientific brickmaking and his writings and 
practical inventions have given him a state- 
wide reputation. The brick company is equal- 
ly well equipped for making drain tile and at 
present is directing its attention primarily to 
this industry. 

The town was laid out in 1869, the land on 
which it stands being owned by a Mr. Wilson 
who had built a house here before the town 
was laid out. The first store was kept by E. 
D. Smith and the first postofiice by W. H. B. 
Wilson. 

The name, Tracy, was originally selected for 
this enterprising place, but was afterwards re- 
named in honor of J. R. Van Meter, a pioneer 
settler. It was incorporated in December, 1877, 
J. R. Van Meter, T. E. Moore, G. C. Briggs, 
W. H. Jennings, and B. F. Goar being appoint- 
ed commissioners. 

The town officers in 1878 were : Mayor, H. 
iV. Bullis; recorder, M. A. Little; treasurer, 
Phillip Hunt; councilmen: J. R. Van Meter, 
C. K. Smith, Samuel Drew, Silas Parker, C. 
W. Bogue; marshal, E. D. Akers; justice, J. 
W. Welch ; constable, J. B. Lemans. 

The present mayor, J. L. Piatt, Jr., is a mem- 
ber of the Piatt Brick & Tile Company and is 
well fitted for the duties of his office. As has 
V)oeu said. Van Meter township has a history 
reaching back sixtj' years and was the first part 
of the county selected for a home by the white 
settlers. 

Before the town was started Jacob Van Meter 
was living on the site of his present home run- 
ning a flouring mill on the "Coon" river and 
doing an immense business. The mill fell 
down a number of years ago while in the 
zenith of its career. In 1901 Mr. Van Metfer 
erected a steam flouring-mill where the old ele- 
vator stood and equipped it with the very finest 
up-to-date machinery. The town donated $2,- 
000 towards this enterprise and hoped that it 
would prove a winner. 

It seems, however, that the mills in the small 
towns and rural sites in Iowa are handicapped 
in many ways and this mill has not jirovod to 
be a financial success. 



234 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Mr. Van Meter is still living in his com- 
fortable home north of the railroad track and 
enjoying fairly good health. He has been a 
man of unusual energy and has acquired a 
handsome competence. He has hunted deer 
near his home, the buffalo on the western plains 
and smaller game in Canada. 

Chas. McCoy, a resident of thi^ town, built 
the first hotel shortly after the railroad went 
through. 

It stood on the corner where Lee Fisher's 
hardware i^ now located and is one of the 
old landmarks. It has since been moved a few 
feet south, remodeled and still serves as a ho- 
tel. Some of the old settlers remember this 
in past years as the Graham House, conduct- 
ed by Richard Graham. 

The first physician and druggist was Dr. 
C. M. Dodge. Following him were Drs. Bunce, 
Woodruff and Smith. 

S. L. Doty, the veteran harness maker and 
one of nature's noblemen, was a son-in-law of 
Chas. McCoy and was a citizen of this place 
for many years. He is now located at Waukee, 
and recalls with keen pleasure the many en- 
joyable years of his life at Van Meter. Mr. 
Doty bought the original J. R. Van Meter home 
and moved it to the northwest part of town, 
where he used it for a hotel. It is now remem- 
bered as the Henry Thomas dwelling. 

John Clayton, W. T. Clayton and Simeon 
Claji,on, now deceased, were among the early 
settlers of this vicinity. 

George E. Trindle, whose farm lies south of 
town, was here before the railroad came 
through. 

Henry Clayton and brother were among the 
first merchants of the place. They did an ex- 
tensive business until their store was burned, 
the fire, it Ls supposed, being of incendiary ori- 
gin. 

Coe Little was the original station agent for 
the Rock Island Comjiany here. He made this 
place his home imtil recent years when, his 
mind gradually failing him, he was taken care 
of bv his children. 



Jacob Stump, one of the active residents of 
Van Meter despite his eighty years, was in this 
neighborhood long before a town was thought 
of. He has held numerous positions of trust 
and confidence and is noted for hi.s courtesy 
and affability. 

Before the bridges were built across "Coon" 
river, ferries were maintained at the place called 
"Coon" point and east of the mill. One of the 
early ferrymen, Joel Patton, is remembered by 
pioneer settlers. 

Van Meter was formerly a great shipping 
point for cordwood and railroad ties. 

Great ricks of wood used to be placed along 
the track from the station east of the elevator. 

B. F. Goar was one of the original wood mer- 
chants and employed a large number of men 
in this business for many years. He and Jehu 
Moore conducted one of the first drug stores. 
Afterwards he and his brother Eli Goar, started 
a general store which was conducted until re- 
cent years with signal success. Jehu Moore is 
remembered for _his fun-loving proclivities. 
The firm name of the dnig store in which he 
was a partner was "Moore & Goar." 

On one occasion he went to the depot and 
seeing a lot of boxes of new goods marked 
"Moore & Goar," he took a paint brush and 
changed them to read "Moore & Goat" and 
then complained to his partner about the care- 
lessness of the wholesale house that was sub- 
jecting them to ridicule. His partner was natu- 
rally nervous and easily excited and when he 
had personally satisfied himself of the incor- 
rect marking he roundly abused the business 
firm and wrote them a scathing letter to the 
infinite delight of his joking partner. 

Among some of the early settlers of Van 
Meter were C. W. Bogue, storekeeper; Alex. 
Logan and Elwood Moore, carpenters ; Wm. El- 
lis, general merchant; J. W. "Welch, butcher 
and Phillip Hunt, plasterer. 

The first burial, from most reliable authority 
obtainable, was that of Wm. McCoy, son of 
Chas. McCoy, who was killed on the railroad 
shortly after the town was begun. The body 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



235 



was interred in the Ben Clayton graveyard, 
there being no cemetery yet located nearer the 
town. 

The first elevator was built by Miles White 
of Des Moines. It was a large one and did an 
extensive business. 

Saloons flourished here in esirly days and 
the presence of something like one hundred 
miners made things lively at times. Among 
some of the proprietors of these thirst parlors 
were Messrs. Donovan, Drew and Hackett. 

The old M. E. church building was bought 
by Hackett at the time of its removal and uti- 
lized for a while as a saloon — a circumstance 
that must have caused considerable comment. 

The United Brethren church in Dallas coun- 
ty has been a strong force for good. The Van 
Meter charge especially, has marked prosperity, 
and has about three hundred members, some 
of whom live across the line in Madison county. 

The parsonage and church property at Van 
Meter are modern and tasty in style and con- 
venient for their purpose. The Sunday school 
and Christian Endeavor society and preaching 
services are kept up with lively interest. The 
present pastor, E. W. Curtis, has been here two 
pastoral terms, eight years in all. The leading 
families represented in the congregation are N. 
Moore, Eli Golden, the Trindles, Potter, Jen- 
ning.s, Dr. Summers, Dr. Allcott, Hester, Hol- 
royd, Switzer, Neideigh, McNair, Stump, Jung- 
man, Rev. Young, Clayton, Neal, Shambaugh, 
and Gutshall, etc. 

The first minister was Jno. De Moss, who be- 
gan ns early as 1850. Nathan Moore is a chart- 
er member, he and his wife being the second 
white couple married in Dallas county. They 
united with the church here fifty-six years ago. 

Van ]\Ieter charge is noted for its large con- 
tributions to the college and other general 
church interests. In 1906 eight thousand dol- 
lars were contributed and past records show 
that over thirty thousand have been given to 
the Leander Clark college alone. Jacob Gut- 
shall, now ninety-three years of age and 
wealthy, has been a liberal giver and is much 
loved and respected. 



The clmrch here has had a vigoroas, healthy 
growth and is a bright and shining light. 

Goar Bros., being the pioneer mercantile firm 
of Van Meter, were compelled to furnish bank- 
ing facilities for the town and on March 6th, 
1899, this portion of their general business 
was separated and organized as the Van Meter 
Bank, capital $10,000.00, located in the Trin- 
dle block. Officers and owners: E. J. Goar, 
president; J. Elmer Goar, vice president; B. 
F. Goar, cashier and J. E. Goar, assistant cash- 
ier, with the latter in charge. 

The firm of Goar Bros, was dissolved in 1901 
and oh June 15th of the same year the Van 
Meter Bank was sold to G. H. Messenger, D. A. 
Blanchard, Frank Hemphill and William Rob- 
erts. Later L. W. Clayton was admitted as an 
equal partner. Clarance Dunn was elected cash- 
ier, which position he has since retained. Dur- 
ing the summer of 1902 a modern building was 
erected for the permanent home of the bank. 

In the latter part of 1905 G. H. Messenger 
purchased the entire business and on January 
1, 1906, organized the Van Meter State Bank, 
capital $25,000.00, with the following officers 
and directors: G. H. Messenger, president; J. 
E. Goar, vice president; Clarance Dunn, cash- 
ier; S. M. Leach and John B. White. 

The institution is now known as -one of the 
strongest and most prosperous in the county, 
with deposits of $140,000.00, nearly treble those 
in 1901. Its stockholders are among the rich- 
est in the vicinity. 

Van Meter takes high rank in the quality of 
its schools and in wages paid the instructors. 
A two room building was put up in 1870 which 
answered the needs of a quarter of a century, 
when the present brick was erected. 

This is a modern six room building with 
large, well lighted recitation rooms and good 
equipment. 

The teachers for 1907 were: E. R. Monroe, 
principal; Dollie Kilgore, assistant; Emma Mc- 
Lain, grammar room ; Phoebe Mendenhall, in- 
termediate; Lulu Jennings, second primary; 
Alice Martin, first primary. 



236 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



EARLY HISTORY. 

The first school building stood near 
the cemetery lot and it is believed that 
the first teacher after the town was started 
was Tim .Vdams. Mr. Adams was also a preach- 
er and preached the first sermon in the town, 
using the hotel for place of services. Miss 
Ruth Clayton, afterwards Mrs. W. H. Jennings, 
was one of the first lady teachers. The old 
two story frame school building was purchased 
by S. H. Cook and is still used by him as a 
store room. 

Coon Valley Lodge I. 0. O. F., No. 257. This 
lodge was organized in 1871 with five )nembers 
as follows : Stephen Adams, Shubal Ellis, S. L. 
Doty, Wm. Hoffstott and J. D. Ellis. The 
first officers were: Stephen Adams, N. G. ; Wm. 
Hoffstott, V. G. ; Shubal Ellis, recording secre- 
tary; J. D. Ellis, treasurer. 

In 1874 the members living near Booneville 
withdrew and formed a new lodge, called For- 
est lodge. This weakened the numerical 
strength of the lodge but it did not check the 
fraternal spirit of those remaining. 

Much credit is due L. W. Clayton, S. L. Doty, 
Phillip Hunt and others for their devoted loy- 
alty in directing the affairs of the lodge and 
carrying on the charitable work. The lodge 
now has a good working membership and is 
on a good financial basis. 

The present officers are : 0. W. Long, N. G. ; 
M. A. Pierce. Y. G. : A. C. Trindle, secretary; 
L. W. Clayton, treasurer. 

Rebekah Lodge No. 399 was organized in 
October, 1874, by charter from Coon Valley 
Lodge. Some of the first members were : Mrs. 
Hoffstott, Mrs. Wm. Shull, Mrs. A. M Logan, 
Mrs. S. Parks, Mrs. J. J. Smith, Mrs. J. D. El- 
lis, Mrs. S. L. Doty, Mrs. F. M. Evans and Mrs. 
Pierce. 

This lodge flourished for a number of years 
and then ceased to exist as an organic body. It 
was resurrected in 1897 and has been an im- 
portant adjunct to the subordinate lodge. It 
is styled Coon Valley Star Rebekah and has 
the following officers: Lulu Cleveland, N. G. ; 



Ruth Clayton, V. G. ; Stella Hazen, secretary ; 
Delia Switzer, treasurer. The Rebekahs are 
noted entertainers and the famous banquets 
they have served will never be forgotten by 
those who were present. 

Fortitude Lodge No. 256, A. F. & A. M., as 
explained before, was organized at De Soto in 
June, 1869, and afterward moved to Van Meter. 

This lodge deserves special mention on ac- 
count of the proficiency the members have 
made in the ritualistic work and in their skill 
in conferring degrees. It stands at the head of 
the lodges of the county and probably has no 
superior in the state. They have four mem- 
bers, J. L. Piatt, Jr., N. P. Summei^, L. W. 
Clayton and Harry Pearn, who have passed 
a rigid examination before state board of cus- 
todians and have received commissions indi- 
cating absolute proficiency in the work. 

The members of Fortitude Lodge are not 
only good in exemplifying degrees but they 
are thoroughly imbued mth the spirit of their 
order and have set a high standard for others. 

The present officers of Fortitude Lodge 
are: J. L. Piatt, Jr., W. M.; T. A. Lawson, S. 
W. ; Joseph Lanniug, J. W. : C. B. Piatt, treas- 
urer; Clarence Dunn, secretary; Henry Van 
Meter, S. D. ; Nicholas W. Wacht, J. D. 

The present officers of Sunnyside Chapter, 
0. E. S., are: Mrs. Jessie M. Summers, W. 
M.; C. P. Piatt, W. P.; Mrs. Luella Hutch- 
ins, A. M. ; Mrs. Lena England, conductress ; 
Mrs. Helen Piatt, A. C; Mrs. Adeline Man- 
beck, Adah; Miss Ruth Clinton, Ruth; Mi-s. 
Prue Lawson, Esther; Miss Carrie McBride, 
Martha; Mrs. Mary Piatt, Electa: J. L. Piatt, 
Jr., secretary; Mrs. M. R. Neideigh, warden; 
Dr. N. P. Summers, sentinel ; Mrs. Maggie 
Pearn, organist. 



Dexter is situated in the southwest corner 
of Union town.'^hip and has a population of 800. 

The town was surveyed and platted in 1868 
by M. J. Marshall. The first lot was sold in 
1868 to Hunter Bros, for $100. 




ADEL STATION 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



239 



Cheeseman & Ellis were the first merchants, 
their store, a small plank shanty, standing near 
where Stanley's store now stands. Hunter 
Bros, soon had a hou.se built and started to 
sell drags and groceries. B. B. Campbell built 
the fii'st boarding hou.-e and did a rushing 
business. 

Sot)n ai'tenvaxds. .J. J. Young built a luitel, 
known as the De.xter House. 

NEWSP.\PERS. 

The Dexter Herald, a wide awake newspaper, 
wa.s established in January, 1871 by J. J. Da- 
vies, who kept it until lS7;i when it was sold 
to Grant A: Laurence. Mr. Davies soon took 
charge of it again and conducted it until 1877 
when it again changed hands, this time going 
to J. C. McManima. In 1881 its name was 
changed to the Sentinel and has continued 
under this name to the present time. C. J. 
Barnott, C. C. Pugh and E. P. Reynolds have, 
at various times in the past, been connected 
with the Sentinel and a.ssisted in keeping up 
its reputation and extending its sphere of use- 
fulness. 

Li 1905 the Sentinel was purchased by A. 
L. & R. L. Ro.ss who have continued to publish 
it under the finn name of Ross Bros. 

It is republican in politics, has an extensive 
circulation in Dallas and the three adjoining 
counties and is recognized everywhere as a most 
excellent paper. 

Needed improvements in the plant have been 
made rnider the present ownership and the of- 
fice now is completely fitted out witli modern 
equipment. 

Dexter was incorporated December 13, 1870. 
C. T. Bass, .J. G. Mark, 0. P. Williams, S. N. 
Stevens and Sol Rimer were appointed commis- 
sioners on election. G. K. Rockwood was elect- 
ed first mayor of the town. The present officers 
are: A. T. Percy, mayor; J. E. Hammond, 
clerk. 

The Postoffice was established at Diwtcr in 
1868 with Mr. Carruthers in charge. The pres- 
ent postmaster, Frank Downey has hold his ]io- 



sition a number of years and is eminently satis- 
factory. 

The first school was kept in a one room log 
cabin that had been built for a dwelling. 

A two story frame building erected in 1870 
at a cost of $5,500 served for many years to 
teach the young ideas how to shoot. One of 
the first teachers was Joseph McLain, who died 
here many years later. Many estimable teach- 
ers labored here and helped to give the young 
people the right kind of preparation for life's 
duties. In 1878 a normal school building was 
stai-ted. This was an elegant three story brick 
put up at a cost of $6,000 by a stock company 
of busines.s men and farmers about Dexter. 

Some of the best remembered teachers of the 
normal were W. H. Monroe and A. G. Smith. 
Mr. Monroe wa^; unusually successful as an or- 
ganizer and made this school known far and 
near. Prof. Smith was quiet and unassuming 
but had few superiors as an instructor. 

Many efforts were made by those interested 
in the normal to secure the Gregg Fund to sup- 
plement the funds received from local sources 
but this could not be secured. In the year of 
1896 the normal building waii consolidated with 
the public .school district and in 1905 was torn 
down to make room for the present building. 

The present new public school is one of the 
finest in the county. It is admirably arranged, 
attractive in appearance, and is a monument 
to the educational sjiirit that characterizes the 
citizens of Dexter. The present instructors are: 
D. P. Repa.ss, superintendent; Bessie Burnette, 
principal; Roxy Nolte, eleventh grade.; Elva 
Smith, music and science; Mary Johnson, sev- 
enth and eighth; Nellie Brown, fifth and sixth; 
Lottie Crouse, third and fourth: Ethel Frank- 
lin, first and second. In 1907 there were eleven 
graduates. The present principal, D. P. Repa.ss, 
has had charge of the schools eight years. He 
is a big man in every sense of the word and has 
impressed his personality on the schools for 
their decided betterment. MLss Mary Talbott 
canic to Dexter in 1878 and taught continuous- 
\\ in the firet grades for twenty-eight years. 
Some who started to school with Miss Talbot for 



240 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



their first teacher afterwards sent their children 
to her to get their first start in school. 

Dexter Lodge, No. 215, I. O. 0. F., was or- 
ganized in 1871 with the following charter 
members: M. C. Marshall, M. Macy, A. J. 
Welker, J. E. Roper, E. S. Fry, J. J. Davies. 
First officei-s: J. E. Roper, N. G.; M. C. Mar- 
shall, V. G. ; J. J. Davies, secretary; A. J. Wel- 
ker, treasurer. The present officers are: Jesse 
Ross, noble grand; Ray Leefer, vice grand; 
Fred Nolte, secretary; D. S. Brown, treasurer; 
John Bookout, warden ; G. W. Houck, conduct- 
or; W. S. Andrew. I. S. G. ; Scott Harding, 0. 
S. G.; L. A. Russell, R. S. N. G.; Geo. Bell, 
L. S. N. G.; A. R. Clark, R. S. V. G.; WiU 
Vogal, L. S. V. G. ; Ed Vogal, R. S. S. ; Geo. 
Leeper, L. S. S. : J. H. Todd, chaplain. They 
own their own building, a two story double 
brick. 

Mt. Tabor Lodge, No. 293, A. F. & A. M. 
This lodge was oi'ganized in June, 1871 with 
the following officei-s : C. T. Bass, W. M. ; Sol 
Rimer, S. W. ; J. E. Roper, J. AV. The pres- 
ent officers are : J. H. De Vault, W. M. ; W. 
S. Robison, S. W.; Theodore Quick, J. W.; 
Charles Crane, treasurer; F. H. Fitting, secre- 
tary: R. J. Davis, S. D.; D. S. Brown, J. D.; 
Hugh Roddan, S. S.; E. B. Pohle, J. S.; J. 
Roddan, tyler. The Masonic lodge owns its 
own hall, which is nicely furnished. 

Dexter Camp, No. 1662, Modern Woodmen 
of America was organized in 1891. Its present 
officers are : Dr. F. F. Winsell, V. G. ; W. E. 
A^ogel, W. A.; S. Callison, clerk; W. S. Robi- 
son, banker; Dr. F. F. Winsell, Dr. B. H. 
Sherman, examining physicians. 

Dexter grange was organized in 1872 with 
twenty-six members. The names of J. R. 
Chandler, M. Perry, John Watts, A. C. Macy, 
F. M. McPherson. Nicholas Ogle and E. M. 
Lindsey. prominent Grangers in past daj'^s, are 
well remembered by old settlers in Dexter. 

The Grange associations were numerous in 
tho.5e days and they were able to secure some 
sound legislation. Though the principles advo- 
cated by the Grangers are still live, wide-awake 
is.-ue?. the lodges have gone out of existence. 



CHURCHES. 

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. 
Zion's church of the unaltered AugsbUrg Con- 
fession, of Dexter. 

Articles or Confession of Faith: We acknowl- 
edge and confess all the canonical books of the 
Old and New Testament as the only revealed 
word and will of God and the symbolical books 
of the Evangelical Lutheran church, especial- 
ly the unaltered Augsburg Confession and Dr. 
M. Luther's small catechism as the correct ex- 
position and declaration of the word of God. 

Names of organizing members : Ed Meisker, 
Nicolaus Schlarb, Peter Schlarb, Hy. D. Holder- 
baum, Michael Holderbaum, ilichael S. Hold- 
erbaum, Ferdinand Rohte, Chas. Wolffinger, 
Philip Gutbeil. Incorporated February 27, 
1871. 

Ministei-s and their time of sers'ice: A. D. 
Kraemer, 1872-74; I. Horn, 1875-82; F. 
Ehlers (filled vacancy of '82-'83 ) ; H. W. Baehr, 
1883-84; Geo. A. Beruthal, 1885; F. R. Ehlers, 
(filled vacancy of 1886) ; V. P. Gossweiler, 
1886-90 ; Louis von Scheirk, 1891-98, who died 
here; H. Mai-kworth. 1899-'04; AV. C. Borchers, 
1904-03; C. L. Rape from June, 1908. 

Number of baptisms, etc : Since 1872 were 
baptized two hundred and fiftj'-one pereons. 
Since 1874 were confirmed one hundred and 
nine persons. Since 1872 were mai'ried sixty- 
four couples. Since 1872 were buried sixty-three 
persons. Number of present members, twenty- 
eight. 

The First Presbyterian church of Dexter 
was organized November 8, 1868, by Rev. P. H. 
Jacob, and was constituted of the following 
members: Joseph Hunter, Mrs. Annie Hunt- 
er, Miss Fannie 0. Hunter, Jonathan Hunter, 
David B. Hunter and .Jerrj- Carrothers. 

David B. Hunter and Jerry Carrothers were 
chosen elders, and were set apart for that work. 
A frame church was built in 1871, and there 
has since been a parsonage built, the church 
costing about $1,800 and the parsonage about 
$2,000. They have a good Sunday school and 
Christian Endeavor. 

The present pastor is Rev. J. J. Ehrstein, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



241 



who also preaches for the Earlham Presbyter- 
ian church, alternating with the two churches. 

The United Presbyterian Congregation of 
Dexter, Iowa. In the year 1870 a preaching 
station was located in the schoolhouse and the 
tiist sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. C. T. 
McCoughn of Winterset. 

Preaching was maintained at intervals, until 
Rev. James Lowhill was called to Pitzer and he 
took charge of this point in connection with 
his other work. The organization was effected 
September 20, 1879, with J. C. Allen and C. C. 
Graham ruling elders. 

At the time of organizing there were but 
seventeen members. This number has grown 
from time to time and have had about two 
hundred and seventy members, but not at any 
one time. The present membership (July, 
1907) is about seventj^-five, but the prospects 
look bright. 

The members of the congregation who have 
been elected as ruling elders are as follows : J. 
C. Allen, C. C. Graham, H. C. Gilchrist, S. G. 
Jock, J. P. Kirkpatrick, John S. Smiley, A. 
M. Smith, R. L. Thompson, W. C. Horrah, 
W. A. Allen, Wm. Reed, A. R. Duff, W. A. 
Creswell, Harry Overhulser. These men served 
the congregation in the work assigned them 
and some have passed to a higher service. 

The men who have served the congi-egation 
as pastors are as follows: Revs. 0. S. Morrow, 
James H. Morrow, W. R. Leeper, Robt. J. Da- 
vidson, D. D., W. Z. Allen, H. U. Corns, and 
James P. Gibson, who has just taken charge of 
the work. 

The congregation has a nea.t little church 
and parsonage, and are free from debt, and 
always are prompt in paying obligations. 

The M. E. church was organized in August, 
1869, with forty members. Some of the early 
ministers were Revs. J. Lisle, D. Lamonte, Chas. 
Ashton, T. Burk and L. .Jean. Their present 
pastor is C. S. Burnett. 

DEXTER INDUSTRIES. 

The State Bank of Dexter was established in 
1875 and was organized as a state bank in 1894. 



Its officers are: J. G. Stanley, president; J. E. 
Savage, vice-president; F. H. Fitting, cashier; 
S. E. Byson, assistant cashier. The bank has 
a paid-up capital of $25,000 with a surplus of 
$11,000. The Dexter Savings bank was or- 
ganized in 1901. A recent statement of this 
institution shows a capital stock of $15,000; 
deposits, $46,319.75. Present officers: 0. R. 
Savage, president; J. E. Savage, vice-president; 
M. E. Palmer, cashier. 

Fort Des Moines Canning Company was in- 
corporated January 13, 1902, located at Fort 
Dodge, with a capital stock of $25,000, and 
moved to Dexter in 1903. The company in- 
vested $36,000 in building and equipment. It 
has one of the bast equipped plants in the 
state. It runs two lines and cans corn, farmers 
getting from $20 to $25 per acre for 
their crop. During operating season the pay- 
roll amounts to $1,000 per week, and they 
shipped between thirty and forty carloads in 
1908. The corn is labeled as follows: Fort 
Des Moines, Dexter Prairie Queen, Golf Queen, 
Yucca and Honor, and is sold all over the 
United States. The officers of the company are : 
President, Robert McCalman ; vice-president, 
F. H. Fitting; secretary and manager, F. G. 
McCall; treasurer, M. W. Brown. 

Excelsior Thresher Tooth Company has a 
paid-up capital of $37,000 and manufactures 
Excelsior thresher teeth. Excelsior haiTow cart, 
Billy Twiste washer, Monarch washer, belt 
g-uide. etc. The factory burned in February, 
1907, but arrangements to rebuild are being 
made, with office and wareroom twenty-four by 
seventy feet. 

Among some of the many early settlers in 
and around Dexter who have contributed time, 
money and indefatigable effort in advancing 
the interests of their town are: Chas. Crane, 
E. Battey, J. G. Stanley and J. S. Downey. 

No one can estimate the services rendered 
their home town by these men in particular 
and many others in general. Foremost in edu- 
cational, religious, business and social matters, 
they have always been active and earnest and 



242 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



have always had the courage of their convic- 
tions. 

No man in the county is better known and 
more highly respected than J. S. Downey. For 
many years, besides befriending hundreds of 
people about home who have a^ked his help, 
he has always been a foremost figure in county 
and .state politics and he never hesitates to tell 
people just where he stands. 

Uncompromising in his attitude towards 
vice, strong in his likes and dislikes, somewhat 
independent in party affiliation, he has figured 
prominently for many years in matters in 
which municipal, county, state and national is- 
sues were involved. While not a politician in 
the ordinary sense of the word, he has the 
confidence of his friends and neighbors, there 
being few people for miles about Dexter who 
have not received some courtesy or favor from 
him, and fewer still who do not thoroughly 
respect him, it is little wonder that when J. 
S. Downey champions a certain cause lie is al)le 
to secure a large following. 

If living close to high ideals, pi-acticing char- 
ity in a practical way, holding the respect and 
friendship of his political enemies, using his 
energies for the betterment of hi? community 
can be considered a success in this materialistic 
age, few there are who will dispute the state- 
ment that J. S. Downey, a typical, kindly gen- 
tleman of the old school, has made a success. 

^lajor E. H. Conger — A sketch of Dexter 
would be decidedly incomplete without men- 
tioning the Dexter farmer, banker, county and 
state treasurer, soldier and noted diplomat, Ed- 
win XL Conger. 

Settling on a farm near Dexter in 1868 he 
made strong friends with all with whom he 
came in contact and laid the foundation of his 
remarkable political career that distinguished 
him in after years. He had the unusual facul- 
ty of remembering names and faces and this 
quality served him well in his election to coun- 
ty, state and national offices. 

An intrepid, gallant soldier, he was brevetted 
major for courageous and meritorions conduct 
on the battle-fieJd. After serving as count v 



treasurer and then state trea.-urer lie was elect- 
ed to congress. 

Appointed as minister to Brazil by President 
HaiTison, then to China by McKinley and 
Roosevelt, and later to Mexico, he filled all these 
positions with credit to himself and his countrj*. 

Impoverished financially by the failures of 
some of his fi-iends he was yet, at the time of 
his death, in May, 1907, rich beyond calcula- 
tion in the esteem, respect and love in which 
he was held by all who knew him. 

The Chicago Record in 1900 contained a trib- 
ute to Major Conger, written by C. C. Pugh, of 
Adel. It is a splendid tribute, and a splendidly 
written one. We give it in full below: 

The fate of the Hon. Edwin H. Conger, min- 
ister to China, is of intense interest to the peo- 
ple of the United States at large, but nowhere 
else can that interest reach the intensity that 
characterizes the feelings of the people of Dal- 
las county, Iowa. Mr. Conger was an early set- 
tler at Dexter, a thriving and pleasantly situat- 
ed little town in the southwest corner of this 
county. His family grew up there and his 
first political friendships and achievements were 
formed and secured in that locality, and today 
should you journey to this pretty agricultural 
town the first greeting given would be the hope 
expressed that Mr. Conger and his family are 
safe. Ed^^'in Conger has the hearts and the 
confidence of this people, a people that to him 
is as dear as any on the face of the earth next 
to those of immediate kinship. The big- 
brained, broad-shouldered man that has devel- 
oped into the splendid statesman and trusted 
friend of President McKinley has a simplicity 
that would never let him forget the friendships 
of his early political career, and annually, when 
he has been in the state, he would make his 
jnlgrimage to that little cemetery on the hill 
adjacent to Dexter, that he might drop a tear 
on the grave of his mother and decorate with 
loving hands the resting place of the honored 
father. 

Tlie .<trong local pride that a town so right- 
fully hns when one of its citizens reaches dis- 
tinction is verv marked in Dexter in connection 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



243 



with the i3olitical rise of Mr. Conger, and with 
it there is no alloy of jealousy, nothing of a 
pettiness to mar its spontaneity. Irrespective of 
politics the ^entire population has on various 
occasions turned out en mass to give him wel- 
come, notably so on his return from Brazil, 
where he served as minister under the Harri- 
son administration. His home life has been 
that of sweet domesticity idealized, the family 
circle appealing always to hi.^ generous heart. 
Rugged in health and with a commanding pres- 
ence, he incites confidence. Not brilliant, as 
the term is familiarly used, but so steadfast, so 
thoroughly in earnest and so honest as to have 
won and constantly held the esteem of his ac- 
quaintances, Mr. Conger believes in the genius 
of application, and has so thoroughly equipped 
himself as to rank a.s a diplomat who has at- 
tained national reputation. He scorned deceit 
and never in his long political career has he 
stooped to a dishonorable act. Clean-handed, 
he ha.s ever maintained the honor and dignity 
of the nation, and today there is a sadness in 
this county that comes very near the heart be- 
cause of the fear that he has met with death at 
the hands of the Chinese Boxers. The wife, 
the family now with him, are known to all our 
people, and the telegrams from China are daily 
.scanned with breathless anxiety. 

Edwin E. Conger has served this county, the 
state and the nation in positions of trust, and 
at all times has acquitted himself with credit. 
He knows no fear, and those of us who are most 
intimately acquainted with him know that if 
he has been killed he fell bravely defending his 
dear ones and all those intrusted to his care. 
^^'e are devoutly linpeful that news will yet 
come that all are saved, and should such glad 
tidings be fia.«hed acro.ss the water there will be 
a voice of thankfulness sent heavenward from 
many hearts that today are heavy with that un- 
certainty, that fear of hearing of his death. This 
loyalty to Mr. Conger speaks more eloquently 
of his greatness tlian \iilniii('.s of written for- 
mahties that could imly tell of his political 
achievements. 



ADEL, COUNTY SE.\T OF IOWA S BEST COUNTY. 

The newly acquired citizens of Adel, the 
county seat of Dallas county, located on the Chi- 
cago & Milwaukee Railroad, twenty-two miles 
west of Des Moines, can scarcely realize the ap- 
pearance of the original town, laid out in the 
spring of 1847 and named Penoach. Only the 
natural topography of the land remains the 
same. From the wild frontier settlement 
whose name was changed to Adel in 1849, a 
station on the stage coach line from Des Moines 
to Council Bluffs, it has developed into a city 
of the modern type. With paved streets, miles 
of cement walks, water works, electric lights, a 
sewerage system, telephones, telegraph service, 
railroad facilities and modern heating plants, 
it is difficult to imagine the few sparse log cab- 
ins which were the only index to the stage c 3acli 
station known as Adel. 

The growth of Adel has not been phenom- 
inal nor spasmodic. It has been the quiet, 
steady increase which has built it up so sub- 
stantially, evidence of which can be seen on 
everj' hand. Earnest, honest citizens seeking 
a home in a ijrosperous, growing Iowa town 
have chosen Adel for a number of reasons. Its 
location in the heart of a fertile agricultural 
district assured them of its possibilities as a 
trading point for a large agricultural commun- 
ity. The Raccoon river, whose course is near 
the town, gave evidence of an abundant water 
supply for manufacturing purposes. The ex- 
cellent service and shipping facilities of the 
main line of the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad 
from Des Moines to the northwest. The finan- 
cial .standing of the community as indicated by 
the bank reports, the intelligence as shown by 
the excellence of their city schools and the 
morality as shown by the entire absence of sa- 
loons and unruly places and the prednminence 
of churches and church-going jjcople. 

The following clipping from the Dallas 
County News is a brief, but accurate summing- 
up of the many reasons why Adel is regarded 
as an ideal residence city: 

"Population, 1,400. Has four churches, fine 



244 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



graded schools, eleven teachers, two banks, 
water works, electric lights, paved business 
streets, grist mill, ice plant, a large glove and 
bonnet factory, one monthly paper, a printing 
press factory, two large brick and tile factories, 
cigar factory, two newspapers, two large de- 
partment stores, twenty stores, sanatorium, fine 
opera house, two lumber yards, three hotels, 
finest courthouse in state, good railroad facili- 
ties, twenty-eight miles cement sidewalks. Com- 
mercial Club of over one hundred members, 
splendid grain and stock raising country, 
drawing trade from large territory. If you want 
to see the prettiest town in the state, come to 
Adel. 

"The population of Adel has increased quite 
rapidly the last ten years. From something 
less than 800, they now have a population of 
more than 1,500. All of these people enjoy 
every improvement and convenience that is 
possible in the largest and most modern city 
in the world. Electric lights, water works, 
sewei"s, paved streets, telephones, telegraph 
service, cement sidewalks and modern heating 
plants are numbered among their conveniences ; 
and these, too, may be obtained at a price 
which is only about one-half of what the same 
conveniences would cost in a large city. Unlike 
the average town which has these improve- 
ments, Adel is but very little in debt. Should 
they sell their water works plant to a private 
concern they would be out of debt and there 
would be a bank account of several thousands 
to their credit." 

It is admii-ably located on the banks of the 
classic "Coon," so often mentioned in this his- 
tory. 

The land occupied by the county seat, as it 
was laid out, was originally owned by John 
Miller and was surveyed and platted by M. W. 
Miller and his deputy, A. D. Jones, in 1847. 
The town was first named Penoach, but soon 
afterwards changed to Adel. 

Among the early settlers were J. C. Corbell, 
Ira Sherman, Benj. Greene, Geo. Warden. 
"William Ellis and Cole Noel. 

Ira Sherman and Benj. Greene were the 



pioneer merchants. Mr. Greene's store stood 
opposite the northeast corner of the public 
square and Geo. B. Worden about the same 
time put in a mixed stock of merchandise in 
the old log courthouse that stood where Frank 
Miller's residence now is. 

Mr. Greene lived here for more than fifty 
years, until his death in June, 1902. He 
deserves a prominent place in a Dallas county 
historj' and the following mention from his 
home paper gives a sketch of his activities and 
a just tribute to his chai'acter: 

"In June, 1902, Benjamin Green died very 
suddenly at his home adjoining the town of 
.Vdel. He was eighty-three yeai-s of age and was 
sick only a few hours. He had been hearty and 
active and could do as much work as a rugged 
man at fifty. He came to Adel about 1850, and 
the south half of Adel is on land that he 
entered. With the possible exception of Cole 
Noel, he was probably the oldest resident of 
Adel. 

"He was a member of the House in the 
Fourth General Assembly which convened at 
Iowa City in December, 1852, when this district 
was comprised of the counties of Jasper, Polk, 
Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, 
Hardin, Rislej-, Yell, Fox, Pocahontas, Hum- 
boldt, Wright, Franklin, Cerro Gordo, Han- 
cock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmet,. Bancroft, 
Winnebago and Worth. Four of these counties 
are not known in Iowa today. He was also a 
member of the Sixth General Assembly which 
convened in Iowa City in December, 1856, 
when Polk. Dallas and Guthrie made up the 
district. He was one of the foremost members 
of those assemblies and remained an active and 
influential man in politics until some twenty 
yeai-s ago. He was possessed of a bright, active 
mind, and a most wonderful memory. He was 
a great reader, and a forcible and logical writer. 
He knew all the poets, and could quote them as 
accurately as if reading from the printed pages. 
He loved everything in nature, and found his 
greatest enjoyment among the trees, the plants 
and the flowers. Withal he was thoroughly 
honest, both with himself and with the world. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



245 



He despised a hypocrite or a liar and loved an 
honest man even though dififering widely with 
him on questions of moment. 

"Of late years he had not been much known, 
but he was one of the brightest and best men 
that Dallas county or the state contained. Dal- 
las county owes his memory much as one of 
its most progressive pioneers, who had much to 
do with its history and its develojDnient. When 
Adel was isolated from the world he took the 
lead in getting a railroad built. He was the 
most liberal contributor, and the first president 
of the line now running through that town. 
And besides giving two years of his time, he 
put in several thousands of dollars to the enter- 
prise, and donated it all. 

"His good wife still survives him. He also 
has four daughters living in Adel : Mrs. Ada 
Russell, Mrs. John B. White, Mrs. George ^^^ 
Clarke and Mrs. W. J. Williams." 

Among the men who for so many years were 
active in promoting the interests of Adel were 
Benj. Greene, Cole Noel, Dr. Caldwell and 
Judge Perkins. These men would have been 
prominent in any community and in any age. 
Able, far-seeing, influential with their fellow 
men, they deserve permanent places in the his- 
torj^ of their county in general and in the town 
of Adel in particular. 

Some of the men now living who settled 
here later but have long been connected with 
the town and have been interested in its de- 
velopment are: T. R. North. J. W. Russell, A. 
C. HotchkLss, R. S. Bai-r. White and Clark, 
S. L. Ward, G. C. D. Rickerson, J. C. Smart, 
Clem Ferguson, D. A. Blanchard and Thos. 
Ashton. 

Eugene Smith.son, son of the first sheriff of 
Dallas county, has lived nearly all his life in the 
old Miller settlement just east of town and has 
witnessed the development of Adel from a few 
straggling log houses to its present creditable 
rank. 

The present mayor, Lea Thornton, ha« lived 
half a century in Adel and the adjoining town- 
ship. Van Meter. He was county clerk six 



years and his knowledge of the past history of 
the county has been valuable in securing nmch 
important data. 

As has been stated, J. C. Corbell built the tii-st 
house and was the first postmaster in Penoach. 

Some of the early postmasters were: S. K. 
Scovell, Ira Sherman, M. C. Thomas, L. Lam- 
bert. H. C. Rippey, J. Robinson, N. B. Nichols, 
S. B. Hemstead, G. A. Atwood, J. E. Williams 
and W. F. Brockway. The present postmaster, 
A. C. Ilotchkiss, is assisted by deputies T. J. 
Lawson, Nellie Hotchkiss and Delia Decker. 

One of the first brick buildings erected here 
still stands west of the State Bank and is oc- 
cupied by G. W. Campbell, the j^ioneer tailor. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

The first two-story brick was erected fifty 
years ago on an out lot in the southwest part 
of town by Leroy Lambert. This was used as a 
school Imilding until the present building was 
constructed in 1869. S. K. Scovell, the pioneer 
teacher of the county, taught the first school in 
the IMiller settlement. Before the brick build- 
ing just mentioned was erected, a small one- 
story frame building on the site of the L. 
Lambert home was used a couple of years for 
school purposes. 

Probably the first teachers within the present 
corporate limits were James Reed and a Miss 
Anderson. Among some of the teachers of the 
new building who achieved signal success were 
J. B. White of the pi'esent Adel law firm and 
M. E. Phillips. Mr. White's practical know- 
ledge of the schools' needs has made him 
especially valuable as a director of these schools, 
a position to which he has been elected by the 
almost unanimous vote of his townsmen almost 
half a lifetime. 

The present grounds occupy a block of 
ground of commanding location, and orna- 
mented with magnificent shade trees. A jani- 
tor is employed by the year to look after the 
buildings and grounds and is furnished a neat 
cottage residence in a corner of the grounds. 

The board of directors consists of J. B. White, 
S. M. Leach, J. W. Russell, Wm. Roberts and 



•J4(S 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



R. S. Barr, all of whom are among the sub- 
stantial business and professional men of the 
town and have been directing the affairs of the 
school for so many j'ears that they doubtless 
hold the state record, not only for lengtiiy ten- 
ure of office but for the ability and interest 
manifested. 

The Adel school is on the accredited list and 
has property valued at $15,000. There were 
407 pupils in attendance in 1907, with eleven 
graduates. The following teachers were in 
charge during the school year of 1907 : -J. W. 
Graham, superintendent; Estella Tuttle, 
principal; Myrtle Anders, a.ssistant princijial; 
Bertha Herrington, German teacher; Leta 
Brockway, eighth grade; Ida Marsh, Mary 
Harper, Grace Wiles, Pearl Gray, Loretta 
Heasley, Grace Coffman. 

For the twenty-fifth time in the history of 
our high school it ha.s sent out into the world 
a class of young people splendidly equipped in 
an educational way for the battle of life. Those 
who take no higher courses will find they have 
an education sufficient to make a success of any 
calling, aside from the professions, which re- 
quire special traming. The program here 
given was an interesting event. The principal 
feature was the address Ijy Rev. C. S. Medljury 
of Des Moines, and it wa.s an eloquent, well 
directed and inspiring effort. The truths he 
told and the advice he gave cannot help being 
heeded by the members of the class to their 
great advantage. After the address the 
diplomas were presented and congratulations 
were showered upon the recipients. We are 
sure all will join in wishing for each member 
of the cla.ss of '07 the success that is due and 
which we believe will come. 

OLD L.\XD M.\KKS. 

As has been mentioned, the old log court- 
house, the two-storj' frame, and the old brick 
that served the people so acceptably in past days 
have all been removed to make way for the 
more pretentious buildings demanded by the 
present generation. 



It wa.s a i^leasure to hear Cole Noel and other 
pioneei-s tell about the days when the old stage 
coach came through here, crossing "Coon" river 
at the ferry near w'here the bridge now stands, 
and stopping at the small frame hotel, later 
becoming jjart of the Hill House, and presided 
over by R. R. Bailey. 

When the "Plank House" was bnilt in 1855 
by Jacob Frush^on the site occupied later by 
the Forrester House the stage station was 
moved to it and remiiined there until the line 
was discontinued. 

The old fair grounds already spoken of were 
historic .spots in past days and were visited by 
Ijeople from all parts of the county during their 
early halcyon days. 

The grounds along the mill slough so long 
devoted to racing and exhibitions of agricul- 
tural 25roducts were pui'chased in April, 1903. 
by the city to be used as a park. The following 
report of the commissioners show what is being 
done to beautify this place and to make it a 
place that will be appreciated for all time to 
come : 

"The park commissioners, -J. B. White, J. W. 
Russell and S. M. Leach, have filed their re- 
port with the town council. From it we gather 
a few items of interest. The old fair grounds, 
owned by F. B. Preston, were bought at a cost 
of $3,200. Adjacent lots were bought as fol- 
lows: Lige Har.sh, $365.00; Mary G. White, 
$400.00 ; Bly, Leach and Russell, $300.00 ; Geo. 
Keerns, $400.00; John Ganoe, $225.00; J. A. 
Mark, $192.00, making a total outlay of $5,- 
082.04 for real estate. John Shannon deeded 
one acre of ground and buildings thereon. 
Parts of certain streets were vacated by the 
toAvn council where they passed through these 
lots. The property has been named "Rivei-side 
Park." It has been .surveyed and landscape 
garden plans for its improvement have been 
obtained from F. E. Pease at a cost of $200, 
A substantial fence of 154 rods has been erected 
to inclose the grounds, at a cost of $2.12 per 
rod. Willows have been planted along the mill 
slough and the natural grove at the west end 
of the property has been trimmed up. The 




-MAIN STUEKT IN ADEL 



PAST AND THEyEXT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



249 



commissioners have sold bonds a^ authorized 
by law, receiving thei'efor $5,500. Rent on 
buildings, sale of property on the grounds and 
taxes collected, together with amount receiyed 
on sale of bonds, amounts to $6,240.62. The 
purchase of grounds, cost of sui-veying, im- 
provements made and interest paid have 
amounted to $6,203.54, leaving a balance of 
$37.08 on hand. Adel has now a valuable and 
fine tract of land for a park. Time and money 
v,-ill make it a beautiful place.' 

At one time in the history of the agricul- 
tural society, a new site was selected west of 
the town on the land owned by Lester Orton. 
Everything was fitted up in fir.-t-cla'^s shape and 
several fairs held, but for some reason it was 
not so popular a spot as the land along the mill 
slough and the site was abandoned. 

The first burjang ground was located a short 
distance south of town but did not prove to be 
a suitable spot and was abandoned. A site a 
mile and a half west of town was used a. few 
years but it was also condemned. Oak Dale, 
the present cemetery located on a beautiful 
eminence north of town, is well cared for and 
htus many costly monuments. 

The grounds ai-e laid out with care and good 
taste and are cros.sed by neat gravel walks, bor- 
dered with flowers and appropriate shrubbery. 

About a half a mile east of town is the I. 0. 
O. F. liuria.l ground, donated fifty years ago 
by Barak Michener. This has been maintained 
ever since by this order and here are tenderly 
interred the remains of those brothei-s whose 
.spirits have gone to Him who .judges the quick 
and the dead. 

One of the unusual sights seen on the streets 
of Adel years ago was Sam Looinis' one-ox dray. 
This was for a long time the principal factor 
in municipal tran.sportation . The ox was re- 
markably well broken and intelligent and was 
finally .«old for $100. Mr. Loomis then pur- 
cha.sed a horse and for many years conducted 
the only dray in the city. 

Probably one of the oldest residciu'es re- 
maining in the town is the one standing east 



of Mr. Jewett's home. This is a log building 
but has been covered with boards. 

The old "Plank House" so named by reason 
of the fact that it was built of plank — -excellent 
walnut lumber — has been veneered with brick 
and named the Adel House. 

That Adel takes pride in having the county 
buildings located here goes without saying. 

The new courthouse already described as 
one of the finest in the state occupies the center 
of the public square. 

Just off from the north side of the square 
the new county jail is being erected. It is a 
two-story brick building, with the front part 
of it a. dwelling for the sheriff and family. The 
cells and steel work of the jail is being put in 
by the Pauley Jail Construction Co., of St. 
Louis. .Mo. 

Town council and oHicers arc: Mayor, Lea 
Thornton; councilmcn, IL B. Heston, 0. K. 
Bales, S. A. Douglas, J. C. Hill, W. W. Eudrow, 

F. D. Burns; treasurer, M. A. Loehr; clerk, Vic. 
T. Sweeley; assessor, F. D. McKay; marshal, 

G. AV. Hoffman ; street commissioner, B. S. 
Dunn. 

Council committees are: Ways and means, 
Douglas, He-ston, Hill ; claims. Burns, Hill, 
Douglas; streets and alleys, Rudrow, Bales, 
Burns: judiciary, Heston, Bales, Douglas; 
public buildings. Hill, Rudrow, Bales; conduct 
of officers, Heston, Burns, Hill ; cemetery, Bales, 
Rudrow, Douglas ; fire department. Burns, Hill, 
Heston ; electric lights, Rudi'ow, Douglas, 
Bales. 

On the board of water works are: Heston, 
Bales, Hill. 

Conmiercial Club is an organization of Adel 
men interested in promoting healthy civic 
growth and encouraging desirable enterprises 
to come here. It was organized in 1908, with 
100 membei's. A. C. Hotchkiss, president; J. 
B. White, secretary. It is one of the most im- 
portant organizations in the city and its mem- 
bership represents the most energetic and public 
spirited men in the community. Present of- 
ficers are: J. B. White, president; E. A. Wit- 
iiior, secretary; S. M. Leach, treasurer. 



250 



PAST A^D PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The first Adel newspaper and the first in the 
county was the Ship of State, published by 
Rippey & Reed in 1856. It continued about 
a year under this management and then passed 
into the hands of Wm. H. Dodge and appeared 
as the Prairie Flower, continuing to exist but 
for a few months. The Dallas County Union, 
by E. AV. Fuller, came into -existence in 1860. 
This was followed by the Western Journal, a 
short lived paper edited by Harmon Cook. 

The Dallas County Gazette, founded in 1866 
by L. Holt, lasted under the management of 
Mr. Holt, J. E. Williams and J. & C. M. 
McLaury successively, untU 1878. The Dallas 
County News, established in November, 1872, 
by Capt. Amos Dilley, has passed through the 
hands of Mr. Dilley, J. M. Landis, S. H. 
Greene, Noel & Newton, to the News Publishing 
Co., consisting of J. B. White, Wm. Roberts, 
J. W. Russell, S. M. Leach and A. C. Hotchkiss. 
Mr. Hotchkiss has managed and edited the 
paper for about twenty-five years. He is the 
veteran editor of the coimty and his long ex- 
perience as editor, county clerk, senator and 
participator in active affairs of the county for 
more than thirty years, coupled with a pro- 
found knowledge of matters of general interest, 
has made the News one of the foremost weekly 
papers in the state. 

The Dallas County Republican, established 
at De Soto in 1891, as the Exponent, was 
to Adel in 1899 and published two years by A. 
C. Hutchkiss, when it was absorbed by the 
News. 

The New Era established in 1878 by John 
McLaury was quite a forceful paper. This was 
followed by the Democrat published by T. R. 
North, later by Sam Carrell, and finally pub- 
lished by A. W. Vaughn, under the name Dal- 
las County Record. 

The Adel Reporter recently started by ^'ic. 
Sweeley presents in a comprehensive and in- 
telligent way the doings of the town council, 
park commissioners, Commercial Club, board of 
health, etc. This was published in 1905 by G. 
W. Wilkinson, who is still editing it in a suc- 
cessful manner. 



.V UNIQUE LIGHT PLANT. 

Adel has one of the most complete electric 
light plants, operated at the least expense 
and affording the most satisfactory service of 
any in the west. Much credit for the plant is 
due to V. W. Hancock and L. M. Macy, millers, 
who conceived the plan and made possible the 
lighting of Adel by electricity at a price where 
few can afford to do without it. These gentle- 
men own the plant. 

These gentlemen invested $7,000 in a plant 
of the Westinghouse system. They did not 
have to install very much machinery since they 
placed the plant in connection with their mill. 
Its location is on the Raccoon river and by 
operating it with water power instead of steam, 
a great saving is permitted. A great deal of the 
same machinery which supplies the force for 
grinding flour through the day lights the city 
with electricity at night. The citizens of Adel 
are proud of their electric plant. The mill and 
electric plant is now owned by L. M. Macy & 
Sons. 

THE -WATER ■WORKS SYSTEM. 

The water supplied by the city water works 
system is superb. Slightly mineral, it is as 
healthy as the Colfax water. From a careful 
analysis it is said to resemble the Colfax water 
very much. An epidemic of typhoid fever or 
malaria has never been known in the com- 
munity since the water works system was in- 
stalled. The water comes from an artesian well 
located near the Adel flour mill and is pumped 
to a standpipe in a central portion of the city 
by the machinery of the Adel Milling Co., the 
same machinery that does service in grinding 
flour and furnishing electric lights. Nearly all 
of the residences are equipped with bath rooms 
and every business building of any importance 
is well supplied with hydrants. It is a great 
convenience and the cost is insignificant. Be- 
cause of the abundance of water, street sprink- 
lers are possible and the streets are kept in nice 
condition all of the time. Excellent fire pro- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



2bl 



tection is also obtained. A voluntary fire com- 
pany equipped with two hose carts, a hook and 
ladder wagon and a chemical engine make up a 
formidable foe to the fire fiend. 



owner, operates a very satisfactory telephone 
plant in AdeL The Iowa Telephone Company 
also has an exchange there. 



SEWERAGE AND STREET PAVING. 

A sewerage system is now being constructed 
in this city. Already one of the principal 
streets has been furnished with a complete and 
satisfactory sewer. Other streets ai'e fast being 
equipped, and within a few months Adel will 
possess a most complete sewerage system. 

The business section of the city is paved. 
This consists of an excellent quality of brick 
paving on the public square and for a short 
distance down each street which leads from the 
square. This paving was first put in about ten 
years ago, and since that time has been kept 
in excellent repair. It has proven a profitable 
investment to the business men. 

Adel possesses twenty-two miles of cement 
sidewalk. In fact, not a foot of plank walk 
is extant in Adel. In this it is certainly unique 
and has a boast that few cities can meet. It 
is one of the first things a stranger observes 
after walking a few blocks in the city, the 
blocks and blocks of smooth, even cement pav- 
ing. The property owners have found it the 
cheapest in the end and although there is a 
city ordinance directing its use, no one objects 
to putting in a cement walk. By what is known 
as the certificate plan, property owners can put 
in a cement walk at the expense of the city and 
pay for it in six years, paying one-sixth each 
year. They pay their yearly one-sixth as they 
pay their taxes and scarcely miss the money. 

There are many beautiful homes in .Vdel. 
New residences are being erected this summer, 
some of them $4,000 and $5,000 ones. Every- 
body keeps their lawns in good shape and the 
streets are kept freer from weeds and high grass 
than any city in the state. The natural beauty 
of the land furnishes ideal building lots which 
can be purchased at very reasonable prices. 

The Hawkeyc Telephone Company, of which 
Mr. George N. Bandy of Peny is tiic iii;iin 



The first bank in Adel was established in a 
little one room frame building south of the 
square by the Van Meters. 

They were followed by F. S. Graham who 
conducted a bank a short time, but was unable 
to make a success of it. / 

Leroy Lambert then started a bank in a 
building on the present site of the Rickerson 
store and ran this about a year when a trade 
was made whereby Wm. Brenton became owner 
of it. An incident in connection with the 
Brenton ownership was the accidental death by 
drowning of the cashier, Mv. Schull. This 
bank was in turn sold to J. L. Harris. Mr. 
Harris was unfortunate in his management of 
the bank and was compelled to suspend pay- 
ment. 

The depositors realized but little more than 
a fourth of their claims and naturally felt that 
the affaii-s of the "bank had been grossly mis- 
managed. 

The Adel State Bank is one of the leading 
financial institutions of Dallas county. It is 
capitalized at $50,000, and numbers among its 
stockholders some of the strongest men finan- 
cially in that vicinity. Their deposits amount 
to almost a third of a million dollars. 

This bank was organized in 1882 by S. M. 
Leach, who is at present a heavy stockholder 
and is also president of the institution. The 
bank has always done a large business and the 
soundness of its finances has aroused the fullest 
confidence among its many patrons. Their 
Des Moines correspondents are the Des Moines 
National and the Citizens' National. In Chi- 
cago their correspondent is the Drovers' Bank 
of Chicago and in New York city the Chase 
National Bank. 

Their building is a handsome two-story brick 
located on the southwest corner of the public 
s(juare. It is well arranged and equijipi'd with 



252 PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 

every modem convenience. The present officers done much to stimulate sociabihty among their 

of the bank are: S. M. Leach, president; W. own members and those of the subordinate 

B. Kinnick, vice-president; Robert Leach, lodge and their frequent banquets are highly 

cashier. enjoyed by the members of both ordere. 

Dallas County Savings Bank is located in its Their officers for 1907 are: Mrs. Edith 

handsome brick building on the corner south- .Jacobson, N. G. ; Mrs. G. E. Spillers, V. G.; 

east of the courthouse square. This is one of Miss Delia Decker, R. Sec. ; Mrs. C. S. Bonewell, 

the solid, conservative banks of the county, Treas. ; Mrs. C. A. Forrester, W. ; Mrs. Oscar 

managed by able business men and counnfuid- Travillyan, C. ; Mrs. F. Middlekauff, Chap.; 

ing the confidence of everyone. Mrs. Lucy Taylor, R. S. to N. G. ; Mrs. Carrie 

Organized in 1893 with a capital of $25,000 Davenport, L. S. to N. G. ; Mrs. Ella Hanes, 

it has increased its stock to $50,000 and its R. S. to V. G.; Mi-s. Wm. Buckley,' L. S. to V. 

business is constantly increasing. Its officers G. ; Miss Ida Clay, I. G. : .1. E. Chamberlain, 

are: J. W. Ru.ssell, president; D. A. Blanchard, 0. G. 

vice-president; Wm. Roberts', cashier; \'. W. Adel Lodge No. 80, A. F. tt A. M., was or- 

Miller, assistant cashier. Directors: T. X. ganized under dispensation December 15, 1855, 

Russell, D. A. Blanchard, A. J. Lyon, Frank with J. R. Yiin Meter, W. M.; Stephen Pea- 

Hemphill, D. E. King, V. W. IMiller. body, S. W. ; S. IT. \'esta!. J. W. ; Cole Noel, 

Sec. 
LODGES. The charter Wii.-^ received in June, 1856. 

Among the first membei-s were, M. F. Girard, 

Friendship lodge, 1. 0. O. F., was organized "\Vm. Ellis, H. G. Van Meter, A. P. Sherman, 

September 28, 1856. Charter officers were: T. S. H. Vestal, R. R. Bailey, Jonathan Dillon, 

B. Garroute, N. G. ; I. D. Mar.sh, Y. G. ; S. P. E. Wilhams, Len Chance, L. Lambert and Wm. 

Garroute, Rec. Sec; \V. Garroute, Treas.; J. T. Jlai-sh. 
Blue, Permanent Sec. Of tbe cbartcr members, J. R. Van dieter, 

This lodge has always maintained a strong residing in the town of Van Meter, is the only 
membei-shiiJ and has done an incalculable one now living. Last June this lodge celebrated 
amount of good. It is on a good financial basis, its fiftieth anniversary with degree work, elab- 
owns its hall, has a finely equipped dining room orate program and elegant banquet, 
and besides making constant contributions for Neighboring lodges w'ere invited to attend 
charitable and benevolent jnu-poses it does and they were represented by some 250 mem- 
much to keep the social and fraternal spirit on bers. The opera house was used to exemplify 
a high plane. the degi-ee work, the PeiTy and Van Meter 

The officers for 1907 are: A. R. Neale, N. teams conferring the third degree upon J. E. 

G.; A. M. Jacobson, V. G.; C. A. Forrester, R. Davis and D. E. Luther. 

Sec. ; L. M. Macy, Treas. ; M. T. Fox, W. ; J. In the evening the guests and home members 

W. Hunt, C. ; E. L. Carrell, R. S. to N. G. ; sat down to the banquet, which was preceded 

Chas. Wright, L, S. to N. G. ; F. B. Chapman, by the following program : 
R. S. to V. G.; G. W. Wilkinson, L. S. to V. Anniversary of Adel lodge,_No. 80, A. F. & 

G.; Elwood Beasley, R. S. S. ; Park York, L. A. M., E. W. Ding\vell, toastmaster. 

S. S. ; J. W\ Brock, I. G. ; L. Fishel, 0. G. Music Orchestra 

The Rebekah lodge, called Sunbeam No. 73, History of Adel lodge R. F. Wood 

organized in December, 1892, has had its Early Associations . . Cole Noel, J. R. Van Meter 

periods of high and low tide of interest. Our Membership Judge E. E. Nichols 

It has lately taken a new lease of life and Music Orchestra 

lively interest is being manifested. They have Eastern Star Mrs. Dr. Duncan 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 253 

Our Guests Rev. Slothower members in time that it .surrendered its charter 

Respon.se Guy Hall in February, 1886, and was not reorganized 

Our Better Selves — The Ladies Prof. Prall until August 21, 1902, since which time it ha^ 

Music Orchestra added many members to its number, and at 

The venerable J. R. Van Meter, who had present is in a flourLshing condition, 
been the first master of the lodge fifty years The pi'esent officers of the Eastern Star are: 
before, was present and gave a reminiscence of Mrs. Belle McCoj', W. M. ; A. R. Neale, W. P. ; 
(lie early a.ssociations. Cole Noel, a charter Jeannette Perkins, A. M. ; G. W. Wilkinson, sec- 
member and first secretary, was still living retarj-; Mrs. J. C. Hill, treasurer; Ida B. Gar- 
but was too ill to attend. outte, conductress; Ethel Hubbard, associate 

The Des Moines orchestra furnished delight- conductress; Mrs. Anna McKay, warden; J. W. 

ful music and the occasion was one never to Reynolds, sentinel; Mrs. Rej'nolds, chaplain; 

be forgotten in the hi.story of Dallas county Mrs. L. V. Russell, organist. 

Masonry. Adel encampment, No. 23, was organized 

The lodge now has sixty members, has a in December, 1864, with the following officers : 

well equipped lodge room and maintains a J. A. Allen, C. P.; N. B. Nichols, H. P.; Wm. 

good working team. The present oflicers are: Smith, S. W. ; J. T. Roush, scribe; G. P. Gar- 

R. F. Wood, W. M.; E. W. Dingwell, S. W. ; outte, treasurer; Stephen Adams, J. W. The 

A. J. Lyon, J. W. ; M. A. Loehr, secretary; present officers are: Aaron Hougham, C. P.; 

S. M. Leach, treasurer; H. H. Hill, S. D.: Clar- A. P. York, G. AV. ; E. Rudrow, H. P.; L. M. 

ence Byers, J. D.; L. M. Macy, S. S. ; J. W. Macy, treasurer; E. L. Carrell, scribe. This 

Russell, J. S. ; D. E. Luther, tyler. lodge has thirty members in good standing and 

Tyrian chapter, No. 37, was organized April has a good degree staff. 

15, 1867. First officers: S. B. Hempstead, The Knights of Pythias order of Adel was 

H. P. ; Cole Noel, K. ; David Smart, scribe. The chartered October 7, 1885, with the following 

pre-sent officers are: R. S. Barr, high priest; members: A. R. Reed, S. H. Lauder, Lea 

Lea Thornton, secretary; S. M. Leach, treas- Thornton. E. E. Nichols, .John Diddy, W. F. 

urer. Brockway, Milton Hoeye, J. B. White, J. W. 

Lady Washington chapter, No. 57, 0. E. S., RvBsell, R. E. Joy, Q. A. Willis, J\L T. Finley, 

was instituted at Adel February 1, 1879, by F. J. McMullen, F. D. McKay, W. B. McLinn 

Deputy Grand Matron Sister Jennie Matthews, and T. H. Bradbury. This has been one of 

The following charter members were duly in- the strongest lodges of the county, having a 

stalled: Worthy patron, A. Dilley; worthy member.ship at one time of one hundred. Pres- 

matron, Jeannette Perkins; as,sistant matron, ent officers: V. T. Sweeley, C. C. ; A. C. Cole, 

Mrs. A. L. Joy; trea.sm-er, Mrs. E. Noel; secre- V. C; S. E. Clapp, Prel. ; L. M. Macy, M. of 

tary, Ella Garouttc ; conductor, Bell Noel ; as- W. ; T. J. Lawson, K. R. S. ; J. M. McKay, 

SLstant conductor, Lizzie Stiles; Adah, Lola M. F. ; S. M. Leach, M. of E. ; John Ganoe, L 

Buckman ; Ruth, Mrs. Swearingen ; Esther, G. ; D. H. Miller, 0. G. 

Josie Garoutte ; Martha, Ida Garoutte ; Electa, Riverside camp, No. 1205, Modern Wood- 
Mrs. Dilley ; warder, Mrs. Lucy Dack; .<entinel, men of America, was organized October 4, 
Brother Hemstead. 1889. Charter members were: G. W. Clarke, 

This chapter flourished and had a large M. J. Graham, J. C. Hanes, R. E. Joy, A. F. 

membership. At a meeting of the grand lodge Long, F. M. McClure, J. W. Reynolds, W. B. 

at Des Moines in June, 1882, Lady Washing- Robinson, W. L. Mitchell, Lea Thornton, S. E. 

ton chapter. No. 57, was invited to exemplify Carrpll, W. A. Noel, J. W. Diddy, J. B. White 

the work, doing so with great credit to the and .Tojin Knox. First officers were; F. ^L 

ofiicei-s and cliaplcr. The chapter lost so many Ah'riurc. consul: R. E, Joy, clerk. Present 



254 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



officers are: G. W. Wilkinson, consul; E. A. 
^^^itmer, clerk. Present membership is fifty- 
five. 

Penoach. homestead, No. 47, Brotherhood of 
American Yeomen. Organized January 4, 
1899. Charter members were: W. J. Will- 
iams, J. L. Joy, J. M. McKay, W. W. Buckman, 
W. A. Wright, F. L. Rogers, J. W. Brock, 
T. C. Reynolds, F. P. Roush, L. B. Smith, W. 
H. Clark, C. M. Conger, J. Chestnutwood, J. M. 
Lowry and J. E. Stiles. Officers elected were: 
J. 'SI. McKay, foreman; J. L. Joy, correspond- 
ent. Present officers are: W. L. Cook, fore- 
man ; E. A. Witmer, correspondent. Present 
membership is forty-one. 

The Homesteaders. Homestead No. 113. 
Organized June 17, 1907. Charter members: 
J. W. Russell, A. E. Slothower, G. W. Wilkin- 
son, Florence Wilkinson, E. W. Dingw^ell, Bur- 
ton Russell, E. A. Witmer, Guyer Hanes and 
H. H. Chenshaw. Officers: G. W. Wilkinson, 
president; E. A. Witmer, secretary. 

Ancient Order United Workmen of Adel, No. 
241, was chartered in December, 1883. It is 
one of the excellent beneficiary associations 
of the city and has a membership of about 
seventy at this time. The present officers are: 
Master workman, S. E. Clapp ; foreman, J. C. 
Rouse ; overseer, S. A. D. Long ; recorder, M. A. 
Loehr; financier, V. W. Miller; receiver, Wm. 
Roberts; guide, S. A. Cornelison; I. W., Ora 
Capps; 0. W., Dorsey Burns; past master work- 
man. N. Eastman. 

Colonel Mills G. A. R. po.st, No. 45, was or- 
ganized at Adel in June, 1881. Its charter 
members were: T. R. North, A. C. Hotchkiss, 
S. L. Ward, M. E. Coons, S. A. Callvert, D. W. 
AVooden, J. W. Coons, A. G. Bradt, A. J. Lyon, 
Tho.s. Ashton, John Novinger, J. G. Howe, C. 
G. D. Rickei-son, J. M. Jolley, J. R. Joy, B. F. 
Lambert, A. Dilly, W. C. Dunn and George 
Wright. There are forty-three members now. 
Its present officers are: E. Vial, commander; 
W. C. Dunn, Sr. vice; C. G. D. Rickerson, Jr. 
vice ; S. L. Ward, officer of day ; Wm. Roberts, 
quartermaster; Wm. Coffin, chaplain; J. C. 
Decker, adjutant: J. W. Canan, officer of 



guard; D. B. Mitchell, sergeant major; Ed. 
Conger, quartermaster sergeant. 

The Women's Relief Corps was organized at 
Adel in May, 1881, with the following mem- 
bers: Sarah Stiles, Rachel Coffin, Sarah Mark, 
Margaret Worster, Elizabeth Smith, Linda 
Rickerson. Martha Wright, Ella Weems, Ella 
Row, Sarah Ashton, Mary Stevens, Jeannette 
Perkins, Jennie Snyder, Hattie College, Ellen 
Vial, Samantha Humphrey, Fannie Archer, 
M. M. R. Hempstead, Mary Allen, Flora West- 
cot, .Jennie Coffin, Serepta Ludington, Matilda 
Wright, Matilda Dunn, Adaline Forester, Anna 
Ward, Mary Rickerson, Jeannette Songstead, 
Anna Decker, Delia Decker, Ella Hanes, Mrs. 
D. A. Blanchard, Julia Davenport. There are 
thirty-three members at present and its officers 
are: Mrs. John Snyder, president; Mrs. S. L. 
WarJ, secretary; Mrs. E. Vial, Mrs. C. G. D. 
Rickerson, Sr. vice; Mrs. William Coffin, Jr. 
vice; Mrs. Darius Mitchell, chaplain; Mrs. Joe 
Hanes, conductor; Mrs. Mary Allen, asst. con- 
ductor; Mrs. Harry Rickerson, musician; Mrs. 
Thos. Ashton, press correspondent. The color 
bearers are : First, Jennie Coffin ; second, Mrs. 
Cooper; third, Mrs. Hempstead; fourth, Mrs. 
John Forester. 

CHURCHES. 

The First Presbyterian church of Adel was 
organized July 6, 1856, by Rev. Thomas Bird, 
of Des Moines. The following persons were 
the first members : R. C. Allison and wife, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Young, Mte. Jane Eckels, J. A. 
Thompson, Mrs. Mary Holt, Mrs. J. E. Smith, 
Mrs. Jane Rodenbaugh, J. F. Van Doren, J. 
H. Freeland. 

The church was organized in the brick school- 
house now occupied by Mayor Thornton. Some 
of the early ministei-s were: Revs. Harmon, 
Johnson, Campbell, Smith, Cooke, Pierson and 
Hughes. In 1868 the members erected a hand- 
some church edifice costing $4,000 on a lot 
donated by S. J. Garoutte. The first ruling 
elders were: E. D. Smith, F. S. Graham, H. 
H. Moffatt, S. L. Ward, J. R. Reed, John Risser 
and A. C. Hotchkiss. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



255 



Mr. Hotchkiss was for many years Sunday- 
school superintendent. The church is tempo- 
rarily without a ministsr, but one is to be se- 
cured soon. A good Sunday-school is main- 
tained under the supervision of J. L. Simcoke. 

The Christian church is the oldest church 
organization in the county, having the nucleus 
of it started in the Miller settlement in 1847. 
It was reorganized at Adel in 1850 and the 
name of "Church of God in Christ" formally 
adopted. It is to be regretted that the records 
of its early history were destroyed. 

Some of the early pastors were: J. P. 
Glenn, P. T. Russell, J. C. White, A. Hickey, 
J. E. Gaston, J. M. Dodge, J. M. Crocker, R. 
E. Swartz, A. B. Cornell, A. C. Corbin, W. H. 
Jeffries and J. E. Denton. The present minis- 
ter, Rev. Robert W. Moore, has just closed a 
very successful year, having received sixty-five 
additions to the church. 

This church celebrated its semi-centennial 
anniversary in March, 1900. An excellent pro- 
gram was rendered and (he occasion was one 
long to be remembered. The church burned 
down in 1902, but with very little delay a new 
one was soon built and dedicated in December 
of that year. 

The following clipping from the Dallas 
County News gives the incidents of the dedica- 
tion: 

"The new Christian church was dedicated last 
Sunday forenoon by appropriate services. The 
church was packed to its fullest capacity by an 
audience made up of people from here and 
neighboring communities. No services were 
held in the other churches here, all vmiting to 
make this event complete in its interests. Elder 
B. B. Burton, the evangelist now conducting a 
series of meetings here, preached the sermon, 
having for his theme the privilege and duty of 
service. The sermon was an able, instructive 
and interesting one, appropriate to the event, 
where a new building was being dedicated to 
the service of God. Elder Burton urged the 
need of consecrated service upon the part of all 
Christian people. Rev. George E. Lyon, the 
pa.?tor, read the dedicatory service, setting apart 



the edifice for Divine worship. A large choir 
rendered excellent music for the occasion. At 
the close of the services J. B. White, as treas- 
urer of the building committee, read a detailed 
report of the cost of the building and the pay- 
ments made upon it. In brief the new structure 
cost $4,064.00, including furnishings, heating 
and lighting. Of this amount $3,645.00 had 
been paid. There were available resources on 
hand amounting to $150.00. A call was made 
for subscriptions toward making the remaining 
balance and $121.60 was subscribed. This 
leaves less than $150 of indebtedness against 
the society. 

"The new building is a handsome structure, 
both in its exterior and interior appearances. 
It is practically the same general shape of the 
old building, the old walls being in part used. 
It is some larger, however, and higher. The 
main audience room extends from east to west 
and is furnished with quarter sawed oak pews, 
in circular form. The pulpit is to the north, 
back of which is an arched alcove with a hand- 
some W'indow. The choir loft is at the north- 
east corner of the audience room. The south- 
ern projection of the building is divided from 
the main audience room by partitions that slide 
up so as to throw both rooms into one when de- 
sired. This room is for Sunday-school use, 
])rayer meetings, etc. Back of the choir loft are 
two roonis for library use, for Sunday-school 
classes, etc. The woodwork is natural wood 
finish. The walls and ceiling are handsomely 
papered. The building is lighted by electricity 
and heated by the county heating plant. The 
church edifice is one that is very complete in its 
arrangements and one with which the society 
will take great comfort and pride. The fol- 
lowing historical matter relative to the society 
has been kindly furnished us by J, B. White: 

"The Christian church at Adel was organized 
at a little log schoolhouse about two miles east 
of the present town of Adel, in May, 1847. 
This schoolhouse was built by W. W. Miller, 
and was the place where Dallas county was or- 
ganized and the first election was held. Shortly 
after this, in the same vear, the town of Pen- 



250 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



oacli wati located and platted, the name of which 
was afterwards, in 1849, changed to Adel. 
Upon the location of Adel as the county seat, 
in the year 1850, the church removed from its 
first location to Adel and reorganized under 
the name of "The Church of Giod in Christ, 
at Adel, Iowa." Samuel Miller, William Dav- 
idson, and Leroy Lambert were its first elders, 
from its re-organization in 1850. These three 
men are among the best known of the early 
pioneer settlers of Dallas county. One of its 
best known members at this early day was 
Judge L. D. Burns, for many years county 
judge. Its early meetings were held at private 
houses, at the schoolhouse, and at the old court- 
house. Its first church building was erected 
on the site of the new church in 1868. To this 
was added the western wing in 1890. On Eas- 
ter, 1902, this building was destroyed by fire. 
Its burning was a pathetic scene, not soon to 
be forgotten. The tears of old and young were 
mingled together as the old church, about 
which clung so many fond memories, went 
up in flames. But the fire was not extinguished 
Ijefore plans were on foot to rebuild. To AVill 
AVest belongs the honor of the first subscription 
to the new church, which was made and paid 
while the flames were still enveloping the old 
church. The new building, for it is new ex- 
cept portions of the walls on three sides, has 
been made modern and comfortable in the 
highest degree. The interior is finished in 
hard pine, natural wood. The furniture, pews 
and pulpit set are of oak. It is lighted with elec- 
tricity and heated with hot water. Comfort- 
able rooms have been ai'ranged for library and 
Sunday-school rooms. All in all, if a man is 
inclined to be religious, it would be hard for 
him to find fault with the new church. This 
church with its comfortable arrangements and 
its energetic membership is to be reckoned with 
as one of the religious forces of Adel." 

The church property, valued at $8,000, is 
looked after by elders J. B. White and Wm. 
Cook. The present Sunday-school superinten- 
dent is Mrs. Belle McCoy. J. B. White was 
superintendent from 1874 to 1905. The Chris- 



tian Women's Board of Missions, Ladies' Aid 
Society, and Young People's Society Christian 
Endeavor are all in a prosperous condition and 
the outlook for this church is very bright. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Adel was 
organized as a mission the latter part of Sep- 
tember, 1850. The mission included a part 
of Polk county, all of Dallas county, the south 
half of Greene county, and the east half of 
Guthrie county. There were six different places 
where preaching services were held. The ter- 
ritory covered by the pastor included a tract 
fifty miles long and twenty-five miles wide. 
The first preacher received $152.00 salary, and 
the presiding elder $25.00. Rev. H. Hare, the 
jireacher in charge, accompanied by Mr. Ezra 
Rathburn, on the invitation of Squire Greene, 
held the first preaching service in Adel in a 
room of his hotel. That night an organization 
was eft'ected. 

December 11, 1860, with the building of a 
church in view, the Adel Methodists adopted 
articles of incorporation. These are recorded 
in deed record book "H", page 274, Dallas 
county records. The first board of trustees con- 
sisted of the following named persons: I. J. 
Cole, Lewis Jolly, George AV. Noel, Samuel 
AVitham, AA'illiam R. Rigg, James L. Snyder 
and Pierson Young. The trustees organized 
for work, electing Lewis Jolly president, I. J. 
Cole treasurer, and Samuel Witham secretary. 

During the pastorate of Rev. H. H. Badley 
in 1862, the first Methodist Episcopal church 
in Adel was built. Benson Y^ard, who died but 
a year Hgo, laid the foundation. The roof was 
put on by Lewis Jolly. This building served 
the needs until in 1886, when, under the pas- 
torate of Rev. G. H. Detwiler, the present build- 
ing was erected and on September 12, 1886. 
was dedicated by Rev. AA^ B. Ridgaway, D. D. 
The officers of the church Bt present are : Trus- 
tees, Z. N. Fidler, president; Thomas AVright, 
treasurer; D. A. Blanchard, secretary; Jerry 
Decker, Nelson Eastman, John Corneilson, AV, 
L. McKissick, A. L. AA^orster, AVm. Roberts. 
Stewards: AAllliam Roberts, Thomas AVright, 
Scott Harris. AVilliarn Coffin, Z. N. Fidler. W. 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



25^ 



F. Lowry, Prof. J. W. Graham, Mrs. W. L. 
McKissick, Mrs. 0. L. Gray, Mrs. G. W. Wilkin- 
son, Mrs. D. A. Blanchard. William Roberts, 
Sunday-school superintendent; Mrs. J. W. Gra- 
ham, president Woman's Foreign Missionary 
Society; Mr.-;. R. E. Joy, president Woman's 
Home Missionary Society ; Mrs. G. W. Wilkin- 
son, president Ladies' Aid Society; Grace Wiles, 
president Epworth League; Mrs. R. E. Joy, 
superintendent Junior Epworth League. 

The present membership of the church is 
over 200; Sunday school 304. We have an 
average of 175 in attendance at Sunday school. 
The church in addition to paying a salary of 
$1,000 and furnishing a comfortable parsonage, 
raises about $800 for other purposes. The Rev. 
A. E. Slothower, Ph. D., is the present pastor, 
and Rev. E. E. Ilgengritz is presiding elder. 

The present estimated value of the church 
is $6,000. The parsonage i.s estimated at 
$1,400. 

List of the pastors who have served the 
charge : H. Hare, Robert S. Hawn, George H. 
Clark, Joel Mason, E. M. H. Fleming, Thomas 
Dixon, John Anderson and R. M. Donahoe, 
A. W. Johnson and J. W. Todd, A. W. John- 
son, G. Nichols, H. H. Badley and D. Thomp- 
son, Rev. Calfee, M. H. Martin, J. E. Darby 
and S. C. Bascomb, Arthur Badley, John Hest- 
wood, V. G. Boyton, F. M. Slusser, C. Hover, 
E. Kendall, William B. Davis, David Shenton, 
I. M. Ofling, W. E. Hamilton, John Hestwood, 

G. H. Detwiler, Fletcher Brown, C. L. Nye, 
George Wright, Enoch Hill, C. E. Cline, J. M. 
McDonald, J. N. McCurdy, H. H. Barton, and 
the present pastor. Wm. Roberts has served 
as Sunday-school superintendent thirty-nine 
years, a record exceeded by few in the state. 

ADEL MILL. 

In the early history of the town a saw mill 
was built on the slough cut off where the flour- 
ing mill now stands. The slough was com- 
paratively narrow then and a few boards suf- 
ficed to hold the water in check most of the 
time. Quite frequently, however, this tem- 



l)orary dam would give way, necessitating a 
s-hort delay until the dam could be repaired. 
In 1856-57 the slough, having been widened 
considerably, a flouring mill was built on the 
old saw mill site by J. H. Strong and H. H. 
Moftatt, at a cost of $20,000. It had somewhat 
of a checkered career, being managed at various 
times by Messrs. Hill, Farlow, North, Noum- 
ger and Van Meter. 

The mill company was organized in March, 
1889, with L. Swearingen, president; J. W. 
Russell, secretary, and J. W. Bly, treasurer, 
the other members being J. B. White, V. W. 
Hancock and R. M. Kerns. It was soon fitted 
up with steam power and improved milling 
equipment and its capacity materially in- 
creased. 

THE ADEL FLOUR MILL. 

The Adel Mill Company, manufacturers of 
high grade flour, corn meal and all kinds of 
feed, does a very extensive business. They man- 
ufacture several brands of flour, including the 
Sovereign, which is a very popular grade re- 
tailing at $1.05 per sack. Some of their other 
grades are the Ambrosia, Ruth and America. 
The owners of the mill are L. M. Macy & Sons. 
They are very practical and thoroughly success- 
ful men. They knew the secret of success in 
the milling business was to make good flour. 
They make it, and are succeeding. Their mill 
is located about three blocks from the business 
district on a branch of the Raccoon river. 
Water power is used to run the mill and is 
found, with their up-to-date machinery, to be 
cheaper than steam. Farmers drive for more 
than thirty miles to bring their wheat to mill, 
and the Adel flour is used throughout the state. 
The mill has a capacity of eighty barrels per 
day. It runs every day and often through the 
night. An average of seven hands are em- 
l^lnyod in the mill. 

FIRE HISTORY. 

Though not so unfortunate in losses from 
fire as some other towns of equal age, Adel has 



258 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



nevertheless experienced some disheartening 
setbacks from the devastating fire fiend. 

The most serious fire of its past history was 
in October, 1895, when the ^McLaughlin block, 
with its opera house, stores and offices, was 
destroj^ed with a loss approximating the $30,- 
000 mark. 

The recent fire in November, 1905, is still 
fresh in the minds of all who \vitnes3ed its 
terrible effects. The fire started in the Heston 
drug store and spread from that to the Adel 
furniture store, A. M. Riggs general store. 
The losses probably reached $50,000, being but 
partially covered with insurance. 

The ravages of fire have now been obliter- 
ated, new and better buildings ha\'ing taken the 
places of those destroyed. 

ADEL CREAMERY. 

This enterprise was started here by Greeley 
Brothers some years ago and after a brief ex- 
istence it was closed. McRae Brothers took 
hold of it soon afterwards and, pushing it with 
their accustomed vigor, made it pay for awhile, 
but the blight that has attacked so many cream- 
eries in recent years seemed to be in the at- 
mosphere here and the attempt to make it go 
was abandoned. .The old building was used 
for some time as a laundry, hut is now vacant. 

BRICK AXn TILE FACTORIES. 

The Adel Brick and Tile factory, located 
north of town, was built in 1882 by Kerns & 
McKissick. It is now owned by S. J. Harris & 
Co. They employ from fifteen to twenty men 
and can turn out 20,000 brick a day. They 
make a specialty of hollow blocks and drain 
tile and have an extensive business. 

The Dallas County Brick tmd Tile factorj^ re- 
cently built along the ^lilwaukee track west of 
town Ls one of the finest and most up-to-date 
to be found anywhere. It utilizes a large force 
of men and is daily increasing its already large 
trade. 



OPERA HOUSE. 

Adel boasts of a handsome opera house, 
built in 1903, by T. R. North at a cost of 
$14,500. It is conveniently arranged, supplied 
with all needful conveniences and has a large 
patronage. High class entertainments are pro- 
vided and both the town and country people 
have the convenience of attending lectures, 
plays and various public exercises of superior 
quality at home. 



Arlington. — During the days when Adel was 
kept pretty much in a feeling of trepidation 
over the prospect of losing the courthouse, the 
complaint was frequently made that there was 
no firet-class hotel here. To remove this objec- 
tion the Adel Improvement Company was 
formed and with subscribed stock and dona- 
tions amounting altogether to $10,500 a hotel 
was built opposite the northwest corner of the 
square and named the Arlington. The affairs 
of the company were managed by the following 
citizens: Dr. Caldwell, president; J. W. Bly, 
vice-president: J. W. Russell, secretan,-; D. A. 
Blanchard, assistant secretary; S. M. Leach, 
treasurer. The Arlington at once became ex- 
tremely popular and has kept its well deserved 
reputation. It was purchased some years since 
by its present owner. Captain J. S. Steele, and 
is conducted by him in a manner that leaves 
no room for complaint by the most fastidious 
traveler and epicure. 

There are two other hotels and two restau- 
rants in town that are well patronized and are 
managed in such a way as to give excellent 
satisfaction. 

IMPORTANT IXSTITUTIOXS. 

Among other industries maintained here are 
the Vaughn Printing Press factory, the Dawes 
Cigar factory, the Roland Bonnet factory, and 
the Scott Sajiitarium. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



259 



PRESENT OUTLOOK. 



With a wide-awake population believing in 
church and school, law and order, sharing in 
the general prosperity that has so signally 



ble.--sed the country in general and Dallas coun- 
ty especially, Adel, the county seat of the best 
county in the best state of the Union, can point 
with pride to her past record and look to the 
future with the utmost hope and confidence. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



JOSEPH OTTERMAN. 

Forty-three years have come and gone since 
Joseph Otterman arrived in Dallas county. 
He is one of its best known citizens, not because 
he has figured prominently in public life, but 
because in business circles he was ever active 
and honorable and in all life's relations 
wrought for progress, reform and improve- 
ment. His genuine personal worth has made 
him most widely and favorably known and no 
history of the county would be complete with- 
out mention of this worthy citizen. 

Mr. Otterman was born April 14, 1826, on a 
farm that belonged to the George AVashington 
estate in Kanawha county, Virginia. He was 
the second youngest child in the family of 
Louis and Gloria (Null) Otterman. In both 
the paternal and maternal lines he is descended 
from ancestry known for loyalty and fidelity 
to American interests. A contemporary bio- 
grapher in writing of the family, said: "In 
the various wars of the nation its members have 
fought on the side of the United State.'. The 
colonies received their support in the war for 
independence and they again fought against 
the British in the war of 1812. The paternal 
grandfather, Louis Otterman, descended from 
German and Swiss ancestry, while on his 
mother's side he is French and English extrac- 
tion. The 7Tiaternal grandfather, Phillip Null, 
served for seven years in the Revolutionary war 
under Generals Wa.shington, Greene and 
Marion. He enlisted thinking to be engaged 



in the stiniggle for only about six weeks, but he 
carried his musket through seven years of that 
bloody war! Many times footsore and weary, 
he continued on the long marches and his 
loyalty to the cause was severely tested. He 
went through the hard experiences of that 
memorable winter at Valley Forge and took 
part in many of the hotly contested battles that 
were commanded by General Washington. At 
the close of the war he was offered payment for 
his services, but refused the preferred money, 
saying that his time and aid were freely given 
his country. At one time during the war he 
was in charge of some. troops that were crossing 
the Delaware river previous to the battles of 
Trenton and Princeton. About this time 
Washington came up on foot and got in the 
way of the advancing regiment. The old 
veteran in command, not noticing particularly 
who it was, called to get out of the way ; Wash- 
ington looked up and smiled, said nothing and 
passed on. but the commander of the forces felt 
very much embarrassed when he found out who 
he had been ordering around. The great- 
grandmother of our subject, during the Revolu- 
tion, was driven from her home by the British 
soldiers and Tories, and forced to beg for bread. 
After the war the grandfather of Mr. Otterman 
located in Pennsylvania and previous to the war 
of 1812 Green.sburg was laid out on his farm. 

"The father of our subject, Louis Otterman, 
served in the second war with Great Britain 
for two years. In 1829 he emigrated westward 
to Indiana, locating near Crawfordsville, where 



264 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



he died at the ripe age of seventy-five years. 
Phillip Null, the maternal grandfather of our 
subject, died of cholera at Point Pleasant, on 
the Ohio river, in 1833, while endeavoring to 
get up the Kanawha river to visit friends at 
Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The mother of our 
subject bore the maiden name of Gloria Null, 
and was bom in Westmoreland county, Penn- 
sylvania, while her death occurred in the 
Hoosier state, at the age of seventy-two years. 
She became the mother of nine sons and three 
daughters, all of whom reached mature years, 
were married and had families of their own. 
At the time Joseph Otterman was bom his 
father was a near neighbor of Judge Summers, 
the father of the Judge Summers who held 
Virginia in the Union during the days of seces- 
sion." 

Joseph Otterman was a school student for but 
six months. Realizing the value of education 
and desirous of mental development, he has 
throughout his entire life been a reader and 
thinker, becoming one of the best informed 
men of the locality in which he makes his 
home. His judgment is sound, his ideas prac- 
tical, and in conversing with him one easily sees 
that he has mastered the subjects to which he 
has given thoughtful consideration. He is, 
moreover, a self-made man financially and to 
his own efforts is attributable whatever success 
he has achieved and enjoyed. He started out 
in the world on his own account when a youth 
of seventeen years, leaving home in order to 
learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed 
at various places until 1864. That year wit- 
nessed his arrival in Dallas county and for a 
long period thereafter he was closely associated 
with its farming interests. 

In the meantime, however, Mr. Otterman 
had married and established a home of his own 
elsewhere. On the 12th of January, 1852, Miss 
Melissa Westfall became his wife. She was 
born in Miami county, Ohio, May 2, 1830, 
daughter of Cornelius and Sarah (Davis) West- 
fall. Her father was born in Virginia and died 
in McDonough county, Illinois, while her 
mother, who passed away in the same state, was 



a native of Dayton, Ohio. She was a sister of 
Dr. William P. Davis, of Des Moines, and Con- 
gressman John Steele Davis, of New Albany, 
Indiana. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Otter- 
man was also one of the heroes of the Revolu- 
tionary war. Many of the representatives of 
her family became prominent in professional 
circles, in the practice of medicine and of the 
law. Mr. and Mrs. Otterman became the 
parents of three children, two of whom are liv- 
ing: Carrie, now the widow of Dr. Solon B. 
Campbell, a resident of Pomona, California: 
and Hattie, the wife of George H. Cooper, of 
Des Moines. 

Mr. and Mrs. Otterman spent their early life 
in Thorntown, Indiana, and subsequently re- 
moved to Montgomery county, that state, where 
he followed carpentering until 1864. He then 
came to Dallas county and turned his attention 
to farming on three hundred and ninety acres 
of land which he had purchased. The soil was 
rich and fertile and responded readily to the 
care and labor which he bestowed upon the 
fields. Year after year he harvested good crops 
and for twenty years resided upon that farm, 
meeting with success that brought to him a 
very desirable competence. He is now well 
situated in life financially and with the wife 
of his early manhood, with whom he has now 
traveled life's journey for fifty -five years, he is 
residing in Adel in a pleasant home and in 
the midst of many friends. 

In politics Mr. Otterman is somewhat inde- 
pendent. He proudly cast his first presidential 
vote for Lewis Cass and in 1856 supported John 
C. Fremont, while at the two succeeding elec- 
tions he voted for Abraham Lincoln. He has 
supported Horace Greeley. Peter Cooper and 
General B. F. Butler. He has studied closely 
the questions and issues of the day and his 
political allegiance is the result of firm faith in 
various principles which he advocates. Both 
he and his wife are devoted members of the 
Christian church and for more than a half 
century he has been a Master Mason. His 
public spirit and patriotism have ever been 
numbered amons; his marked characteristics 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



2(35 



and at the time of the Civil war he was un- 
faltering in his allegiance to the cause of the 
Union. With the blood of Revolutionary 
fathers flowing in his veins he could not be 
other than a patriot and among the family 
heirlooms he now has in his possession two 
silver spoons which were used by British of- 
ficers in stirring their toddj- when seated 
around a camp-fire at the time they were sur- 
prised and shot by the patriots at the battle of 
Pedee. In a review of the life record of Mr. 
Otterman one finds little to condemn and much 
to approve. He has succeeded as a result of 
close application and earnest purpose. He 
started out in life with only a dollar and a 
quai'ter and is today one of the substantial and 
prosperous citizens of Dallas county. His path 
has never been strewn with the wreck of other 
men's fortunes. His competence has been 
honorably gained along legitimate lines of 
labor and at all times he has commanded tlie 
respect and good Avill of his fellowmen by his 
genuine personal worth, his kindlj- spirit and 
his appreciation of the good in otliers. Both 
he and his wife ai'e most highly esteemed' and 
the circle of their friends is co-extensive with 
the circle of their acquaintances. 



A. F. SMITH. 



A. F. Smith, of Dallas Center, is a veteran of 
the war of the Relielliou and an old settler of 
Iowa. For twenty-five years he has been num- 
bered among the public-spirited citizens of Dal- 
las county but dates his residence in this state 
from 1857. He was born in Lynn. Mas- 
sachusetts, May 27, 1847, a son of Mark Smith, 
a native of County Carlow, Ireland, who came 
to the new world when a young man and settled 
in Massachusetts. In that state he married 
Bridget O'Laughlin and removed westward to 
Des Moines in 1857. Locating on a farm in 
Polk county, he began the development of the 
land, which was at that time wild and unim- 
proved but which in the course of years he con- 



verted into an e.xcellent farm. Upon that place 
he spent his remaining days and became rec- 
ognized as one of the leading agriculturists of 
the community. 

In the family were two sons and two daugh- 
ters, but Squire Smith is the only one now 
living. He was reared to manhood in Polk and 
Dallas counties, having been but ten years of 
age at the time of the removal of the family to 
this state. His education was acquired in the 
Des Moines schools and lie was but seventeen 
years of age when he responded to the country's 
call for troops, joining the army as a member 
of Company A, Third Iowa Cavalry. With his 
command he went south, participated in the 
Missouri raid through Missouri and Arkansas 
and aided in the capture of AVarrenton. He 
was with General Wilson in his campaign and 
afterward participated in the battles of Colum- 
bus. Georgia, and of Seima, Alabama. He took 
part in a number of other important engage- 
ments and served until the close of the war, 
being mustered out at Atlanta, Georgia, on the 
9th of August, 1865. He was then honorably 
discharged at Davenport on the 30th of the 
same month, having for more than a year faith- 
fully served his country in the defense of the 
Union. He was still but a boy when he re- 
turned home but he had had all of the experi- 
ences meted out to the soldier who takes an 
active part in the field of battle. 

Following his return home Mr. Smith en- 
gaged in clerking for a time in a store in Des 
Moines and w-as also employed as clerk in a 
liolcl. In 1872 he came to Dallas Center, where 
lie accepted a position as salesman in a store, 
remaining there for eight or ten years. Sub- 
sequently he turned his attention to the real- 
estate business and is now engaged in that line 
in the improvement and sale of property. He 
has been known throughout the period of his 
re'sidence in this county as a reliable and enter- 
prising business man and has secured a good 
patronage in his present field of endeavor. 

Politically Mr. Smith is a republican and cast 
his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln 
in 18B4 while in the Cherokee Nation in the 



•266 



FAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Indian Territory serving lii^ country as a 
soldier. He has since voted for every nominee 
of the republican party and is a stanch sup- 
porter of its candidates and its principles. He 
is a recognized leader in republican ranks in 
Dallas county and his fellow townsmen, rec- 
ognizing his worth and ability, have frequently 
called him to ofhce. He served as constable and 
later as justice of the peace, being first elected 
to the latter office in the fall of 1884. He en- 
tered upon the duties of the position on the 1st 
of January, 1885, and by re-election has been 
continued as the incumbent to the present time, 
covering a period of twenty-two consecutive 
yeai's. He has had many interesting experiences 
in office and the reminiscences which he relates 
of his courts are most interesting. That he is 
ever fair and impartial in his rulings, basing 
his opinions upon the law and equity of the 
case, is indicated by the fact of hi^ long re- 
tention in the position. Other political honors 
have been conferred upon him. He has twice 
been elected mayor of the city and proved a 
capable executive officer, discharging his duties 
in most prompt and businesslike manner. He 
has frequently served as a delegate to the state, 
congressional and county conventions of his 
party and his opinions carry weight in its local 
councils. 

On the 4th of July, 1871, was celebrated the 
marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Elizabeth 
McDonald, a native of England, who was born 
in the city of Liverpool but was reared in Illi- 
nois. Four children have graced this marriage 
but they lost their second son, Maj^-k K., who 
died April 2, 1897, at the age of twenty years. 
The others are Charles J., who is now in Chi- 
cago; Susan E., at home: and Frances, also 
under the parental roof. 

Mr. Smith and his family are communicants 
of the Catholic church. He belongs to Rich- 
mond post, No. 230, G. A. R., of which he is 
a past commander. His life record has been 
closely interwoven with the history of Dallas 
Center for a quarter of a century, so that no 
volume purporting to treat of Dallas county and 
its upbuilding would be complete without a 



record of his career. He stands as a splendid 
type of the enterprising, public-spirted citizen 
ancj the number of his friends is almost co-ex- 
tensive with the number of his acquaintances. 



D. J. PATTEE. 



D. J. Pattee, president of the First National 
Bank, of Perry, Iowa, was born in Chittenden 
county, Vermont, December 22, 1839. It is not 
often that a man can point to so notable an 
ancestry as can the subject of this sketch, an 
artcestrj- in which the country has always found 
brave soldiers, honorable citizens and able 
statesmen. Thirteen of his cousins served in 
the Civil war. Both his grandfather, Loami 
Pattee, and his great-grandfather, John Fay, 
served under General Washington in the Rev- 
olutionary war, the former in Captain John 
Eastman's company and in Colonel Thomas 
Bartlett's regiment of militia, raised by the 
state of New Hampshire for the defense of the 
colonies. He enlisted July 4th and was dis- 
charged October 4, 1780, re-enlisting later on 
August 31, 1781, and being discharged Decem- 
ber 18, 1781. The great-grandfather, John 
Fay, was killed at the battle of Bennington 
while fighting under General Stark. Two other 
members of this family served in the Revolu- 
tionary war, while one of our subject's uncles, 
Asa Pattee, served in the war of 1812. In the 
earliest history of the country we find the 
name of John Fay as the first secretary of the 
state of Vermont and also secretary of the coun- 
cil of safety during the Revolutionary war and 
author of the first declaration of independence 
for the state of Vermont, a declaration which 
abolished slavery from the state for all time. 
We find in the records of Vermont that the first 
sheriff was Benjamin Fay. The earliest Pattee 
to emigrate from England to the United States 
was Peter, a son of Sir William, a physician 
to Cromwell and to Charles II., who came to 
the shores of the new world in 1648. 





J^CA.^^^^^C. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COLINTY. 



269 



The parents of David J. Pattee were William 
H., born at Georgia, Vermont, March 21, 1812, 
and Caroline (Fay) Pattee, born at Richmond, 
Vermont, October 6, 1817. Both the father 
and mother died in Dallas county, the father 
on September 2, 1903, and the mother on May 
22, 1905. Mr. Pattee was a carpenter and join- 
er and worked at that trade in Vermont until 
he came to Perry to live with his son after 
which he spent his remaining days in retire- 
ment. There were eight children in this fam- 
ily, four of whom are now living: David J.; 
Mrs. Marilla Ballard, of Perry; Hubbel, a 
farmer in Spring Valley township; and Mrs. 
Capitola Fidler, of Adel. The subject of this 
sketch was educated in the public schools of 
Georgia, Vermont, and at the Georgia Acad- 
emy of the same place. PTaving c<nTipleted his 
schooling, at the age of eighteen he began clerk- 
ing in a general store at Georgia where he con- 
tinued until June 9, 1862. His patriotic spirit 
Avas aroused at the south's attempt to overthrow 
the Union and true to the qualities which he 
had inherited from his ancestors, he enlisted 
in Company A, Ninth Vermont Volunteer In- 
fantry, serving under Generals McClellan, Polk 
and Burnside. That he was a brave and valu- 
able .soldier is evidenced by his promotion from 
private to commissarj' sergeant. He was in 
many skirmishes, took part in the battle of 
Harper's Ferry, and at that place was taken 
prisoner, but was paroUed shortly after and 
sent to Camp Douglas, near Chicago, in charge 
of rebel prisoners, but his hard service had told 
upon his health and he was discharged because 
of physical disability. On account of his poor 
health ho followed his physician's advice and 
came west, securing a position in the general 
store of Rawson & Osgood at Des Moines, Iowa, 
lie was with the firm but a few months when 
he re-enlisted in June, 1864, in Company F, 
Forty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and 
served under General Sherman in the west un- 
til October, 1864, when he was honorably dis- 
charged at Davenport, Iowa. Shortly after his 
second enlistment he was elected second lieu- 
tenant of his company and later was commis- 



sioned captain, being mustered out with that 
rank. Well may Perry be proud of a citizen 
whose military record is so full of honor. 

But the same qualities which had made him 
valuable in the ai'my were apparent elsewhere. 
His employers, Rawson & Osgood, for whom he 
was working before his second enlistment, had 
kept his place for him, a proof of his value to 
that business and a sure indication of his busi- 
ness ability which he has developed so marvel- 
ously since that time. Shortly after this he be- 
came a partner of his former employer, Mr. 
Rawson, on the retirement of Mr. Osgood, the 
firm name being Rawson & Pattee. In 1867 
lie came to Perry where he put up a building 
and opened a general store which they conduct- 
ed for six years. Mr. Pattee then purchased 
his partner's interest and conducted the busi- 
ness with his brother Ira Pattee, under the firm 
name of D. J. Pattee & Brother. After con- 
ducting the store for several years they sold 
out, taking a farm in part payment. Subse- 
quently the subject of this sketch engaged in 
the real-estate and loan business until 1883, 
when he started a private bank in partnership 
with 0. Mosher. In 1885 this firm bought out 
the First National Bank of Perry, which was 
organized with Mr. Pattee as president, a posi- 
tion which he still holds. Mr. Mosher retired 
from the business about two years after its 
organization. We have only to quote the fol- 
lowing statistics to show what the president's 
bright management and business methods have 
done for this institution. At the time of its 
purchase the assets were ninety-two thousand 
dollars, but at present the assets have reached 
the amount of six lumdred and twenty thou- 
sand dollars. He is also a large stockholder in 
the Perry Savings & Exchange Bank. 

It is almost unnecessary for us to tell the 
people of this city that Mr. Pattee is a republi- 
can, so long and faithfully has he been identi- 
fied with the political issues of this party. He 
has served it in many positions of trust and 
honor. In 1868 he was made county super- 
visor, holding the office for one term. For 
three years he was the mayor of Ihe city and for 



!70 



FAST AND PRESENT OF DALL.IS COUNTY. 



thirteen years was the most proficient post- 
master, sendng under Presidents Grant and 
Hayes. As a mark of approval of his services 
and a tribute to his ability the party elected 
him a member of the Iowa legislature in 1883, 
and because of his superior services in that 
capacity re-elected him in 1885. 

Mr. Pattee is not a member of any church, 
but both he and his family attend the Congre- 
gational church. Aside from his banking busi- 
ness he is extensively interested in agriculture 
in Dallas and Boone counties, ha\ing at one 
time owned two thousand acres of land and at 
present conducts the farming interests of nine 
hundred acres of land. He is a Scottish Rite 
Mason, a Mystic Shriner. a member of Za-Ga- 
Zig Temple at Des iloines and a member of 
the Elks lodge. He has held all the oSices of 
the Knight Templar commandery and is a 
highly honored member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic. 

On November 21, 1872, Mr. Pattee was unit- 
ed in marriage to Belle Moore, the daughter of 
John H. and Martha Moore, whose sketch ap- 
pears in another part of this work. Mrs. Pat- 
tee's death occurred February 12, 1902. Six 
children were born to this union: "WiUiam 
H.. who died at the age of nine months; May; 
Harrj- M.. who married Miss Grace Clarke, of 
Papillion. Nebraska, who is assistant cashier 
of the bank at Perry ; Martha, the wife of Rob- 
ert A. Ridge, an employe of the bank; Ada 
and William H.. at home. 

There is no man in Perry who has done 
more for the town than has Mr. Pattee, who 
has always been intensely interested in every 
movement that contributed to its growth and 
improvement. In 1903 he gave to the city twen- 
ty acres of land for a park, to be known as 
Pattee park. In 1884 he erected a brick buUd- 
ing on the main street and his present residence 
is one of the finest in the city. He is a gentle- 
man of very pleasing manner and well may 
we say of him that he is sixty-seven years 
"young" so efifectively does his appearance belie 
his age. He is still active and energetic in busi- 
ness circles. His success has been due to his 



straightforwardness, his wisdom and his honest 
business methods. All that is noble and high 
he has represented in every undertaking in 
wliich he has been identified. 



HON. J. W. RUSSELL. 

No matter in how much fantastic theorizing 
one may indulge as to the secret and causation of 
success, sober-minded judgment must reach the 
conclusion that it is the outcome of energy 
well applied and guided by sound judgment — 
which .statement finds proof in the life record 
of J. W. Russell, of Adel. When he arrived 
in this city he faced the situation of being not 
only without capital but with an indebtedness 
of one hundred and fifty dollars. Today he is 
president of the Dallas County Savings Bank, 
thus having in trust large moneyed interests 
for others. Other biisiness enterprises have also 
claimed his attention and the combination of 
his interests have made him one of the fore- 
most citizens of Adel county. 

The Russell family, of which he is a rep 
resentative, is of English lineage, the ancestry 
being traced back to John and Sarah (Lovett) 
Russell, who crossed the Atlantic from England 
prior to the war of 1812 and established their 
home in Virginia, where their remaining days 
were passed. John Russell earlj- learned the 
shoemaker's trade, which he largely followed 
as a life work. His son, Daniel L. Russell, grand- 
father of J. W. Russell, of Adel, was bom in 
Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1795 and dur- 
ing the Ci\il war he disappeared and no news 
has since been received concerning him. He 
had married Sophia Smith, who was a native of 
New York and died in Delaware county, Ohio, 
in 1865. The maternal great-grandparents 
of our subject, Thomas and Sarah (McCarty) 
North, emigrated from England to America 
during the colonial epoch in the country's his- 
tory and also settled in Virginia. They were 
of English and Irish descent and were farming 
people, the former also, aided the colonies in 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



■271 



their struggle for indeiJendeuce. The maternal 
grandparents were Joseph and Sarah (Russell) 
North. The former, born in Fairfield county, 
Ohio, in 1805, died in Indiana in 1885, while 
his wife, whose birth occurred in Loudoun 
county, Virginia, in 1820, died in Maryland 
in 186B. 

It was subsequent to the removal of the fam- 
ily to Ohio that Adoniram Russell, father of 
our subject, was born in Fairfield county, in 
1825. The North family was also established 
in that state in the early part of the nineteenth 
century, and in Delaware county Sarah North 
was born in 1828. She wa.s one of a family 
of seven children and in early womanhood gave 
her hand in marriage to Adoniram Russell. 
T^^'ice he served his country upon her battle- 
fields, holding the rank of lieutenant in the 
Mexican war. while in the Civil war he won 
■ the rank of colonel for meritorious conduct on 
the field of battle. After living for some time 
in Indiana, Colonel and Mrs. Russell went with 
their family to Illinois, and his death occurred 
in Clay county, that state, in 1867. His wife 
long survived him and married again. She 
had three children by her first marriage and 
two daughters by the second. 

J. W. Russell was born in Kosciusko county, 
Indiana, on the 19th of May, 1851, and for fif- 
teen years lived the quiet and uneventful life 
of the farmer. He then left home to attend 
Hillsdale College, ambitious to secure a good 
education, and his farm labor enabled him to 
meet the expenses of his college course. Leav- 
ing school in the sophomore year, he removed 
to Adel in 1872 and ha,s since been a resident 
of this city, making advancement in his busi- 
ness life with the growth of the city, and in fact 
contributing in substantial measure to its 
material development through the conduct of 
his private business interests. He was some- 
what handicapped at the time of his arrival by 
a small indebtedness but he possessed energy, 
firm resolution and honorable purpose — quali- 
ties upon which many a fortune has been 
builded and which now stood Mr. Rus.«ell in 
good stead. He clerked for a law firm and read 



law for a year, after which he was placed in 
charge of a loan business and later under the 
firm name of Willard & Russell carried on 
operations in that line. Thus he became identi- 
fied with the moneyed interests of the county 
and has since figured prominently in financial 
circles. 

His recognition of business opportunities and 
advantages has been a strong element in his suc- 
cess. He has engaged to a considerable extent 
in land speculation and has been especially ac- 
curate in determining the value of land and its 
probably diminution or appreciation in price. 
His investments have thus been judiciously 
placed and he has realized a goodly return from 
his sales. He made another forward step when 
he became connected with the Dallas County 
Savings Bank, of which he is the president. 
This is regarded as one of the safe, reliable con- 
cerns of the county and under his management 
tlie business of the bank has increased. He was 
likewise the vice president of the first railway 
l)uilt through Adel. The company was organ- 
ized in his office and with the aid of several 
other enterprising business men the new con- 
cern was secured. He became secretary of the 
Adel Improvement Company upon its organ- 
ization and in this way has been instinimental 
in securing a number of factories and business 
enterprises for Adel, and at all times he has 
done whatever he could for the upbuilding and 
development of the county seat. 

Mr. Russell was married, October 22, 1874, 
to l\Irs. Florence M. Holland, who was bom in 
Elkhart, Indiana, in November, 1852, a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Taylor, who on coming to Iowa 
settled at Adel, where he engaged in the hotel 
business until his death. By her first marriage 
Mrs. Russell had a daughter, Mrs. Pearl W. 
Messinger, and by the second marriage there 
were six children, but one died at the age of 
eighteen months. The others are; J. L'Verne, 
Earl "W., Lulu C, Florence Louise and Cedric 
E. The family are members of the Presby- 
terian church, to the support of which they 
contribute generously. Theirs is one of the 
most beautiful and commodious homes in Adel, 



272 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



in addition to which property Mr. Russell owns 
some business property and several large and 
valuable farms in the county. 

Mr. Russell affiliates with the Knights of 
Pythias and with the Masons and has attained 
the thirty-third degree of the Scottish rite. 
Strong in his republicanism since casting his 
first ballot for General Grant, he believed it the 
duty as well as the privilege for every man to 
support his honest convictions and has long 
been recognized as one of the leaders of his 
party in the county. For some years he was 
county chairman, holding that position until 
1907. As mayor of the city in 1896 he gave a 
public-spirited and busin&sslike administration, 
accomplishing much for the city in the way of 
practical improvements, especially in the paving 
of the city with vitrified brick, in the laying of 
cement sidewalks and in the establishment of 
an adequate system of waterworks. His talents 
have been used to good advantage and his 
ability has been increased in its use. The pub- 
lic recognizes his worth a.s a citizen, as an 
official and as a business man, and he is 
uniformly honored and I'espected. 



JOSEPH W. BLACKMAN. 

While "the race is not always to the swift nor 
the battle to the strong" the invariable law of 
destiny accords to tireless energy, industry and 
ability a successful career. The truth of this 
assertion is abundantly verified in the life of 
Joseph W. Blackman, a retired merchant and 
banker of De Soto. No resident of the village 
has done more for its substantial improvement 
and the promotion of its material interests and 
at the present time, having put aside the more 
arduous and strenuous cares of business life, he 
is now enjoying a well earned rest in honorable 
retirement, though he still looks after his invest- 
ed interests. 

Mr. Blackman was born near Peru, Indiana, 
May 11, 1848, his parents being Edward P. and 
Eliza (Williams) Blackman, who came from 



Indiana to Dallas county at a pioneer epoch in 
its history, settling in Boone township in 1854. 
The father always followed the occupation of 
farming and thus provided for his family, 
which numbered four children, of whom Jos- 
eph W. was the eldest. The others are: Mary 
i\I.. the wife of John Spear, a resident farmer 
of Boone township; E. D., a retired farmer liv- 
ing in De Soto; and Riley, deceased. 

Joseph W. Blackman was only six years of 
age when brought by his parents to Iowa, so 
that his education was largely acquired in the 
district schools of Boone township. He engaged 
in merchandising in early business life in con- 
nection with his brother, E. D. Blackman, and 
they established and conducted a successful en- 
terprise, soon securing a liberal patronage. In 
addition to this Mr. Blackman was for three 
years superintendent of the tile factory at De 
Soto. He also owned and conducted the hotel 
and livery stable and carried on a butcher shop 
at De Soto. He was likewise identified with the 
banking business and his intense and well di- 
rected activity enabled him to success- 
fully control all of these varied inter- 
ests until, having acquired a handsome 
competence, he determined to retire from 
active business life and in 1902 put aside 
commercial and industrial cares. He now owns 
a brick block at Valley Junction, forty-five by 
seventy feet and two stories in height, two hun- 
dred acres of valuable land in Boone township 
and sixty-five acres in Van Meter township, 
from which he derives an excellent annual in- 
come, and he also has one of the best residences 
in De Soto. 

On the 11th of September, 1876, Mr. Black- 
man was married to Miss Jennie Smith, who 
was then a resident of De Soto, her parents hav- 
ing been pioneer settlers of the county. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Blackman have been born two 
daughters: Mabel, now the wife of Dr. Porter, 
a general medical and surgical practitioner of 
Menlo, Iowa; and Dora V., the wife of George 
Kile, cashier of the Exchange Bank of De Soto. 

The parents are members of the Christian 
church and are interested in all that pertains to 





r ' ^\ 



^/^-^^ 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



275 



the moral, intellectual and aesthetic progress of 
the community. Mr. Blackman is an Odd Fel- 
low and has passed through all the chairs of the 
local lodge. He joined the order in Waukee in 
1871, was one of the charter members at 
De Soto and has always been a faithful repre- 
sentative of this fraternity. In politics he is a re- 
publican, has served as alderman of De Soto 
and for three years has been mayor, being the 
present incumbent. His life has been a suc- 
cess. His entire career is illustrative of the fact 
that certain actions are followed by certain re- 
sults. As a business man he has displayed keen 
discernment as well as unfaltering diligence, 
as a jjublic official his actions have been above 
reproach or criticism and as a citizen he is an 
illustration of a high type of our American 
manhood. 



J. N. BRINGHAM. 



J. N. Bringham is a self-made man and from 
the age of thirteen years has been dependent 
upon his own resources, fighting courageously 
the battles of life and coming off conqueror in 
the strife. He dates his residence in Dallas 
county from 1860 and now makes his home on 
a farm on section 21, Colfax township, where 
he has a good tract of land, well improved. 
He was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, 
about three miles west of the old battle-ground 
where General William. Henrj- Harrison fought 
the Indians in the war of 1812. Mr. Bring- 
ham's natal year was 1833. His father, Jesse 
Bringham, was a native of Virginia and estab- 
lished his home in Indiana during the pioneer 
epoch in its early history. He followed the 
occupation of farming and after living for .some 
time in the Hoosier state he came to Iowa, 
spending his last days in Cedar county. He 
married Miss Rachel Mulholland; who was a 
native of Ohio and died in Linn county, Iowa, 
during the early boyhood of her son, J. N. 
Bringham. 

J. N. Bringham was reared on a farm and 
since tlie age of thirteen years has been de- 



pendent upon his own resources and labors for 
a living. He early developed a spirit of self- 
reliance and realizing that success has its basis 
m untiring industry he has worked pei-sistently 
and energetically throughout the intervening 
years. He was first employed at farm labor near 
Peoria and then came to Iowa, while sub- 
sequently he went to California. At a later day 
he returned to Illinois by the old route, sailing 
from San Francisco and crossing the isthmus of 
Panama. Many experiences came to him in his 
journeyings and during the period of his 
residence in the far west where conditions of 
early mining excitement prevailed. In 1860 he 
jnade a permanent location in Dallas county, 
where he purchased forty acres of land. He 
Ijuilt a house, improved the land and lived upon 
that place for a number of years, it being 
situated near Kennedy station. He they sold 
that farm and bought one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 21, Colfax township, where he 
has since lived. He has made this a good farm 
propert}', equipped with all modern conven- 
iences and accessories. He has divided the place 
into fields of good size by well kept fences and 
has brought his land under a high state of 
cultivation, raising the cereals best adapted to 
soil and climate. 

Mr. Bringham has been married three times. 
In 1862 he wedded Miss Lucinda Farlow, from 
whom he secured a legal separation. After the 
death of his second wife he married Miss Lucy 
McGee and they are now pleasantly located on 
the farm. There were four children by his first 
marriage: Flora, wife of Whaley Morris, who is 
living in Colfax township ; ^lary, wife of Elmer 
Clark, of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Willis, a resident 
farmer of Minnesota; and Olive May, wife of 
Edward Noland. 

For a quarter of a century Mr. Bringham has 
been a member of the Methodist church, in 
which he has served as trustee for a number of 
years. In politics he was a democrat in early 
manhood and afterward became a greenbacker 
but takes little interest in politics and for seven 
years has not voted. In community affairs he is 
interested to the extent of giving his support 



276 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and co-operation to man}- movements for the 
public good. As architect of his own fortunes 
he has builded wisely and well and his life 
record clearly illustrates what can be accom- 
plished by determined and earnest purpose. 
Though he has reached the age of seventy-four 
years he does not live in reminiscences and his 
look is still forward. If his work has been less 
spectacular than in the political field it has been 
none the less es.sential and none the less im- 
portant and he is classed with the valued rasi- 
dents of his communitv. 



HENRY I\L SCIIAMEL. 

Henry M. Schamel is one of the active busi- 
ness men of Dallas Center, where for thirty 
yeaR he has made his home. He owns 
and operates an elevator here in con- 
nection with the grain trade and is also 
engaged in the coal business. He stands 
as a type of the self-made man whose close ap- 
plication and enterprise constitutes the basis 
of a most desirable, gratifying and honorable 
success. A native of Hagerstown, Maryland, he 
was born on the 24th of June, 1847, and comes 
of German lineage. His father, Peter H. Scha- 
mel, was a native of Maryland but the grand- 
father was born in Germany, whence he came 
to the now world in 1803, settling in ilaryland, 
where the family was represented for many 
years. His son, Peter H. Schamel, was there 
reared and married, the lady of his choice being 
Miss Mary Carty, a native of the same state. 
He followed farming as a life occupation, culti- 
vating a good tract of land in Washington 
county, Maryland. Unto him and his wife were 
born five sons and four daughters, of whom 
three are yet living: H. M., of this review; 
George C, who is living on the old homestead 
farm in Maryland; and Mrs. Maggie Kable, a 
widow living in Virginia. 

Henry M. Schamel spent the days of his boy- 
hood and youth upon the old home farm in his 
native state and acquired his education there. 



He came west when a young man in 1874, mak- 
ing his way to Dallas county, Iowa. After two 
years spent upon a farm he took up his abode 
in Dallas Center in 1876 and engaged in the 
grain business, buying and shipping grain and 
also dealing in coal. He has since built a large 
elevator with a capacity of thirty-five thousand 
bushels and has developed an excellent business. 
In all of his work he is systematic and method- 
ical and his laudable ambition and determina- 
tion have been the salient elements in his suc- 
cess. He has also been ever honored for his 
business integrity, having gained an unassail- 
able reputation by his fair dealing. In addition 
to his business property he owns a good resi- 
dence in Dallas Center and he also owns three 
well improved farms near the town. 

In 1877, in Maryland, Mr. Schamel was mar- 
ried to Miss Anna L. Barr, who died in this 
county. leaving a daughter, Frances B., now the 
wife of Charles Rhinehart, of Dallas Center. 
She has a little daughter, Helen Louise, born in 
April, 1907, Mr. Schamel's only grandchild. 
Mr. Schamel was again married in February, 
1885, his second union being with Minnie C. 
Smith, who was born in Illinois but was reared 
in Kansas. She engaged in teaching for some 
years in Kansas prior to her marriage and later 
followed the same profession in Iowa. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Schamel are greatly esteemed by all 
who know them and their own home is justly 
celeljrated for its warm-hearted and gracious 
hospitality. 

Politically Mr. Schamel is a republican. He 
cast his first presidential ballot for General U. 
S. Grant in 1838 and has never failed to sup- 
port the candidates at the head of the ticket 
since that time. He has been a delegate to vari- 
ous county, congressional and state conventions 
and was also a delegate to the national conven- 
tion which nominated Presidents McKinley and 
Roosevelt. In his home town he has been 
honored with the mayoralty and gave an ad- 
ministration characterized by progress, reform 
and improvement. The cause of education finds 
in him a warm friend and during six years' 
service on the school board he has done effective 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



work in its inter.est. He does not consider him- 
self bound by party ties at local elections, how- 
ever, and frequently casts an independent ballot. 
He is in its broadest sense a self-made man, 
being both the architect and builder of his own 
fortune. Mr. Schamel is a man of admirable 
characteristics and his political and commercial 
efforts have been conducted on a high mental 
and moral plane. His sympathies are keen and 
conser\'ative and his means ai"e ever at the dis- 
posal of well directed and feasible plans for gen- 
eral improvement. 



BENJAMIN H. SHERMAN, M. D. 

Dr. Benjamin H. Sherman, a well known 
medical practitioner of Dexter, Dallas county, 
was born in Anamosa, Iowa, May 16, 1879, a 
son of Perry H. and Jerusha (Smith) Sherman. 
The father was born in Yorkshire Corners, New 
York, in 1838, being a son of James P. and 
Sarah Sherman, both natives of Vermont. 
Perry H. Sherman was reared in the place of 
his nativity until he had reached his nineteenth 
year, when he came west to Iowa, locating on 
a farm near Anamosa, Jones county. The place 
comjirised four hundred acres and he resided 
thereon until 1891, when he removed to Rolfe, 
Pocahontas county, Iowa, purchasing a farm of 
one hundred and .sixty acres. He successfully 
conducted this tract of land and resided thereon 
until wathin a few years of his death, when he 
removed to the village of Rolfe, his death there 
occurring on May IS, 1900. He was a republi- 
can in his political views but never an office 
seeker, though he serx^ed for many years as a 
member of the school board. He was unassum- 
ing and unostentatious in manner, of a quiet 
and retiring disposition, but nevertheless a man 
of genuine personal worth and one who was 
highly esteemed by all with whom he came in 
contact. Mrs. Sherman was born in Yorkshire 
Comers, New York, in the year 1839, and was 
of Scotch-English ancestry. She was a daugh- 
ter of Daniel Smith, a pintninont agriculturi.-it 



of hLs community. In early life she became a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church but 
later became connected with the Presbyterian 
faith. She passed away on October 6, 1905, 
and, like her husband, was deeply mourned by 
an extensive circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sherman were the parents of eight children, 
six of whom survive: James P., who is engaged 
in business in Rolfe, Iowa; Mary E., the wife 
of 0. B. Fuller, of Rolfe, Iowa; Frank H., also 
engaged in business in Rolfe, Iowa; Nellie, the 
wife of Nelson Mayer, living in Mitchell, South 
Dakota; Fred, an attorney of Rolfe, Iowa; and 
Benjamin H., the subject of this review. 

Benjamin H. Sherman was reared at home, 
supplementing his early education by attend- 
ance at the Rolfe high school, from which he 
was graduated in 1897. For about a year and 
a half following his graduation he was em- 
ployed as a clerk in the Globe Clothing Store 
in Rolfe and afterward sjicnt one year in a 
clothing store in Cherokee, Iowa. In the latter 
year he returned to Rolfe and began reading 
medicine under the direction of Dr. E. W. Wil- 
son. In the fall of 1899 he entered the medical 
department of the Iowa State University, which 
he attended for two years, after which he be- 
came a student in the medical department of 
the Northwestern LTniversity of Chicago, being 
graduated from this institution in the class of 
1904. In July following he located for practice 
at Dexter, Iowa, and from the very beginning 
his success has been phenomenal, having in two 
years built up an enviable and profitable prac- 
tice as a physician and surgeon. His skill in 
the application of remedial agencies is widely 
recognized, and he commands the respect and 
esteem of his patients, fellow-citizens and mem- 
bers of the medical fraternity. 

On September 1, 1904, Dr. Sherman was 
united in marriage to Miss .Jessie Loar, of Mon- 
roe, Iowa, a daughter of Thomas and Sadie 
(Frye) Loar. Her father was a school professor 
for more than twenty-five years and throughout 
almost his entire life was associated with edu- 
cational work, though during the latter period 
of hi- active career he was a pharmacist. 



278 



PAST A:XD present of DALLAS COUNTY. 



That Dr. Sherman has won a prominent place 
in his chosen calling is indicated by the fact that 
he is now president of the Dallas-Guthrie Medi- 
cal Society, and a member of the Iowa State 
Medical and the American Medical Associations. 
He is a republican in politics and fraternally is 
connected with Mt. Tabor lodge, No. 293, A. F. 
& A. M. ; the Eastern Star ; Dexter lodge, I. 0. 
0. F. ; the Modern Woodmen of America; and 
the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. The 
humanitarian principles on which these various 
organizations are founded find exempLification in 
the Doctor's material support of all church and 
charitable work. Dr. Sherman is an enthusias- 
tic automobilist and this affords him the needed 
recreation from the arduous duties devolving 
upon him in the prosecution of his profession. 
He possesses a jileasing personality and is warm- 
hearted and genial, therefore well desen'ing the 
popularity which he has gained as town physi- 
cian of Dexter. 



.JACOB GUTSHALL. 



No history of Dallas county would be com- 
plete without mention of Jacob Gutshall, who 
is one of the largest land owners and promi- 
nent agriculturists of this section of the state, 
his property holdings aggregating ten hun- 
dred and sixty acres. He still operates and 
manages his farms and supervises his financial 
interests. His investments have been judi- 
ciously made, as a result of sound judgment 
and keen foresight. He early had the pre- 
science to discern the greatness which the fu- 
ture had in store for this county and he wisely 
purchased land that has continually increased 
in value. His record is also notable from the 
fact that while he has now passed the ninety- 
second milestone on life's journey, he is still 
numbered among the active men of the county. 
A great majority of men, long before they at- 
tain his age, put aside business cares, feeling 
that they have a right to rest from labor, but 



indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to 
the nature of Mr. Gutshall and therefore he 
still supervises his farming interests. 

A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in 
Perry county, that state, on the 27th of May, 
1815, a son of John and Elizabeth Gutshall, 
who were likewise born in the Keystone state. 
There the father died and the mother after- 
ward removed to Ohio, where her demise oc- 
curred. In their famih^ were seven children, 
of whom Jacob is the third in order of birth. 
After losing her first husband ilrs. Gutshall 
married again, becoming the wife of John 
^Lanbeck and unto them were born eight chil- 
dren. 

In taking up the personal history of Jacob 
Gutshall we present to our readers the life 
record of one whose history should sers'e as a 
source of encouragement and inspiration to 
others, showing what may be accomplished 
when one has determination and energj*. He 
left home at the age of fourteen years and has 
since been dependent entirely upon his own re- 
sources. He has worked persistently without 
thought of failure, knowing that success comes 
as a reward for perseverance and unceasing 
toil. After his first marriage he engaged in 
clerking for an uncle in a mercantile shop for 
eight years. On the expiration of that period 
he purchased a half interest in the business 
and followed that pursuit until 1853, when 
he disposed of his store in Harrison county, 
Ohio, and came to Iowa, buying sixteen hun- 
dred acres of land in Dallas and Madison coun- 
ties. He again visited this state in 1854 and 
the following year moved his family to Dallas 
county, since which time he has made his 
home in Van Meter township, though it then 
formed a part of Boone township. On coming 
to Iowa he abandoned commercial pursuits and 
turned his attention to the development of a 
farm. As the years passed by his harvests 
brought to him good financial returns for his la- ' 
hor. He has disposed of some of his land but still 
possesses ten hundred and sixty acres in this 
county. This is divided into several farms but 
Mr. Gutshall remains the supervisor of his 




Jj^^(L Ln~~ ^.^JVUj^y^ 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



281 



property interests and attends to his financial 
affairs himself. 

In early manhood Mr. Gutshall was united 
in marriage to Miss Ruth A. Mathias, whose 
parents were natives of Pennsylvania. The 
only child of this marriage died in infancy 
and Mrs. Gutshall passed away in 1839. For 
his second wife Mr. Gutshall chose Miss Mahala 
Snyder, who was born in Harrison county, 
Ohio, while her parents were natives of Mary- 
land. The sons and daughters of this union 
were as follows : Joshua, who died at the age of 
three j'ears; Elizabeth; Ruth; Harry; George 
A. ; and one who died in infancy. 

Mr. Gutshall was a democrat in politics until 
1880, since which time he has supported the 
republican party and is in thorough sympathy 
with its principles and policy. In early life 
he took an active interest in public affairs 
and held the office of supei^visor for several 
terms and was likewise school director for some 
years. He was called upon to mourn the loss 
of his second wife in 1906, her death occurring 
on the 28th of September of that year, when 
she had reached the age of eighty-three years. 
She was a member of the United Brethren 
church, to which he also belongs. He is now 
ninety-two years of age and enjoys remarkable 
health for one of his years, possessing the vigor 
and energy of a much younger man. 

Many years have passed since he arrived in 
Dallas county and he is justly numbered 
among her honored citizens. His is a remark- 
able record of one who has by his upright life 
won the confidence of all with whom he has 
come in contact. He has long since rounded 
the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten 
but though the snows of many winters have 
whitened his hair he has the vigor of a much 
younger man and in spirits and interests seems 
not to have passed his prime. Old age is not 
necessarily a synonym for weakness or inac- 
tivity. It need not suggest, as a matter of 
course, want of occupation or helplessness. 
There i.x an old age that is a benediction to 
all that comes in contact with it, that gives 



out of its rich stores of learning and experience 
and grows stronger intellectually and spirit- 
ually as the years pass. Such is the life of Mr. 
Gutshall — an encouragement to his associates 
and an example well worthy of emulation to 
the young. 



BENEDICT BERGER. 

Benedict Berger owns and cultivates a farm 
of eighty acres in Van Meter township and waa 
born in Berne, Switzerland, on the 1st of April, 
1844. His parents were natives of that coun- 
try and came to the United States in 1859, first 
settling in Ohio, where they remained for about 
five years, or until 1864. They then came to 
Dallas county, Iowa. The father enlisted for 
service in the Civil war and was at the front in 
defense of the Union for two years. When 
hostilities had ceased and the country no longer 
needed his aid he returned to Dallas county and 
resumed agricultural pursuits, which he carried 
on until his life's labors were ended in death. 
Unto him and his wife were born five sons and 
two daughters, namely: Benedict, John, Chris- 
tian, Fred, Daniel, Elizabeth and Rosa. 

Mr. Berger of this review was fifteen years of 
age when the family came to this country and 
settled in Ohio. Imbued with the spirit of 
patriotism, he watched the progress of events at 
the time of the Civil war and at an early period 
in the struggle offered his services to the govern- 
ment, becoming a member of Company A, 
Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry when only 
seventeen years of age. . He remained at the 
front for four years as a valiant and loyal de- 
fender of the Union cause and participated in 
many important engagements, including the 
battles of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Mis- 
sion Ridge and the celebrated march under 
Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He waa 
never wounded nor taken prisoner, yot he was 
often in the thickest of the fight and was ever 
loyal to the old flag and the cause it represented. 
On leaving the army he came to Iowa and has 
since made his home in this state. For sixteen 



282 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



years he was a resident of Des Moines but in 
the fall of 1906 returned to hLs farm in Dallas 
county, bemg now the owner of a good tract of 
kind of eighty acres in Van Meter township, the 
fertility of which enables him to gather rich 
harvests as the reward for the care and labor 
which he bestows upon hi? place. 

On the 28th of December, 1875, Mr. Berger 
was united in marriage to Miss Acalinda Hanes, 
■who was born in Indiana, March 8, 1849. Her 
father was born in Marj'land in the year 1813 
and the mothers birth occurred in North Caro- 
lina in 1819. In their family were eleven chil- 
dren: John C, who for three years was a 
soldier of the Civil war; Mary E. ; Nancy M.; 
Jonathan C. ; Eliza A.; Mrs. Berger; David C. ; 
Nicholas H. ; Joseph N. ; George B. ; and Sarah 
E. In the year 1856 the Hanes family removed 
to Iowa, settling in Dallas county, where the 
father carried on farming until his demise. His 
w\{e also passed away in this county. 

Mrs. Berger has been married twice. She 
fir.^t became the wife of J. W. Drennon and unto 
them were born three children : David H., now 
deceased; Martha B., who was born January 23, 
1871, and is living in Des Moines, Iowa; and 
Henry M., who was born October 23, 1873, and 
is married and makes his home in Wyoming. 
Mr. Drennon, the father of these children, sensed 
for four j-ears as a soldier in the Civil war. Fol- 
lowing his death his widow became the wife of 
Mr. Berger and unto this marriage four children 
have been born: Rosetta A., who was born De- 
cember 2, 1876, and is the wife of Howard A. 
Mason, by whom she has two children, Cecil D. 
and Thelma; George B., who was bom October 
5, 1883, and is deceased; Bennie R., who was 
bom May 2, 1885, and died in infancy; and 
Jessie J., who was bom June 17, 1893, and also 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Berger exercises his right of franchise in 
support of the men and measures of the repub- 
lican party but the honors and emoluments of 
office have no attraction for him. He is a self- 
made man and as the architect of his own 
fortunes has builded wLsely and well. He had 



no family or pecuniary assistance at the outset 
of his career but he had been trained to habits 
of industry, economy and integrity and upon 
these substantial qualities as a foundation he has 
builded the superstructure of his success. Read- 
ing between the lines of this re\aew, one may 
learn of the unfaltering diligence and steadfast 
purpose with which he has carried on his busi- 
ness, enabling him in the course of years to 
become the owner of a good farm and a fine 
home. 



WILLIAM LAMB. 



William Lamb is numbered among the na- 
tive sons of Dallas county, his birth having 
occurred in Union township in pioneer times, 
his natal day being June 7, 1868. He now 
follows farming on section 31, Colfax town- 
ship, and throughout hLs entire life has been 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, 
Charles B. Lamb, was born in Virginia, Aug- 
ust 9, 1830, and in early manhood wedded 
Miss Susan Spilers. For many years he was 
a resident of this county. He came from In- 
diana to Iowa in 1854 and settled in Union 
towTiship on six hundred acres of wild land. 
All around stretched the unbroken prairie cov- 
ered with its native grasses. There were few 
evidences of modern civilization here, the 
work of improvement and development lying 
largely in the future. Mr. Lamb was a har- 
nesgmaker by trade and followed that pursuit 
up to about five years prior to his death. He 
made the first set of harness in Dallas county. 
After living for a time in Union township he 
removed to Redfield, where he opened a har- 
ness shop and regularly carried on the busi- 
ness. His dihgence and enterprise brought 
him a measure of success which in the course 
of years made him a prosperous man and at 
hi? death he left a very comfortable estate, 
including much town property in Redfield. At 
the time of the Ci\Til war he responded to the 
country's call for troops and enlisted for three 



PAST AND rKE8EXT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



283 



years as a member of Company H, Thirty- 
ninth Iowa Infantry. Though he participated 
in many battles he was never wounded and 
proved a most valorous and loyal soldier. Re- 
turning to his home he continued in the har- 
nessmaking business for many years in Red- 
field, where he died on the 1st of July, 1906. 
His death was deeply regretted, for all who 
knew him esteemed and honored him. His 
widow still survives and is yet living in Red- 
field. They were the parents of three chil- 
dren : Mrs. Lizzie Cain, who is living on the 
old homestead in Union township; William; 
and Mrs. Clara Smith, who resides in Red- 
field. 

No event of special impoi-tance occurred to 
vary the routine of life for William Lamb in 
his boyhood and youth. His first seven years 
were spent upon the home farm and then he 
accompanied his parents on their removal to 
Redfield, acquiring hi.s education in the 
schools of that town and in Panora, Iowa. At 
the age of twenty-two years he began farming 
on his own account and has carried on agri- 
cultural pursuits as his life work. He now 
owns three hundred and twenty acres of good 
land, well improved, one hundred and twen- 
ty acres in his home place, and a glance at 
his farm indicates to the passer-by the care- 
ful supervision and practical methods of the 
owner, who ls now classed with the enterpris- 
ing and sucee.s.sful farmers of the county. 

Mr. Lamb was married on the 18th of 
March, 1891, to Miss Carrie Mohr, who was 
born in this county, October 5, 1872, her par- 
ents being Samuel and Margaret (Culp) Mohr, 
the former a native of Pennsylvania and the 
latter of Virginia. They came to Dallas coun- 
ty at an early period in its development and 
settled near Redfield, where Mr. Mohr car- 
ried on general farming. They lived upon 
the old homestead up to the time of the death 
of Mrs. Mohr, after which the husband and 
father removed to Redfield, where his remain- 
ing days were spent. Mrs. Mohr's father mar- 
ried Hannah I>incoln, a relative of Abraham 
Lincoln. 



Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mohr were born seven 
children, of whom two died in infancy, while 
those still living are: Mrs. Hannah Miller, 
a resident of Iowa; Mrs. Lottie Harper, who 
is living in Dallas township; Mrs. Flora Lower, 
i)f Guthrie ((lunly. Iowa; Mrs. Ella Lower, of 
Stuart, Iowa; and .Mrs. Lamb. Our subject and 
his wife have live ciiildreii, namely: Virgil. 
Charles, Le Roy, Lorcna and Willie. 

Mr. Lamb has served for three years on 
the board of trustees and is now serving a 
second term as township clerk. His political 
allegiance is given the republican party and 
he is unswerving in his advocacy of its prin- 
ciples. He is ever loyal to the interests of the 
community and is a progressive citizen and 
public-spirited man as well as an enterprising 
farmer. All who know him esteem and re- 
.«pect him and his circle of friends in his na- 
tive county is an extensive one. 



ALBERT C. HOTCHKISS. 

Albert C. Hotchkiss, editor and publisher of 
the News at Adel, has been a factor in the 
upbuilding and development of the town 
through his advocacy in the columns of his 
paper of progressive public measures and 
through his co-operation with many move- 
ments which have had for their object the 
general good. A native of New York, he was 
born in Binghamton on the 21st of Novem- 
ber, 1842, of the marriage of William and 
Sarah (Gilbert) Hotchkiss, both of whom 
were natives of Connecticut. About the time 
of their marriage they removed from New 
England to the state of New York, where they 
made their home until 1867, in which year 
they arrived in Iowa, bringing with them their 
five children. Settling near Adel, Mr. Hotch- 
kiss passed away when seventy-two years of 
age and his wife at the age of seventy- four. 

Albert C. Ilotchki.ss, their second child, was 
reared to farm life, aiding in the work of the 
fields until fourteen years of age, when, think- 



284 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ing to find commercial pursuits more congenial, 
hu secured a clerkship in a dry-goods store, be- 
ing thus employed until after the outbreak of 
the Civil war. He was not yet twenty years of 
age when he offered his services to the govern- 
ment and joined the boys in blue of Company 
H, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth New York 
Volunteers, under Captain Wood. He was with 
that command for fourteen months or until the 
expiration of his term of enlistment. The con- 
tinuance of the war led him to again join the 
army in September, 1864, becoming a member 
of Company M, First New York Veteran Cav- 
alry, after which he was at the front until the 
cessation of hostilities. He was always faith- 
ful to his duty, whether on the picket line or 
the firing line, in camp or on the field of battle. 
He arrived in Iowa with his parents in 1867 and 
was accompanied also by his bride, for just pre- 
vious to the removal to the west he wedded Miss 
Lucy Fairehild, also a native of Binghamton, 
New York, and a daughter of Stephen B. Fair- 
child. 

Albert C. Hotchkiss, turning his attention to 
farming, continued an active factor in agricul- 
tural life for seven years, after which he spent 
six years as clerk of the district court and re- 
moved from the farm to the city of Adel. In 
the meantime, in 1879, he purchased an interest 
in the News, with which he has since been con- 
nected and is now editor. He has made this 
one of the leading country papers of the state 
and has kept abreast with the ideas of modern 
journalism. In the dissemination of locd and 
general news he has developed an excellent jour- 
nal, which is also a good advertising medium be- 
cause of its large circulation. He has a well 
equipped office and has done much for the city 
in his championship of those measures which he 
has deemed would prove of public benefit. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss have been born 
a son and two daughters : Louis, Jessie and Nel- 
lie. He and his family are members of the Pres- 
byterian church and are ])rominently known 
socially. His political alle.giance is given to the 
republican party and for Iavo terms he served 
as postmaster of Adel, receiving his first ap- 



pointment under President Harrison, and his 
second under President Roosevelt. He has 
also represented his senatorial district, com- 
prising the counties of Dallas, Guthrie and 
Audubon, in the twenty-sixth and twenty- 
seventh general assemblies. He possesses a 
genial, cordial nature, which easily wins 
friends and, moreover, he has the happy facul- 
tv of retaining them. 



GEORGE L. RHINEHART. 

George L. Rhinehart is one of the active and 
progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Dallas 
county. His landed possessions are extensive, 
embracing about one thousand acres in Sugar 
Grove township, and he makes his home in Dal- 
las Center. A resident of the county since 1854, 
the greater part of its development is a story 
familiar to him, for he has been an active par- 
ticipant in the events which have shaped its 
historj-, while his business interests have been 
a strong clement in its agricultural prominence. 

Mr. Rhinehart is a native of Indiana, his 
birth having occurred in Parke county on the 
17th of March, 1847. His father, Andrew 
Rhinehart, was a native of Virginia, born in 
1814. He took up his abode in Indiana in early 
manhood and was there married to Miss Mar- 
garet Oldshoe. He devoted his time and ener- 
gies to famaing in Parke county for some years 
and four of the children were there horn. In 
1853 they removed to Iowa, spending the first 
winter in Polk county, and in the following 
spring came to Dallas county. Here Mr. Rhine- 
hart purchased a grist and saw mill on Coon 
river and continued its operation until 1865, 
when he sold out and settled on a farm in 
Sugar Grove township, where he bought three 
hundred acres of partially improved land. This 
he began to clear and cultivate and in the 
course of time brought his fields under a high 
state of cultivation. As the years passed and 
his financial resources increased he added to 
the property until he owned four hundred 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



285 



and fifty acres. He was a well known farm- 
er and business man, possessing a spirit 
of determination and energj' that enabled him 
to accomplish whatever he undertook to do. 
He served as supervisor and in other local po- 
sitions of honor and trust and passed away on 
his farm in February, 1884, respected by all 
who knew him. He had long survived his 
wife, who died about 1858 or 1859. 

George L. Rhinehart is the eldest child and 
only son of the family and now has but one liv- 
ing sister, Nancy Jane, the wife of Ben Clark, of 
Jewell county, Kansas. Mr. Rhinehart spent 
the first seven years of his life in the state of 
his nativity and then accompanied his parents 
on their removal to Iowa, where he was reared, 
early becoming familiar with the duties and la- 
bors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. In 
the winter months, when the work was practical- 
ly over for the year, he attended the common 
schools but is largely self-educated. He had not 
yet attained his majority when, in recognition 
of his country's need, he offered his services to 
the Union and joined the Fourth Iowa Battery. 
He then went south and served with the Gulf 
department, participating in a few skirmishes 
and engaged also in scouting and guard duty 
at New Orleans and in the northwest. He re- 
mained in the service until the close of the 
war but was then honorably discharged at Dav- 
enport, in July, 1865. When hostilities had 
ceased he returned to Iowa and remained with 
his father on the farm. On the day of his 
majority he took charge of the farming and 
stock-raising interests on the old homestead 
and throughout his life has been closely asso- 
ciated with agiicultural pursuits. 

On the 29th of June, 1869, in Des Moines, 
Mr. Rhinehart was married to Miss Adaline 
Aurilla Albin, who was born in Indiana and 
was reared in that state and in Dallas county, 
her father being William Albin, an early set- 
tler of this part of the state. Following their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rhinehart located on 
the old home place, where they lived for two 
or three years, after which they bought raw 
land. Tt wii.« a tract of undeveloped prairie 



of two hundred and twenty acres. This he at 
once began to break and fence and in the 
couree of time the entire farm was under the 
plow and was bringing a good return for the 
care and labor that was bestowed upon the 
fields. He also erected good buildings here 
and worked earnestly and persistently to make 
his farm cultivable and productive. At length 
he was deriving a good income from his pi'op- 
erty and he bought more land from time to 
time until he is now one of the large property 
owners of the countj', having nearly one thou- 
sand acres all in one body, save a tract of fifty- 
four acres of timber land. He built a good 
farm residence and three good barns. He has 
divided his land into four farms with four 
sets of buildings. He has upon his home place 
a granary, stock sheds, wind pump, and in 
fact all of the modern accessories and equip- 
ments of a model farm. In connection with 
the tilling of the soil and the raising of 
crops he makes a business of raising feed and 
shipping stock and annually sends about twen- 
ty carloads of cattle and hogs to the city mar- 
ket, deriving therefrom an excellent annual in- 
come. In 1902 Mr. Rhinehart left the farm 
and removed to Dallas Center, where he erect- 
ed a large, neat and up-to-date residence, which 
he now occupies, and from this place he super- 
intends his farming operations. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rhinehart were born 
two children, a son and daughter: Charles, 
who is married and is business manager of his 
father's farming interests; and Mary Estella, 
the wife of William C. Donaldson, a ranch- 
man of Montana. Politically Mr. Rhinehart 
is a republican and while on the farm served 
as township trustee for about nine years. He 
was also township clerk for several years and 
his interest in the cause of education was in- 
dicated by the effective work which he did as 
a member of the school board. He has never 
been a politician, however, in the sense of of- 
fice seeking, but has recognized his duties of 
citizenshii) and lias therefore served capably in 
some local oflicps. He has also been a delegate 
to county and state convention.= of his party. 



286 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



He and his wife attend and contribute to the 
support of the Presbyterian church, of which 
Mrs. Rhinehart is a member. Mr. Rhinehart 
belongs to the Masonic lodge at Dallas and to 
the chapter at Adel. Since his retirement 
from the farm he has made a trip to the coast, 
accompanied by bis wife, seen the Rockies and 
visited many cities and points of interest in 
California. They also made a trip to the north- 
west to visit Yellowstone Park. Mr. Rhine- 
hart well merits the leisure which makes such 
trips possible and the success which crowned 
his efforts in former years, for his has been 
an active business life. He has labored per- 
sistently for what he now enjoys and as the 
years have gone by has made a most credita- 
ble record as a prosperous and honorable busi- 
ness man. 



ELI COMPTON. 



Eli Compton was born in Marion county, 
Indiana, eight miles southwest of Indianapolis, 
January 15, 1834. He was the son of .Joshua 
and Olive (Ken worthy) Compton. Tbe pater- 
nal grandfather was a native of Ohio, as was 
Joshua Compton, the father. The former re- 
moved to Richmond, Indiana, with his family 
when his son Joshua was a small boy. Follow- 
ing' his death the grandmother married a 
second time, becoming the wife of Willis Whit- 
son and together they conducted a station on 
the underground railroad and assisted many 
negroes in escaping to Canada. 

Joshua Compton remained un tlie home place 
at Richmond, Indiana, until liis marriage, 
when he removed to the farm near Indianapolis 
where the birth of his son Eli occurred. He 
was one of the strong men and true who came 
to found the empire of the west at a time when 
the red man in his native garb stalked through 
the then woody avenues where the wild beast 
disputed his domain. At the time of his re- 
moval to Marion county, Indiana, the roads 
around Indianapolis were cut through the for- 



ests and the trees stood so close to the track that 
the bark was all knocked oft' bj^ the wagon hubs. 
Mr. Compton continued to make his home upon 
his farm in Marion county, Indiana, until his 
death. He married Olive Kenworthy and they 
became the parents of nine children, of whom 
four are living: Lydia, the widow of Ellis 
Pickering, who resides with a son in .Vlberta, 
Canada; Eh; Mary, the wife of Milton Mills, 
of Union township ; and Nathan, also of Union 
township. 

Eli Compton was reared under the jjarental 
roof and acquired his education in the common 
schools. Upon attaining his majority in the 
early part of 1855, he came to Iowa where he 
spent one sunnner, having driven a team 
through the country for his passage. This he 
did in the employ of Jesse Barnett and then 
secured work from this gentleman in I'nion 
township. In August, 1855, Mr. Comptdii, in 
company with his brother Isaac, Amos Mills 
and E. A. Barnett, started on a tour of inspec- 
tion through the state. They made this trip 
with teams and when they reached Panora laid 
in a supply of provisions and journeyed west- 
ward from there through Guthrie, Audubon, 
Cass and Adair counties. When they reached 
Nishnabotna river they shot a deer on the other 
side of the stream. In order to cross they cut 
down a tree which formed a bridge and by 
means of rush grass which they piled \ipon it 
they were thus able to pull the wagon across 
by hand and lead their horses. An illustration 
of the life they led on this trip is found in the 
fact that they dug roots with Avhich they cooked 
their meals, there being no other matei-ial for 
fuel. They were gone about three weeks and 
found land which suited them. On this trip 
several deserted Indian villages were discovered. 
jVIr. Compton entered two hundred and forty 
acres in Adair county, near where Greenfield 
now stands. His brother took up one thousand 
acres. In the fall of the same year Mr. Comp- 
ton returned to Indiana, where he visited his 
mother and then returned with her and her 
family to Dallas. They located in Union town- 
ship, buying eighty acres on section 21 which 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



289 



Mr. Comptoii owned until recently. His 
mother passed away in Januaiy, 1862. Their 
life was practically that of the pioneer, being a 
decided change from the pleasing environment 
(if old civilization which they left. They lived 
in a tent while building a house, for which they 
had to haul logs to Morrisburg seven ndles 
southeiLst of Panora to have them sawed. They 
also split and shaved shingles for the roof. 
Their work in this pioneer country was success- 
ful and Mr. Compton found himself in a posi- 
tion to purchase eighty acres adjoining his 
original farm. This was in the year 1863 
and he paid ten dollars an acre which was con- 
sidered a very high price at that time. Little 
by little lie added to his farm, his next purchase 
being eighty acres adjoining for which he paid 
twenty-two dollars an acre. In 1901 Mr. Comp- 
liin sold the first eighty-acre purchase to his 
son and he retired to his present farm of twenty- 
five acres across the road from the home farm. 

Mr. Compton was married to Miss Anna -I. 
Barnett who came to Dallas county in the fall 
i)f 18")."). This union has been blessed with 
seven children, one son and six daughters, all 
of whom survive: Ruth C, of Dexter. Iowa, who 
is the widow of Jason Pickett formerly a rail- 
road man of Western Springs, Illinois; Elmer 
M., who is on the home farm ; Emma, the wife 
of Charles Crowell, a traveling salesman of Adel, 
Iowa; Olive, the wife of C. M. Bennett, who is 
living with her father, working the farm on 
shares; Sidna, the wife of Dr. Edwin Day, a 
physician of Earlham, Iowa; Evaline, the wife 
of David Boggess, a plumber of Atlantic, Iowa; 
and Hattie, the wife of Alfred StubV)S, a mail 
carrier of Des Moines, Iowa. 

In his political affiliations Mr. C;)mpton 
was formerly a republican but has been a stal- 
wart jirohibitionist since the organization of 
that party. He has served as a member of the 
school board for fifteen years, acting a< ])resident 
most of that time. He is a member of the 
Friends church. Before coming to Iowa he had 
worked out by the month for three years and 
saved three hundred and fifty dollars. With 
(bis siuall bceiniiiii"' be has bv hard work and 



Ijy thrifty habits won his present financial posi- 
tion and is today one of the best known and 
most highly esteemed citizens in this county. 
He has met with all the hardships to 'which 
pioneer life is subjected, but with vigor and 
good cheer he has always risen superior to 
them all. He possesses the sterling charac- 
teristics which accompany this life; is quiet 
and unassuming, so that only his best friends 
fully appreciate or understand his depth 
of character. He has the honor of having built 
the first frame house in Union township, lo- 
cated south of Coon creek, and from that time 
to this he has been active in every enterprise 
which in any way advances the interests of this 
county and of the people therein. 



ELMER A. EMMERT. 

Palmer A. Emmert, owner and publisher of 
Tlie Times at Dallas Center since 1901, was bom 
at Lanark, Illinois, March 5, 1875, his pai-ents 
being Josiah and Maggie K. (Miller) Emmert, 
the former a mason by trade. His education 
was acquired in the public schools of his native 
town. From early boyhood he had a desire 
to be a printer and after leaving school he 
began learning the printer's trade under the 
direction of Charles A. De Witt on The News 
at Lanark. He took up the work on the 13th 
of November, 1889, and after r(>niainin,u in The 
News office for a short time secured a situation 
on the Gazette at Lanark, of which .J. E. Laird 
was then publisher. His connection with that 
office covered eleven years, save for a period of 
six montlis spent in work at the printer's trade 
in North Dakota. He came to Iowa in 1901 
and on the 1st of February of that year j^ur- 
chased from W. R. Markley what was then The 
New Times, of which he has since been editor 
and owner, though the name has since been 
changed to The Times. He has made this an 
excellent country paper and its circulation and 
advertising patronage have both greatly in- 
creased under his able management. 



290 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



]\lr. Emmert was married at Ida Grove, Iowa, 
on the 24th of May, 1903, to Clara F. Ham- 
mond, of Dallas Center. His life has always 
been characterized by a recognition of com- 
munity interests for the public good and by 
active co-operation therein. 



WILLIAM H. BRENTON. 

The period of William H. Brenton's resi- 
dence in Iowa covered about forty years. This 
is an age of progress and Iowa is the exponent 
of the spiiit of the age. The state has made 
wonderful advancement along all lines of ac- 
tivity during the latter half of the nineteenth 
century and the opening years of the twentieth 
and William H. Brenton belonged to that class 
of enterprising, public-spirited men who have 
kept Dallas county apace with the universal 
development and upbuilding. His name was 
enrolled among the honored dead and his 
memory is cherished by many who knew him 
and respected him because of genuine personal 
worth. 

A native of Indiana, Mr. Brenton was born 
near the city of Indianapolis on the 12th of 
January, 1840. His father was Dr. J. B. Bren- 
ton, a native of Kentucky, who was a physician 
and practiced successfully in Indiana until 
about 1853, when he removed with his family to 
Iowa. He made his home upon a farm in Adel 
township, Dallas county. His son, William 
H., was at that time a lad of thirteen years 
and he thus early became familiar with the ex- 
periences and hardships of pioneer life. He 
aided in the arduous task of developing a new 
farm, working in field and meadow until the 
place was brought under a high state of culti- 
vation. 

The only interruption to his farm labor in 
earlier years was when he offered his services 
to his country and joined the Union army in 
1861. He was the very first to enlist from Dal- 
las county and donning the nation's blue uni- 
form he marched to the front as a member of 



the Second Iowa Regiment, under General Tut- 
tle. He was wounded at the battle of Fort Don- 
elson, after which he was granted a furlough 
and returned home, while later he was dis- 
charged, being unable to engage in further ac- 
tive field sei-vice. His sympathy was with the 
Union cause, however, throughout the period 
of the war and he did everything in his power 
to support the administration at Washington 
and the war policy. 

On the 25th of May, 1862, Mr. Brenton was 
married in Dallas county to Miss Mary E. 
Richmond, a native of Columbia county, New 
York, and a daughter of Rufus R. and Anna 
(Rossman) Richmond, who removed to Dallas 
county, Iowa, when their daughter, Mrs. Bren- 
ton, was a maiden of thirteen years. She is 
a lady of good education, of superior business 
ability and was often consulted by her hus- 
band on business matters of importance. She 
possessed the native culture and refinement, 
too, that make a good home and to her hus- 
band she was a most faithful companion and 
helpmate. 

Following their marriage they lived for a 
number of years upon a farm, Mr. Brenton 
giving his attention to the development and 
improvement of his land, which he brought 
under a high state of cultivation, so that the 
fields annually returned to him a gratifying 
income. As his financial resources increased 
he purchased more property and became an 
extensive landowner, taking his place with the 
leading business men of the county. In his 
investments he looked beyond the exigencies 
of the moment to the possibilities of the future 
and with ready recognition of opportunity he 
gained a goodly measure of success in all that 
he did. In 1878 he removed from the farm 
to Dallas Center, from which point he super- 
intended his general agricultural and live-stock 
interests. Subsequently he became part owner 
of the Bank of Dallas Center, was chosen presi- 
dent and his sons still retain his name in that 
office. He was a very active business man. far- 
sighted and sagacious and thoroughly reliable. 
His word was as 2;ood as anv bond ever solem- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COL^NTY 



2yi 



nized by signature or seal and he was, more- 
over, a public-spirited citizen, who found time 
and opportunity to aid any feasible plan for 
the development and progress of his town and 
county. 

Unto "Sir. and Mrs. Brenton were born three 
children who are still living: Chaiies R. and 
Clyde E., who ai-e engaged in the banking busi- 
ness ; Eva A., now the wife of Donald D. McColl, 
of Perry, Iowa. The daughter, Eva A., was 
graduated at the Des Moines College in 1891 
with the first honors of her class. For several 
years following her graduation she was assistant 
cashier at the bank at Dallas Center, where she 
displayed marked business and executive abili- 
ty, resigning from the bank to become the wife 
of Donald D. McColl, November 10, 1897. 
They also lost an infant daughter. 

The death of Mr. Brenton occurred on the 
10th of December, 1893, when he was fifty- 
three years of age. He was a member of the 
Presbyterian church, the Masonic fraternity, 
in which he attained the Knight Templar de- 
gree and he was buried with Masonic honors. 
He commenced life a poor man with little 
means and at his death was one of the most 
prosperous citizens of the county. There was 
not the slightest suggestion of anything hypo- 
critical about him. He was true to his con- 
victions and ever loyal to his friends. He was 
respected by the community at large and hon- 
ored by his busine.«s associates, while in the 
closer circles of his social acquaintance he en- 
joyed the warmest friendship. 

Charles R. and Clyde E. Brenton, sons of 
"William H. Brenton, have '"paid the price of 
success" in concentrated effort, indefatigable 
energy, perseverance and well applied business 
principles and have won the victory which they 
determined to gain when they started out on 
an independent business career. They are par- 
ticularly well known in connection with finan- 
cial interests, being extensively engaged in the 
banking business. They are owners of the 
Bank of Dallas Center, of which Clyde E. Bren- 
ton is cashier and Charles R. Brenton vice 
president. The name of their fatlnT. W. 11. 



Brenton, still appears in the firm as president. 
Other banking investments and extensive prop- 
erty, grain and lumber interests make them 
foremost factors in the commercial and finan- 
cial development of western Iowa. They have 
been residents of Dallas Center since 1878 and 
are native sons of the county, having been 
born on the old family homestead in Adel 
townshij). The birth of Charles R. Brenton 
occurred on the 30th of January, 1864, and 
Clyde E. Brenton, April 20, 1868. Both sons 
attended the public schools of Dallas Center 
and Clyde E. Brenton was also a student in 
Des Moines College. Clyde E. Brenton en- 
tered the bank when a young man of seven- 
teen years. Notwithstanding his father's in- 
fluence might have assisted him to promotion, 
he won his advancement through his close ap- 
plication, earnest labor and firm resolve. Each 
duty entrusted to him was faithfully performed 
and he thoroughly mastered the business as 
he worked his way upward step by step. 

Eventually he and his brother Charles became 
partners in the enterprise, purchasing an interest 
in the business in 1888, and they now own and 
operate this bank, which is the oldest bank- 
ing institution of the county, having been or- 
ganized in 1873. A general banking business 
is transacted and from the. beginning the Bank 
of Dallas Center has been regarded as a most 
safe and reliable institution because of the con- 
servative policy which is manifest in its man- 
agement. In connection with their banking 
business the brothers own and operate a num- 
ber of farms, having nearly five thousand acres 
in improved farms in Adel, Walnut, Sugar 
Grove and Grant townships from which they 
derive an excellent income and which rend- 
ers their banking business of a most safe char- 
acter, having back of it these extensive landed 
interests as security. They have erected a 
good brick business block and two other good 
business houses in the town and have thus 
helped to improve this city. Aside from their 
banking interests at Dallas Center, the Bren- 
ton brothers are connected with three other 
I. auks, all private institution.-;. They own a 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



bank at Granger, Iowa, one at Dana, Iowa, and 
a half interest in the bank at Waukee. They 
also have a half interest in the bank at Woodward, 
Iowa, and are connected with the lumber trade 
under the firm style of Brenton Brothers Lumber 
Company, with headquarters at Waukee, Fred 
S. Whiting having charge of the business at 
that place, of which he is part owner. They are 
also interested in other lumber enterprises and 
are connected with the grain trade as owners 
of elevators. It will thus be seen that the Bren- 
ton brothers have operated extensively in finan- 
cial and commercial circles and they belong to 
that class of representative American citizens 
who while promoting individual interests also 
contribute to the general growth and prosper- 
ity. While an excellent family record com- 
mends them to the good-will and confidence 
of their fellowmen, it is their individual worth 
that has gained for them their present envi- 
able position in the regard of those with whom 
thej' have come in contact. Through their 
business career they have been looked upon . 
a.s models of integrity and honor, never incur- 
ring an obligation that has not been* met and 
standing today an example of what determina- 
tion and force, combined with the highest de- 
grees of business integrity, can accomplish for 
a man of natural ability and strength of char- 
acter. 

Both brothers are married. On the 10th of 
October, 1894, Clyde E. Brenton was united 
in marriage to Miss Alice Givin, a daughter of 
jMr. and Mrs. Robert Givin, formerly of De 
Soto, this county, but now of Dallas, Texas. 
Mr. and Mrs. Brenton commenced their do- 
mestic life at the old home, where he has lived 
for twenty-eight years. They are prominent 
socially, being greatly esteemed by a large cir- 
cle of warm friends. Politically Mr. Brenton 
is a republican and has served as 'mayor of 
the city, proving a most capable executive offi- 
cer. He has been a delegate to the state and 
county conventions and has exerted consider- 
able influence in political affairs. He and his 
wife are members of the Presbyterian church, 
and ]\Ir. Brenton is a Master Mason of Dallas 



Center lodge, A. F. & A. M., also holding mem- 
bership with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Woodmen and other fraternal in- 
surance orders. 

Charles R. Brenton was married in 1893 to 
Miss Carrie W. Woodward, who was born and 
reared here. She is a daughter of John L. 
and Henrietta L. Woodward, early settlers of 
Dallas county. They now have two children, 
Woodward H. and Ruth. Charles R. Bren- 
ton is a trustee of Ames College and is inter- 
ested in the material, intellectual, political and 
moral progress in his community. He and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, in the work of which they take a most 
active and helpful part. They are also asso- 
ciated with the Sunday school work and their 
efforts have been effective and far-reaching in 
this direction. Charles R. Brenton belongs to 
the Masonic fraternity and to the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. His political alle- 
giance is given to the republican party and he 
was chosen as alternate delegate to the nation- 
al convention at St. Louis. 

The extent and importance of the business 
operations of the Brenton brothers render it 
imperative that mention should be made of 
them in this volume, less the history of Dal- 
las county would be incomplete. Their achieve- 
ments represent the result of honest endeavor 
along lines where mature judgment has point- 
ed a way. They possess a weight of character, 
a native sagacity, a discriminating foresight 
and a fidelity to purpose that command the 
respect of all. They have made an honorable 
record and are recognized as leading citizens 
of their native countv. 



WILLIAM LUCAS McKISSICK. 

William Lucas McKissick is the president of 
the Dallas County Brick & Tile Works, manu- 
facturers of brick, drain tile and hollow build- 
ing blocks at Adel. This is one of the leading 
productive industries of the state and in its 



w 




PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



295 



establishment and control Mr. McKissick has 
displayed excellent business ability, keen dis- 
cernment and executive force. He is promin- 
ent among the energetic, far-sighted and suc- 
cessful business men of Dallas county and in 
his life record has shown a strength of purpose 
that has enabled him to overcome all difficul- 
ties and obstacles in his path and proved that 
prosperity and an honored name may be won 
simultaneously. 

Mr. McKis.sick is a native of Indiana county, 
Pennsylvania, bom on the 27th of August, 
1853. The McKissick family is of Scotch-Irish 
extraction and was founded in xVmerica at an 
early day. Thomas McKissick, the father of 
our subject, was also a native of the Keystone 
state, born in Indiana county, and for many 
years he was a pilot on the Susquehanna river. 
When not engaged in that work his time and 
energies were given to general farming. While 
in the east he married Miss Betsy Garman, who 
was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. In 
the month of June, 1864, they, came to Iowa, 
settling on a farm nine miles south of Des 
Moines, where they lived for two years. They 
afterward became residents of Non\'alk, War- 
ren county, Iowa, and Thomas McKissick spent 
his last days in Atlantic, Iowa, where he died 
in 1903, at the age of seventy-three years. His 
widow still survives him and is now seventy- 
seven years of age. In their family were three 
sons and seven daughters and five of the num- 
ber are yet living, namely: William L. ; Sadie, 
the wife of Elmer Cassidy, living in Salt Lake 
City, Utah; Gallic, the wife of Thomas Prall, 
who resides near Atlantic, Iowa; Cora, who is 
engaged in the millinery business at Adair, 
Iowa; and John, a resident of Omaha, Ne- 
braska. 

AVilliam L. McKissick was a youth of eleven 
years when brought by his parents to Iowa, 
where he was reared to agricultural pursuits. 
When nineteen j-ears of age he returned to 
Pennsylvania and there learned the brick- 
layer's trade. After mastering the business he 
returned to this state in 1875, settling first at 
Des Moines, where he worked at his trade, while 



later he was employed in a similar capacity in 
Indianola for two years or more. In 1878 he 
began the manufacture of brick between the 
towns of Van Meter and De Solo, where he con- 
ducted the business for two years. He also took 
contracts for furnishing the brick for many 
buildings in the two towns and he erected 
twenty-one brick buildings in the city of Adel. 
In 1880 he sold his plant and removed to Adel, 
where he began the manufacture of brick on a 
more extensive scale, also added a tile manufac- 
turing department and did business as a con- 
tractor and builder. The new enterprise pros- 
pered and. needing more capital in the business, 
he entered into partnership relations with R. 
M. Kerns and A. C. Hubbard under the firm 
style of R. M. Kerns & Company. The plant 
was then enlarged and the facilities for manu- 
facture increased. It was at this time that they 
took up the work of manufacturing drain tile. 
Mr. McKissick continued to act as manager of 
the business and owing to his ability and enter- 
prise the new concern proved a very profitable 
one. In 1885 he sold his interest to his part- 
ners and returned to De Soto, where he built 
what is now the De Soto Brick & Tile plant. 
He made this complete in every department 
and in a short time was conducting a very ex- 
tensive and prosperous enterprise here. In the 
fall of 1888 he sold a half interest to J. W. 
Blackman, who in 1892 disposed of his share 
to his brother, E. D. Blackman, so that for 
some time operations were conducted under the 
firm name of McKissick & Blackman. Their 
plant covered about six acres and in addition 
to the manufacture of brick and tile they 
handled grain, lime, coal, lumber, paints and 
oils. In March, 1904, Mr. McKis.sick estab- 
lished a brick and tile manufactory in Adel, 
where he is now doing bu.siness at the present 
time. In 1906 his shipments amounted to 
seven hundred and sixty carloads, his tile being 
used extensively throughout the state of Iowa. 
The plant is conducted with two eighty horse 
power boilers of high pressure, giving them 
one hundred and sixty horse power. They have 
a hundred and fifty horse power engine and 



296 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



the most modern machinerj' is used in all de- 
partments. Mr. McKissick has been engaged 
in the manufacture of tile for the past twenty- 
eight years and has superintended the building 
of five different plants, all still running. At 
the Adel plant he employs from thirty to thirty- 
four men throughout the year. There is about 
one mile of railroad track over which the clay 
is hauled to the plant and the business is con- 
stantly increasing along substantial and satis- 
factory lines. His son, Ernest R. McKissick, 
is now manager of the plant at De Soto. 

On the 4th of July, 1877, Mr. McKissick 
was mai-ried to Miss ]\Iary Stephens, who was 
born in Warren county, near Springhill, Iowa, 
Februarj^ 21, 1861, a daughter of Edward D. 
and Lavisa (Fisher) Stephens. Her father, 
who was born in England, died in his eightieth 
year, while the mother, who was born in Madi- 
son county, Indiana, passed away at the age of 
sixty-four years. Mr. Stephens became a farm- 
er of Warren county, Iowa, where he settled 
in pioneer days. He owned there a good farm 
of two hundred acres and was extensively en- 
gaged in the breeding of fine horses. All who 
knew him respected him, for he was a man of 
genuine personal worth. His life was in har- 
mon}"^ with his professions as a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and his political 
allegiance was given to the republican party. 
In his family were ten children, of whom eight 
are now living. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKissick have been 
born two sons and a daughter: Ernest R., 
who was born June 2, 1879, and now has charge 
of the plant at De Soto ; J. A., who is secretary 
of the company at Adel and was born Novem- 
ber 7, 1882; and Gertrude, born June 13, 1884. 
Mr. and Mrs. McKissick attend the Methodist 
church and he exercises his right of franchise 
in support of the men and measures of the re- 
publican party but he has never sought or de- 
sired public office, preferring to give his time 
and attention to his business interests, in which 
he has met with signal success. He is a gentle- 
man of genuine personal worth, well informed 
on the questions of the day and keeping in 



touch with the trend of current thought and 
modern progress. As a business man he has 
displayed many sterling traits, not the least of 
which are close application and unfaltering in- 
dustry. He early came to a realization of the 
fact that there is no excellence without labor 
and to this end he has put forth earnest effort, 
advancing from a comparatively humble posi- 
tion in the business world to a place of leader- 
ship as one of the prominent tile and brick 
rftanufacturers of the state. 



VICTOR JEWETT. 



Victor Jewett is a retired farmer and a veter- 
an of the Civil war. Patriotism has ever been 
a salient characteristic of the family, the same 
loyal spirit having been manifested by the 
grandfather and great-grandfather, both named 
Abel Jewett, in the Revolutionary war, in 
which they loyally served as soldiers in defense 
of the cause of independence. Two brothers 
of Victor Jewett, Abel and Nathan, were num- 
bered among the boys in blue of the Civil war 
and the former died in the service in 1862. 

Nathan Jewett, father of our subject, was 
probably a native of Pennsylvania, his birth 
having occurred on the 31st of July, 1815, 
while his parents were en route from New York 
to Ohio. The family settled in the latter state 
and in 1836 Nathan Jewett removed from Me- 
dina county to Licking county, Ohio, where 
he carried on farming until 1850. He then re- 
moved with his family to Jackson county, 
Iowa, driving across the country vnth team and 
wagon, the latter containing all the household 
goods. In fact he had no other possessions, 
and was a very poor man when he arrived in 
this county, but he made strenuous efforts to 
provide for the family and as the years passed 
by acquired a comfortable competence. In Ohio 
he married Eliza Ward, who was born in Con- 
necticut, February 24, 1817. Their last days 
were spent in Iowa, Nathan Jewett passing 
awav in Jackson count-v on the 28th of Janu- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



291 



ary, 1885, while bi^ wife suwived until 1891. 
In their family were eleven children, six of 
whom are still living. 

The only one now residing in this county 
is Victor Jewett, of Adel, who was born in 
Medina county, Ohio, December 11, 1835. He 
spent his boyhood days in the Buckeye state 
and in his youth pursued his education in one 
of the typical old log schoolhouses with slab 
seats and puncheon floors. The methods of 
instruction were equally primitive and he did 
not have the opportunity of attending school 
for any length of time, for he began working 
in the woods when quite young, chopping and 
getting out logs. He came to Iowa with his 
parents in 1850 and remained upon the farm 
until twenty-one years of age. Here he aided 
in the arduous task of developing new land 
and converting raw prairie into productive 
fields. After attaining his majority he worked 
by the month as a farm hand until his mar- 
riage was celebrated, on the 12th of November, 
1858, to Miss Alma .1. Strong. 

Mrs. Jewett was born in Knox county, Ohio, 
on the 26th of March, 1841, her parents be- 
ing Harvey A. and Sarah (Metier) Strong, 
natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania respec- 
tively. Removing westward they settled upon 
a farm in Jackson county, Iowa, where they 
lived until called to their final rest, the father 
at the age of sixty-four years and the mother 
when eighty-six years of age. Mrs. Jewett 
taught school prior to her marriage, receiving 
two dollars per week and " boarding round." 
There was no county superintendent then. 

Following his marriage Mr. Jewett engaged 
in farming on rented land until 1862, when 
he responded to the country's call for aid and 
enlisted in Jones county, Iowa, as a member 
of Company K, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, with which he served for almost three 
years, being mustered out at St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, at the close of the war. He pai-ticipated 
in the battles of Champion Hill and Fort Gib- 
son and the siege of Vicksburg. He was then 
taken ill and sent to Jefferson Barracks, St. 
Louis, where, as soon as he had sufficiently re- 



covered, he was detailed to issue rations and 
clothing to the soldiers. When the war was over 
he returned to Jones county and, with the 
money he had saved from that which was paid 
him for military duty, he purchased thirty 
acres of land, upon which he lived until 1868. 
He then came to Dallas county and bought 
eighty acres of wild prairie land. He purchased 
a house some distance away, tore it down, re- 
moved the material to his own farm and from 
it built another house. His only tools were 
an ax, a drawing knife and a hammer. He 
lived in this house until able to build a more 
comfortable home. He worked from early 
morn until late at night to gain a start and 
after eight years he had so prospered that he 
was able to purchase one hundred and sixty 
acres more land. He then energetically and 
successfully carried on general farming until 
1899, when he retired from active business life 
and removed to Adel, where he built a beauti- 
ful home where he and his wife are now spend- 
ing the evening of their days. 

ilr. and Mrs. Jewett have become the par- 
ents of eight children : Orrin, who married 
Ina Ludington and resides in California; Vi- 
ola, wife of William Bradley, of Linn town- 
ship : Harvey Logan, who was born just after 
the war and was named in honor of General 
Logan, but died at the age of six montlis; 
Mina, wife of Oscar Ludington and a resident 
of the state of Washington; Lillie, wife of 
William Adams, of Colfax township, Dallas 
county ; Nellie, wife of Melvin Parks, of Beav- 
er county, Oklahoma; Mary, wife of Wilbur 
Silsbey of Oklahoma; and Helen, who died at 
the age of twenty-one yeare. 

In politics Mr. Jewett has always been a 
stanch republican. He has served as a school 
director and road commissioner but otherwise 
has held no offices. When he came to Dallas 
county there were still many evidences of pio- 
neer life to be found here. When they started 
on their farm there was not a house between 
them and Adel. When they were married they 
had only forty cents in money and had an in- 
debtedness also but they possessed strong hearts 



298 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and ready hands and while Mr. Jewett capa- 
bly and diligently carried on the work of the 
farm, his wife frugally managed the house- 
hold and their united efforts have brought 
them a goodly measure of success so that they 
are now surrounded with many of the comforts 
which go to make life wortli living. 



DAVID T. GRIFPTTIL 

One of the mast straightforward, energetic 
and successful business men of Van Meter is 
David T. Griffith, dealer in implements, ve- 
hicles and .seeds. Courteous, genial, well in- 
formed, alert and enterprising, he stands today 
as one of the leading representative men of his 
county — ^^a man mIio is a power in his commu- 
nity. He was born July 11, 1875, in Madison 
county, Iowa, his parents being D. A. and 
Hester E. (Miller) Griffith. His father was 
born in Dayton, Ohio, and arrived in Madi- 
son county, Iowa, in the '50s, becoming one of 
the prominent, influential and successful farm- 
ers of that community. Both he and his wife 
are living in Madison county but he has retired 
from active business to enjoy a well earned rest. 
At the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside 
all personal and business considerations to es- 
pouse his country's cause and enlisted in Com- 
pany D of the Eleventh Ohio A'olunteer Infan- 
try, with which he served for four years and 
seven months, participating in many of the im- 
portant engagements of the war, including the 
battles of Bull Run, Lookout Mountain and 
Missionary Ridge. In days of peace he has been 
equally loyal to his country and at all times 
has been a stalwart champion of the stars and 
stripes. In his family were two daughters and 
five sons. 

David T. Griffith was educated in the local 
schools of Madison county and afterward at- 
tended the Capital City Commercial College at 
Des Moines, from which he was graduated in 
the class of 1896. He then returned to his 
father's farm in Madison countv. where he re- 



mained for a year, after which he was engaged 
in the grocery business for two years at Earl- 
ham. He next came to Van Meter and in as- 
sociation with his brother, U. G. Griffith, now 
deceased, he bought out the implement busi- 
ness of McBride & Company in 1901. They 
started with a small capital but made steady 
advancement until they became representative 
men in their line in the county. The business 
has steadily grown until in the year 1906 the 
sales amounted to almost twenty-three thou- 
sand dollars. 

David T. Griffith was married in 1896 to 
Miss Lucy ^Vnderson, who was born in Madi- 
son county, Iowa, in 1877, a daughter of G. 
T. and Adeline Anderson, who were farmers 
of that county but are now located in Okla- 
homa. Unto Mr. and j\Irs. Griffith were born 
three daughters and a son. 

In his political views Mr. Griffith has al- 
ways been a republican since age conferred upon 
him the right of franchise. He has sen'ed 
on the school board for four years and has 
been village assessor for the past four years, 
still continuing in the office. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
at Van Meter and have taken a most active 
and helpful part in its work. Mr. Griffith has 
been steward of the church for three years and 
secretary for one year and does all in his power 
to promote the growth and extend the influence 
of the church. His life has been a busy and 
useful one and he stands as a splendid type 
of American citizen.ship. 

U. G. Griffith, now deceased, who until his 
death was a member of the firm of Griffith 
Brothers, was born on the 7th of May, 1868, in 
Jefferson county, Iowa.- No event of special 
importance occurred during his boyhood and 
youth. He acquired his education in the pub- 
lic schools and in 1901 joined his brother Da- 
vid in the purchase of the implement, vehicle 
and seed business conducted by the firm of Mc- 
Bride & Company. He was numbered among 
the leading men of Van Meter, both socially 
and in a business way and was uniformly re- 
spected, for he possessed many good qualities 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



299 



that endeared him to those with whom he 
came in contact. His political allegiance was 
always given to the republican party and he 
ever stood firm in support of his honest con- 
victions. He filled a place on the village coun- 
cil for four years, discharging his duties with 
credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- 
stituents. He belonged to the Masonic lodge 
and to the Modern Woodmen camp at Van 
Meter and while not a member of any church 
he was a very earnest and untiring worker in 
the Epworth League. He died January 20, 
1907, amid the deep regret of all who knew 
him. He had proved his right to be ranked 
among the leading merchants of Van Meter 
and had gained a place in public life that 
brought- him the honor and respect of all who 
knew him. He had many good qualities and 
was one whom the community looked upon as 
a citizen whom it could ill afford to lose. His 
business integrity w'as unquestioned and he 
had a kindly and considerate spirit, which was 
manifest in geniality and deference for the 
opinions of others. 



JAMES B. COLLINS. 



James B. Collins, living in Dallas Center, is 
one of the progressive and substantial farmers 
of the county, owning four good farms, to- 
gether with a neat residence in the town. He 
is numbered among the old settlers here, dat- 
ing his residence from 1856. He was born in 
Indiana, March 6, 1853, a son of L. L. Collins, 
whose birth occurred in Montgomery county. 
New York, October 7, 1816. The father went 
west to Michigan, and later came to Iowa, ar- 
ri\Tng in Dallas county in 1856. He bought 
land and settled in Sugar Grove township. He 
also entered land from the government and 
became the owner of six hundred acres. At 
different times he bought and sold farm prop- 
erty and in his speculations gained creditable 
success. For some years he continued to carry 
on general agricultural pursuits and then re- 



moved to Dallas Center, where he engaged in 
loaning money and dealing in real estate. For 
a half century he was a respected citizen and 
leading business man of western Iowa and 
one who contributed to the general develop- 
ment and improvement of his locality. On 
the 29th of April, 1846, he married Lucellia 
Blanchard, who died September 21, 1856, 
and he was again married April 20, 1858, his 
second union being with Sophia Rideout, who 
died October 21, 1904. He held member-ship 
in Dallas Center lodge, I. 0. 0. F., in which 
he filled all of the chairs and was past grand. 

James B. Collins is the youngest in a family 
of three children. He was reared in Dallas 
county and was educated in the common schools 
of Sugar Grove township, although his privi- 
leges were somewhat meager. His observing eye 
and retentive memory have been among the 
strongest elements in the acquirement of an 
education, which now makes him a well in- 
formed man. He remained with his father 
until nineteen years of age, when he started 
out in life on his own account. He at first 
engaged in railroad work on the Northwestern 
Railroad for about six months, after which he 
took charge of one of his father's farms, which 
he cultivated for three years. 

As a companion and helpmate for life's 
journey Mr. Collins chose Miss Malinda C. 
Hooper, to whom he was married in Grant 
township, December 28, 1876. She was born 
in Ohio and in her girlhood days was brought 
to Iowa by her father, William T. Hooper, who 
became a farmer of Grant township. He was 
a veteran of the Civil war and an enterprising 
and valued citizen of his community. Mrs. 
Collins wixs reared in this county and was care- 
fully trained to the work of the household, so 
that she was well qualified to take charge of a 
home of her own at the time of her marriage. 

The young couple began their domestic life 
upon land belonging to Mr. Collins' father, 
where they lived for one or two years, after 
which he rented and farmed another place. At 
length his labor and careful management 
brought him capital sufficient to enable him 



300 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



to embark in business on his own account and 
he purchased one hundred and sixty acres. 
About four years later he bought another farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres and has con- 
tinuously engaged in the cultivation of the soil 
and in raising and feeding stock. As his finan- 
cial resources have increased he has added to 
his property until he now owns two more farms, 
having six hundred and forty acres of valu- 
able land in Beaver and Grant townships. He 
has made substantial improvements upon his 
place and in all his business interests is me- 
thodical and systematic, possessing the resolute 
spirit that enables him to carry forward to 
successful completion whatever he undertakes. 
Having purchased four acres of land in Dallas 
Center, he located thereon in 1902 and later 
bought a fine residence just across the street. 
His home is thoroughly modern in its appoint- 
ments and equipments and is tastefully fur- 
nished. He has rented his farms but gives gen- 
eral supervision to his property interests. He 
also owns a block of land in Dallas Center, 
on which are two houses. An able financier 
and enterprising business man, he is watch- 
ful of all indications pointing to success, and 
his keen sagacity and unfaltering diligence con- 
stitute the basis of the prosperity which he is 
now enjoying. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Collins have been born 
six sons and three daughters, as follows : L. L. 
Collins, who is married and lives on a farm 
in Beaver township; Clyde B. and James Guy, 
at home; William and James Bennett, who are 
attending school in Dallas Center; Nora Mary, 
the wife of Clint Row, a farmer of this county ; 
Florence E., the wife of John Wood, a resi- 
dent farmer of Sugar Grove township; and 
two children who died in infancy. 

Politically Mr. Collins has been a life-long 
democrat and a stalwart advocate of the party 
but has never sought or desired office. He is 
a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Dal- 
las Center, and is now vice grand. He was 
only about one year of age when brought by 
his parents to Dallas county, so that practical- 
ly his entire life has been pas.sed here. He 



has chased the deer and wolves and also buffa- 
loes upon the plains of the west and much 
M'ild game was to be had here during the 
period of his boyhood. He can remember when 
much of the land was uncleared and imculti- 
vated and when the homes of the settlers were 
widely scattered. He has lived to see the dis- 
trict settled thickly by a contented and pros- 
perous people and has helped to make the coun- 
ty what it is today — one of the leading coun- 
ties of this great commonwealth. His record 
in business circles is most commendable. He 
has shown himself a man of resourceful ability 
and his unabating energy and keen discrimina- 
tion have gained him success, while his straight- 
forward dealing has made his career a most 
honorable one. 



ISAAC J. FARLOW. 



Among the residents of Adel who were at one 
time closely associated with agricultural inter- 
ests but are now living retired is Isaac J. Farlow, 
who was born in Rush county, Indiana, April 
11, 1827. He has therefore reached the eight- 
ieth milestone on life's journey and is now com- 
fortably situated in a pleasant home amidst 
many friends in the county seat. 

How blessed is he 

Who crowns in shades like these, 

A youth of labor 

With an age of ease. 

His father. Reuben Farlow, was born in North 
Carolina in February, 1785, and in 1811 emi- 
grated to the territory of Indiana, into which 
few white settlers had made their way, that state 
being then largely under the dominion of the 
red race. He participated in the wars against 
the Indians and acted as guard in one of the 
block houses built on the frontier. He followed 
farming as a life work and died July 25, 1854. 
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza- 
beth Odell, was born in North Carolina in 1795 
and spent her last days among her children, 
parsing away November 10, 1873. The family 




-Mi;. AND MRS. ISAAC J. FARLOW 



PAST AND TRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



303 



numbered ten children, of whom three died in 
infanc}'. The others are: David, who died in 
Indiana in early manhood ; Julia, the deceased 
wife of Henry Mills, an early settler of Colfax 
township, this county ; Isaac J., of this review ; 
Lucinda, the wife of John Bringham, of Colfax 
township ; Lafayette, who is living in Loui.^i- 
ana; Deborah, the deceased wiie of William 
Jenkins, of this county; and Matteson, an attor- 
ney of Madison county, Indiana. 

Isaac J. Farlow acquired a common-school 
education and when quite young began to work 
on the farm, doing such tasks in the fields and 
meadows as his age and strength permitted. He 
remained on his father's farm until twenty-one 
years of age and then learned the carpenter's 
trade, though he ser\-ed no regular apprentice- 
ship. He also worked in a mill. In 1853, in 
company with two men, he made a trip to Iowa, 
going down the Ohio river and up the Missis- 
sippi to Keokuk and from there walked to Adel 
and Panora. He spent the winter here and 
then made the journey on foot as far as the 
Mississippi and by boat to his old home. In 
1854, however, he came here again and engaged 
in carpentering for about two years. In 1853 he 
had entered one hundred and twenty acres of 
land but did not locate thereon until 1856, 
when he turned his attention to farming. He 
taught the first school in Colfax township in 
the winter of 1858-59 in his own home. 

For many years he successfully and persever- 
ingly carried on general agricultural pursuits, 
bringing his fields under a high state of cultiva- 
tion and making the place very productive. He 
then left the farm and has since lived in Adel, 
being retired from active business life at pres- 
ent, though after coming to the city he was in- 
terested in several business enterprises. For three 
years he conducted an elevator, buying and 
shipping grain and for three years owned a half 
interest in the Adel mill. When on the farm he 
engaged extensively in buying, feeding and 
shipping cattle and found this a profitable 
source of income. He has also dealt in land, own- 
ing at different times more than fifteen hundred 
acres, and he still owns an excellent farm of two 



hundred and thirty acres in Adel township, 
from which he derives a good annual income. 

Mr. Farlow was married in Adair county to 
Miss Ellen Bringham, who was born in Tippe- 
canoe county, Indiana, July 18, 1837, a daugh- 
ter of Jesse and Rachel Bringham, who lived on 
a farm in Cedar county, Iowa, but both are now- 
deceased. Mrs. Farlow has a brother, John 
Bringham, who resides in Colfax township. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Farlow have been born 
eight children : Henry, who is now county 
treasurer of Fremont county, Wj'Oming; Nel- 
son, who owns and lives on a ranch three miles 
from Red Blufi', California; Edward, engaged 
in the real-estate business at Lander, Wyoming ; 
Riley, a farmer of Dallas county ; Emma, wife 
of Lon B. Smith, a merchant of Adel; Albert, 
who is living in Montana; Ida, who is at home; 
and Dolly, who died at the age of eighteen 
years. 

A^'hen j\Ir. Farlow came to this county there 
were only two houses between Adel and Des 
]\Ioines. The broad prairie stretched away for 
miles, covered with its native prairie grasses and 
wild flowers, resembling a great billowy green 
sea. It was some years before the land was taken 
up by permanent settlers but now there is 
hardly an uncultivated acre. He bore his full 
share in reclaiming the prairie for the uses of 
civilization and has also taken his full part in 
the work of the county's upbuilding and im- 
provement. After their marriage he and his 
wife began housekeeping in a part of the old log 
l)uilding which had been used for the first court- 
house of the county and he and his partner had 
a carpenter shop at one end of old courthouse 
No. 2. He well remembers the building of the 
third courthouse in 1858 and since that time he 
has been an interested witness of the various 
changes which have occurred and of the trans- 
formation which has been wrought in bring- 
ing the county to his present state of develop- 
ment and improvement. He came to Iowa a 
poor man and as the years have passed he has 
l)Con quite successful in his business undertak- 
ings, until now he is very comfortably situated 
in life. 



304 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



In politics Mr. Farlow is a democrat but with- 
out aspiration for office. He has been an Odd 
Fellow since 1864 and for the past ten years he 
and his wife have been consistent and faithful 
members of the Christian church. They are 
worthy citizens, esteemed by all who know 
them, and it is with, pleasure that we present 
their life record to our readers. As pioneer 
settlers they ai'e acquainted with almost the en- 
tire history of the county and their memory 
forms a connecting link between the primitive 
past and the progressive present. 



EDWIN J. BUTTERFIELD, :\I. D. 

There is no resident of Dallas Center more 
loyal and true to his honest convictions than 
Dr. Edwin J. Butterfield, whether it be in 
professional, social, political or religious life. 
He stands today as a leading representative of 
the medical fraternity here, having kept in 
touch with the advance and progress being 
made in the profession and has therefore ren- 
dered ser\dces of the greatest possible value to 
his fellowmen. He has been actively connected 
with the profession in Dallas Center and vi- 
cinity for the past four years. His birth oc- 
curred in Polk county, Iowa, on the 27th of 
June, 1879. 

Hi:« father, Orren W. Butterfield, was born in 
Watertown, New York, on the 13th of March, 
1848, and was reared and married there, the 
lady of his choice being Miss Cora Bates. He 
wa? a soldier of the war of the Rebellion, en- 
listing in the One Hundred and Eighty-sixth 
New York Volunteer Infantry, servmg until 
the cessation of hostilities. He was a young 
man in his teens when he joined the army, but 
displayed valor and loyalty equal to that of 
many a veteran of twice his years, -\fter the 
war was over he removed from the Empire state 
to Iowa. He was a carpenter by trade but af- 
ter coming to this state settled on a farm in 
Polk county. His sons, however, carried on 
the work of the farm, while he devoted his 



time and energies to buying and dealing in 
grain at Crocker on the Northwestern Railroad. 
He afterward removed to Ankeny, Iowa, where 
he lived retired until called to his final rest in 
1902. His wife sm'vives him, as do his three 
sons and a daughter. 

Dr. Butterfield was reared in Polk county 
and supplemented his early education by 
study at Highland Park College. With 
broad general and literary knowledge to 
serve as the foundation upon which to rear the 
superstructure of professional learning, he took 
up the study of medicine in the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons at Chicago, in the fall of 
1899. He completed his course there by gradu- 
ation in the class of 1903 and also took supple- 
mental studies in the last year. Immediately 
afterward he came to Dallas Center, where he 
began practice, and a liberal patronage is now 
accoi'ded him. He has by earnest study and 
investigation kept abreast with the progress of 
the profession and he is a member of the State 
Medical Society and vice president of the Dal- 
las and Guthrie County Medical Society. He 
has also served as health officer for four years 
and is regarded by the profession as well as the 
public as an able representative of the medical 
fraternity. 

On the 23d of March, 1904, in Dallas Center, 
Dr. Butterfield was mai'ried to Miss Blanch 
Temple, who was born and reared here. She 
was a student in Highland Park and Des 
Moines Colleges and successfully engaged in 
teaching prior to her marriage. Her father, 
William Temple, was of English parentage but 
w-as born and reared in Iowa. By occupation 
he was an agriculturist and he met death by 
accident. His wife, w^ho bore the maiden name 
of Mary Cart.right, is now living m Dallas 
Center. Mi-s. Butterfield has become the 
mother of one child. Gladj'S lole, born August 
9, 1905. 

Politically Dr. Butterfield is a republican, 
but has never aspired to office, preferring to 
give his time and energies to his professional 
duties, which he discharges with a sense of 
conscientious obligation. He and his wife are 



PAST AND PEE8EXT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



305 



members of the Christian church, and he has 
membership relations with the Woodmen, the 
Yeomen and the Royal Neighbors, being ex- 
amining physician for all of these. The 
Doctor is a man who gives his entire time to 
his business, which he thoroughly understands, 
and there is not the' slightest suggestion of any- 
thing hypocritical about him. With him 
friendship is inviolable, his word is as good 
as his bond, and he clings with unyielding 
firmness to the position which careful con- 
sideration and mature judgment has convinced 
him to be right. 



HENRY LISLE. 



Henry Lisle, who won a gratifying measure 
of success as a farmer and stock-raiser, in 
which connection he became widely known, 
is now living retired in Perry. He was born 
in Monroe county, Ohio, October 3, 1847, and 
his education was acquired in the public 
schools of Belmont county, that state, while 
he was spending his boyhood days in the home 
of his parents, John and Anne (Kinney) 
Liile. The father, who was born in Belmont 
county, died near Perry, Iowa, in his eighty- 
seventh j'car, while his wife passed away in 
Ohio in 1876, at the age of fifty-four years. 
They were married in Belmont county, Ohio, 
and the father followed farming in that state 
until hLs removal to Iowa in 1879, at which 
time he took up his abode in Dallas tow^nship, 
Dallas county. Here he purchased a farm and 
at one time owned five hundred and sixty acres 
of rich and valuable land. He also bred many 
hogs, making a specialty of the Poland China, 
and he also bought and raised many colts. He 
carried on general farming and the feeding and 
raising of stock until seventy-five years of age, 
when he sold his interests in Dallas township 
and purchased a home near Perry of forty acres. 
There he spent his remaining days. While 
living in Belmont county, Ohio, he served as 
township treasurer for foiu'teen yeai-s. He was 



a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and his early political support was 
given to the whig party. Upon its dissolu- 
tion he joined the ranks of the new republican 
party. He was always interested in the work of 
public progress and improvement and kept in 
touch with the trend of modern thought. At 
the time of his death he was the oldest sub- 
scriber of the Belmont Chronicle, of which he 
had been a reader for more than sixty -six 
yeai-s. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lisle were born five 
sons and four daughters and six of the number 
are yet living: Sarah, who is the wife of Isaac 
Tolbert, a resident of Perry ; Henry, of this re- 
view; J. D., who married Malinda Hicks and 
is now living in Dallas township; George H., 
who married Mattie Blood; James, who wedded 
Jane Kinney, now deceased, and makes his 
home in North Dakota; and Emmet, who mar- 
ried Lula Ridgway and is living in Boone 
county, Iowa. 

Henrj' Lisle was reared in Ohio and in the 
summer months worked upon the home farm, 
while in the winter seasons he attended the pub- 
lic schools until the 4th of July, 1863. Two days 
before he had offered his services to the govern- 
ment in defense of the Union, although not 
yet sixteen years of age, and on Independence 
day of that year, while raking wheat in the 
field, he wa.-; called for active 'duty with the 
army. He dropped his rake to support his 
country, becoming a member of Company D, 
One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, with which he participated in 
the battle of Cumberland Gap, where General 
Frazer surrendered twenty-two hundred prison- 
ers. Mr. Lisle acted as one of the escort of these 
prisoners to Lexington, Kentucky, and then re- 
turned to Tennessee, being quartered at Cum- 
berland Gap. On the 4th of March. 1865, he 
was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, after 
which he returned to the home fai'm. 

On the 3d of October, 1867, Mr. Li.sle was 

married to Miss Elizabeth E. Turner, whose 

liirth occurred in Belmont county, Ohio, July 

"28, 1867. She was a daughter of William and 

Becky ("Vernon) Turner, the former born in 



306 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Manland and the latter in Ohio. Her father 
died in 1890, at the age of seventy-seven years, 
while the mother passed away in Mai-ch, 1868. 
In their family were twelve children, of whom 
nine are now living: Martha, the wife of 
Phinens Campbell; William, who married Isa- 
helle Wilson; Becky, the wife of Malin Wood; 
Richard, who married Mi^s Campbell and after 
her death wedded Jane Linard; Hendley, who 
married Laura Mc^MuUen ; John, who wedded 
Minerva Bishop ; Embree, who married Martha 
Cothran ; Tacey, the wife of Eli Doudney ; and 
Allamander, who married Adeline Harris. The 
father of this family was a farmer in Ohio and 
resided there until his death. At one time he 
entered two hundred acres of government land 
in Linn county, Iowa. The land office was at 
that time at Dei? Moines. He took part in the 
early development of the locality and to some 
extent engaged in the raising of tobacco. His 
early youth had been passed in Maryland, 
whence he removed to Ohio when a lad of thir- 
teen years. He had no chance to attend school 
but became well posted on the Bible and was 
a consistent member of the Christian church. 
In politics he was a republican. 

Following his marriage Mr. Lisle engaged in 
farming in Belmont county, Ohio, until March, 
1872. He then started for Iowa, reaching 
Pen-y on the 17th of that month. He located 
in Dallas township, where he followed farming 
until the 20th of Februarj', 1905, when he 
purchased a home in Perry, where he has since 
lived retired. He engaged in the raising of 
high grade Hereford cattle and also bred some 
fine horses, two of which were the grandsons 
of Donald Dania, which took first prize at the 
Des Moines fair at Perry in 1892. In his busi- 
ness life Mr. Lisle was very active and progres- 
sive and made good use of his opportunities, 
with the result that he acquired a gratifying 
measure of success and is now comfortably 
situated in life. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lisle were born five chil- 
dren : Orean ; Effie, tJie wife of Henry Murphy ; 
Frank, who died at the age of twenty-two 
years; Elbert, at home; and John W., who mar- 



ried Lottie Robinson, by whom he has two sons. 
Forest E. and Frank U. 

Mr. Lisle was one of the trustees of Dallas 
township for twelve years, his long contin- 
uance in office being proof of his capability and 
trustworthiness. In 1906 he was elected county 
commissioner for a term of two years and since 
age conferred upon him the right of franchise 
he has been a stalwart champion of the repub- 
lican party. He now belongs to Horeb lodge, 
No. 408, I. 0. 0. F., and to Redfield post, 
No. 26, G. A. R., while both he and his wife 
are connected with the Rebekah lodge, No. 
263. He manifests the same loyalty in citizen- 
ship that he displayed when on southern battle- 
fields he followed the old flag in defense of the 
stars and stripes. 



:macy b. maulsby, m. d. 

Dr. Macy B. Maulsby, i^ossessed of broad 
humanitarian principles and kindly spirit, in 
the practice of his profession won the love and 
gratitude of many to whom he ministered. He 
was one of the first physicians in Dallas county 
and for many years figured prominently in this 
section of the state, being widely and favorably 
known, while an excellent patronage was ac- 
corded him up to the time of his retirement. 

Dr. Maulsby was born in Tennessee, Febru- 
ary 12, 1817, and died at Redfield, Iowa, Sep- 
tember 26, 1899. When he was a small boy 
his parents removed with their family to In- 
diana, where the father, David Maulsby, died. 
The Doctor began his education in the public 
schools and prepai'ed for his profession in the 
Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was 
graduated with the degree of M. D. He then 
practiced for a short time in Wayne county, 
Indiana, but in the year 1853 he came to Dal- 
las county, Iowa, settling in Linden township, 
purchasing a tract of land near where the vil- 
lage of Linden now stands. He had intended 
to retire from his profession and devote himself 
to farming, but the members of the medical 




DR. M. 1!. :\[AULyBY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



309 



profession in this locality were so few and their 
sei-vices were so much in demand that he was 
forced to resume the active work of his calling. 
Therefore the following year he sold his land 
and took up his abode in Redfield, Union town- 
ship, establishing an otHce on the corner where 
the State Bank of Redfield now stands. He 
continued in active practice for a third of a 
century or until 1887 when he sold his business 
and spent his remaining days in honorable re- 
tirement. He always kept in touch with the 
onward march of the profession as research, in- 
vestigation and experiment broadened know- 
ledge and promoted proficiency among the 
members of the medical fraternity. 

His eai'ly practice was fraught with many 
hardships and discomforts such as come to the 
pioneer physician. At the time he remuved 
to Dallas county it was very spai-sely settled by 
white men but Lidians were uumenius in this 
]jart of the state. The Doctor was a line horse- 
man and always kept good saddle horses. He 
would frequently go thirty or forty miles on 
horseback to visit his patients, fording streams 
and enduring all the trials and difficulties ex- 
lierienced by the physician on the frontier. 
.\ftcr coming to Redfield he occupied the same 
building for an office and residence for some 
time but aftenvard removed to the northwestern 
part of the Aillage, where he and his wife made 
their home until they mo\-ed tn the dwelling 
now occupied by Mrs. Maulsby. Aside from 
his profession Dr. Maulsby was at various times 
extensively interested in farm land, owning at 
the time of his death between four and five 
hundred acres, as well as city property. 

Dr. Maulsby was married three times. He 
first wedded Miss Sally Price, who died in Indi- 
ana. His second wife, Mi's. Martha Jane Web- 
ster, whom he also married in Indiana, died 
after their removal to this state. On the 
12th of October, 1870, Dr. Maulsby was joined 
in wedlock to Mrs. Mary H. Jameson, the widow 
of R. R. Ja.mesou. and a daughter of Charles 
Walters, who was born and died in Ohio. His 
widow still survives. By his second marriage 
Dr. Maul.-^bv had n. son that died in infancv. 



In his political views Dr. Maulsby was a 
stanch republican, finn in his opinions but not 
an office seeker. He belonged to the Christian 
church and took a very active tuid helpful part 
in its work. In his will he provided that the in- 
come from his estate should go to his widow and 
upon her death the entire projjcrty is to go to 
Drake L^nivei'sity to be turned into a fund to 
provide for the education of men and women 
for foreign missionai-y work. Thus the useful- 
ness and good work of Dr. Maulsby continues 
after his death. His memory remains as a 
blesSed benediction to many who knew him and 
will long be cherished by those who came under 
the influence of his kindly spirit and upright 
life. 



FREDER ICK WORSTER. 

Frederick Worster lives in Dallas Center, 
Iowa, and gives general supervision to his farm- 
ing and stock-raising interests. He owns four 
hundred acres of good land in Grant township, 
which he has brought under a high state of 
cultivation and which is supplied with all 
modern equipments and accessories. He has 
lived in Iowa since 1868 and in Dallas county 
since 1870, so that he is well known here and 
his life record is as an open book, which all 
may read. His birth ix-curred in Bavaria, 
Germany, on the 18th of June, 1846. His 
father, Frederick Worster, Sr., was also a 
native of that country and was there married 
to Miss Margaret Barnhart, who was likewise 
born in Germany. He devoted his attention to 
fai'ming in Bavaria and five children were born 
unto him and his wife ere they removed from 
the old country. In 1850 they crossed the 
Atlantic to the new world, settling in Coshoc- 
ton county, Ohio, where Mr. Worster improved 
and developed a farm, there rearing his family. 
Pie continued to reside in that county up to 
the time of his demi.se, which occurred in 1863, 
when he was fifty-seven years of age. 

Frederick Worster of this review was only 
four years old when brought by his parents to 



310 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



America, He was therefore recored in Coshoc- 
ton county, Ohio, where he enjoyed such edu- 
cational advantages as the common schools 
afforded. He was a youth of fourteen at the 
time of his mother's death, and was seventeen 
yeai's of age when his father died. He re- 
mained upon the home farm with the family 
until 1868, when he came west to Iowa as a 
young man of twenty -two years. He first 
located in Washington county but in the fall 
of 1869 returned to Ohio, and in Coshocton 
county in the spring of 1870 occurred the 
celebration of his marriage to Miss Sadie 
Drescher, who was of German birth. Soon 
afterwards be brought his bride to Dallas 
county, which he had visited in the fall of 1869 
and had purchased here a tract of raw land of 
one hundred acres. He commenced its improve- 
ment in 1870, broke the sod, fenced the fields 
and built a small house. As time passed he 
brought his land under a high state of cultiva- 
tion and later bought more property as his 
financial resources increased, extending the 
boundaries of his place until it now comprises 
four hundred acres all in one body. He has 
prospered as the years have gone by, as is in- 
dicated by the excellent appearance of his farm. 
He has erected here a large residence, com- 
modious barn and substantial outbuildings and 
has tiled and fenced the place. He also has 
two tenant houses on the farm, with barns and 
sheds near each. In connection with the work 
of tilling the soil he makes a business of rais- 
ing, feeding and fattening cattle and hogs, and 
also raises good horses. He continued active 
in the work of the farm until 1903, when he 
removed to Dallas Center, where he erected 
an attractive residence. It is heated with hot 
water furnace, hot and cold water is piped to 
various parts of the house, and in fact the 
home is supplied with all modern conveniences, 
is well arranged and tastefully furnished. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Worster have been born 
four sons and a daughter: Charles H., who is 
married and lives on the home farm; Fred S., 
who resides near Bagley; Frank A., living on 
the home farm who is married and has two 



children. Hazel and Helen, twins; Benton H., 
who is married and lives on the old home place ; 
and Lnla Maud, the wife of William Elleman, 
a farmer of Grant township. 

In his political views Mr. Worster is an 
earnest advocate of democratic principles, and 
while living on the farm served as township 
school trustee. He has always been interested* 
in the cause of education and did effective 
service in behalf of his party and is most inter- 
ested in its growth and welfare, believing its 
principles most conducive to good government. 
For thirty-seven years he has been a resident 
of the county and has labored effectively and 
earnestly for its welfare and interasts. He and 
his wife are members of the Progressive church 
at Dallas Center and are greatly esteemed by 
all who know them. Their married life has 
practically been passed in this county and they 
have won many friends during a residence here 
of thirty-seven years. Mr. Worster deserves 
much credit for what he has accomplished in 
a business way and may rightfullj' be termed 
a self-made man. 



T. R. NORTH. 



T. R. North, for thirty-five years an active 
and prominent member of the bar, from which 
he retired on account of ill health, is now en- 
gaged in merchandising at Adel. His life his- 
tory is that of a man who, without special edu- 
cational or pecuniary advantages at the outset 
of his career, has made for himself an honor- 
able name and a creditable place in profes- 
sional and business circles. His life has been 
an open scroll, inviting the closest scrutiny. 
His achievements represent the result of honest 
endeavor along lines where mature judgment 
has pointed the way. He possesses a weight 
of character, a native sagacity, a discriminat- 
ing judgment and a fidelity to purpose that 
command the respect of all and he is recog- 
nized as one of the leading residents of Adel. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



311 



A native of Union county, Ohio, Mr. North 
was born June 23, 1838. His parents were 
Joseph and Sarah (Russell) North. The fath- 
er was descended from the North family of 
England and the mother from the Russells of 
that country and the Lovetts of Scotland, all 
prominent in history. 

T. R. North was only about four years of 
age when he accompanied his parents on their 
removal from Union county to Delaware coun- 
ty, Ohio, where they resided until 1851. In 
that year they went to Clayton county, Iowa, 
and in 1852 became residents of Kosciusko 
county, Indiana, T. R. North remaining there 
and in Elkhart county, Indiana, until 1864. 
His education was acquired in attendance on 
the country schools of Ohio and Indiana to a 
limited extent but principally by home study, 
and much of his reading and investigation into 
the realms of knowledge was done after his 
marriage. His experiences of early youth were 
largely those of the farm. Pie was busy with 
the work of plowing, planting and harvesting 
from the time of early spring until after crops 
were gathered in the late autumn. He attend- 
ed school when possible in the winter months 
but the opportunity that other boys enjoy was 
often denied him, owing to the fact that his 
services were needed on the farm. His taste 
was for mechanics but circumstances prevented 
his carrying out a natural predilection in that 
direction and he took up the study of law in- 
stead. He pursued his reading at home prin- 
cipally and received some instruction from the 
firm of Long & Haymond at Warsaw, Indiana. 
He was admitted to the bar of the circuit court 
at Warsaw at the February term of 1864 and, 
thus qualified, he entered upon the active prac- 
tice of his profession. As stated, he contin- 
ued a resident of Indiana until the summer 
of 1864, when he sought a more favorable open- 
ing for legal practice in Iowa and on the 16th 
of Jvme came to Adel. 

Mr. North had been married in June, 1858, 
at Milford, Indiana, to Miss Frances E. Whit- 
acre, who died in 1862, leaving a daughter who 
is now Mrs. S. M. Andrus of Medford, Oregon. 



In October following the death of his wife 
Mr. North offered his services to the country in 
defense of the Union, enlisting in Company 
K, Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
with which he served until honorably dis- 
charged on the 1st of August, 1863. On the 
31st of December, 1864, he was again mar- 
ried, his second union being with Miss N. E. 
Stewart, of Adel. There were six children 
born of that union, all of whom are living : Et- 
ta, who is now in Racine, Wisconsin ; Austin, 
of Billings, Montana; Joe R. and J. A., who 
are also at Billings; Mrs. Alice N. Milliken, of 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Oto, who is 
in Adel. The mother of these children died at 
Medford, Oregon, in October, 1888, and on 
the 19th of February, 1890, Mr. North was 
married at Adel to Miss Laura B. Abbott of 
Clearport, Ohio. They have one daughter, 
Ava, who is yet with her parents. 

Following his arrival in Adel, Mr. North at 
once opened a law office and became a partner 
of the Hon. F. Willard, now of Atlantic, Iowa, 
under the firm name of Willard & North. He 
has been successively a member of the firms of 
Abbott & North, North & Morgan, North, Mor- 
gan & Wooden, North & Whitman, North & 
Barr, North & Nichols, North & Ish and last- 
ly. North & Harris. He practiced his profes- 
sion continuously in Adel for thirty-five years 
but on account of ill health was obliged to re- 
tire from active connection with the bar about 
.~ix years ago. As a lawyer he was recognized 
as a strong and able practitioner. He ever re- 
mained a close and earnest student of his pro- 
fession, prepared his cases with precision and 
care and in the trial of a cause always com- 
manded the attention of court and jury. He 
won many notable forensic contests and was 
connected with most of the important litiga- 
tion tried in the courts of his district for more 
than a third of a century. For more than five 
years after his retirement from the bar he was 
connected with no active business enterprise 
but about a year ago purchased a general mer- 
cantile store, which he is now carrying on. 
This is not his first experience in the mercan- 



312 



PAST AND I'JIESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



tile line, however, for a number of years ago 
he opened the first store at Dallas Center, Iowa, 
and he has owned and conducted stores in Adel 
at various times since 1867, part of the time 
in his own name and part of the time in the 
name of others. His mercantile interests have 
constituted a feature of his success and have 
made him one of the prominent and represent- 
ative business men of Adel, belonging to that 
class whose labors contribute to public welfare 
and advancement as well as to individual pros- 
perity. He owns the opera house, which was 
completed in 1904 and is a fine modern struc- 
ture, the third best in the state and the best in 
any town of the size of Adel. 

In official circles, too, the name of T. R. 
North is known and honored. He was appoint- 
ed mayor of Adel in November, 1904, and was 
elected for a one year term in March, 1905, He 
refused re-election in 1908, for his ambition 
has never been in the direction of office hold- 
ing. Had he so desired he could undoubtedly 
have secured many official positions within the 
gift of his fellow citizens. At one time he was 
nominated by the democratic party for the of- 
fice of clerk of the supreme court and at an- 
other time judge of the circuit court but re- 
refused to run. He has preferred, however, that 
his public service should be done in other ways 
and he has contributed in no small degree to 
the upbuilding and development of the com- 
munity. He accomplished much in this di- 
rection by the assistance which he rendered in 
the organization of the Des Moines Western 
Railwaj- Company, now a part of the Chicago. 
Milwaukee tt St. Paul Railway system from 
Des Moines to Spirit Lake, Iowa. He was also 
active in the construction of the road to Adel 
and Fonda and was attorney for that road and 
the Wabash Railway until the road was sold 
under foreclosure. He then became the attor- 
ney for the new organization and acted in that 
capacity until the line was sold to the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. In 
politics Mr. North has always been a democrat, 
believing the doctrines of that party are best 
calculated to benefit the countrv, but he has 



never indorsed the ultra views of the greenback 
or populist parties. In 1868 he became an Odd 
Fellow and has held all the offices of the local 
lodge, sen-ing also as a delegate to the grand 
lodge and as district deputy grand master. He 
is a chai-ter member of Colonel Mills post, G. 
A. R., and was its first commander. A man 
of unswen-ing integrity and honor, one who 
has a perfect appreciation of the higher ethics 
of life, he has gained and retained the confi- 
dence and respect of his fellowmen and is dis- 
tinctively one of the leading citizens not only 
of Adel but of Dallas county and this portion 
of the state, with whose interests he has been 
identified for more than forty-three years. 



ALBERT L. WORSTER. 

Albert L. Worster, of Adel, manifests in his 
life that business enterprise which brooks no 
obstacles and overcomes all difficulties by de- 
termination and resolute purpose. Although 
making his home in the city, he has extensive 
and profitable farming and stock-raising in- 
terests and in all of his business dealings is 
alert and energetic, forming his plans care- 
fully and then executing them with a preci- 
sion and fidelity which lead to success. 

Mr. Worster was born in Delaware county, 
Indiana, in 1850. His father, John O.Woreter, 
was a native of Fayette county, Indiana, born 
in 1817, and his death occurred in December, 
1895. He was of English lineage and at an 
early period in the settlement of Kentucky 
representatives of the name went to that state, 
whence James Worster, the father of John 0. 
Worster. removed to Indiana about 1800. It 
was at that time still under territorial govern- 
ment and in fact was a vrild frontier district. 
He opened up a farm in Fayette county and 
there reared his family, including John O. 
Worster, who was reared upon a farm and re- 
mained a resident of the Hoosier state until 
1854, when he lost his wife. Mrs. Worster 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



313 



bore the niaideu name of Elizabeth Bundrant 
and was born in Virginia in 1817, while her 
death occurred in 1854. She was a devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
She was of French ancestry and her parents 
were eai-ly pioneers of Indiana. By her mar- 
riage she became the mother of eight children : 
Janie.'i T., Charles S., Ann, Jonathan and 
John, twins, and Edward, all deceased; H. 
Sue, the wife of Don A. Blanchard, a merchant 
of Adel; and Albert L., of this review. 

^\.fter the death of his first wife John O. 
Worster removed to Edgar county, Illinois, and 
was engaged in the dry-goods business at Grand 
View for five years. On the exjjiration of that 
period he sold out and resumed farming. 
After spending a year in Wisconsin he re- 
turned to Blackford county, Indiana, in 1859, 
and in 1862 removed to Fayette county, where 
he resided for ten yeai*s. In the fall of 1872 
he came to Dallas county and located in Adel. 
He had previously purchased a farm in Colfax 
township and he also entered into partnership 
with Ben Winans in the conduct of a hardware 
and grocery store, under the firm name of 
Winana & Worster. He remained in that busi- 
until the spring of 1875, when he took up his 
abode upon the farm, making it his place of 
residence until 1891, when he retired to Adel, 
spending his remaining days in the enjoyment 
of a rest which he had truly earned and richly 
deserved. 

In 1854, John 0. Worster was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary Hoover, who died within a 
year, and in 1857 he wedded Marj- A. Slaugh- 
ter, of Franklin county, Indiana. In their 
family were twc; daughters: Esther, the wife 
of Dr. A. Shafer of Frazer, Webster count}', 
Iowa: and Cora E., the wife of Albert E. Beall, 
a manufacturer of Clinton, Iowa. The father 
was an enterprising, practical and progressive 
farmer and good ba«ine.ss man. He belonged 
to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which 
he took a very active and helpful part, serving 
as one of its officers. In his fraternal relations 
he was a Mason and his political allegiance 
was given to the republican party, of which he 



was a most stalwart advocate. In 1861 he of- 
fered his services to the government in de- 
fense of the Union, enlisting at Blackford 
county, Indiana, as a member of Company H, 
Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He 
served for one year as orderly sergeant of that 
company. After retiring from the ranks he 
entered the secret service of the army and thus 
continued until the clo.se of the war. He was 
a valued member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. He was a citizen of worth, much 
respected in social and business circles and he 
left to his family a comfortable competence 
and an untarnished name. 

Albert L. Worster was reared on the home 
farm and attended the country schools. He 
was I inly four years of age when his father re- 
moved from Indiana and the days of his boy- 
hood and youth were largely passed in Illinois 
and in the Hoosier state, to which the family 
returned. He has always carried on farming 
and kindred interests save for the exception of 
four years which he spent in a hardware store 
in Adel as a member of the firm of Graham & 
Worster. He then gave his time and energies 
to active agricultural pursuits until 1896, when 
he removed from his farm to Adel, but he still 
applies himself to husbandry. He has three 
hundred and sixty acres of land in Colfax 
township, two miles west of Adel, and likewise 
owns a tract of one hundred and sixty acres 
five miles northwest of Adel. He buys and 
feeds stock in large numbers and does his own 
shipping. In fact he is regarded as one of the 
leading stockmen of the county who operates 
extensively in that line and has met v.'ith very 
gratifying succes.*. 

In 1875, Mr. Worster was united in marriage 
to Miss Margaret A. Young, who was born in 
Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1853 and is 
a' daughter of George G. and Elizabeth 
(So wash) Young. In both the paternal and 
maternal lines she comes of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry. Mr. Young furnished supplies by 
wagon, taking orders in the primitive manner 
of the "traveling salesman." At length he 
loaded his teams and equipments for house- 



314 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



keeping on a boat on the Mississippi river and 
with his family started for Iowa in 1854. When . 
near Keokuk he fell off the boat and was 
drowned, leaving his wife and two children. 
The family landed at Keokuk and by team 
came to Adel. Mrs. Young, the widow, was 
practically left penniless. Her husband had 
purchased a farm and made a small payment 
thereon. When he fell into the river the 
money with which he was to start life in his 
new home in a wild prairie country was in a 
belt around his waist, but the body was never 
recovered and the small capital of the family 
was thus lost. Mr. and Mrs. Young had two 
children: Nancy, the wife of F. E. Houghton, 
a druggist of Des Moines; and Margaret, the 
wife of Mr. Worster. Mr. Young met his 
death when only thirty-six years of age. Mrs. 
Young maintained herself and her children 
by sewing. About three years after becom- 
ing a resident of Adel she was ' man-ied to 
Lewis Jolley, who was a carpenter and specu- 
lator in town lots. He finished paying for the 
farm in Colfax township belonging to Mrs. 
Young and soon afterward they took up their 
abode there. They had three children, of 
whom two reached mature yeai-s: Jasper, who 
is now living on the old home farm in Colfax 
township; and Mary, the wife of Harry V. 
Rickerson, a merchant in Adel. The mother 
died September 4, 1902, in her eightieth year. 
She was originally a member of the Presby- 
terian church but after coming to Iowa joined 
the Methodist Episcopal church. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Worster has been 
blessed with three children : Idabel, the wife 
of Norman H. Tyson, cashier of the Lehigh 
Valley Savings Bank of Webster county, Iowa; 
Georgia, who is a student in the Iowa State 
University; and Mary Jo, formerly a student 
of the State University and now employed in 
the office of the county treasurer. Mrs. Ty- 
son was for five years a successful teacher in 
the Adel high school and the other sisters have 
also been teachers, Georgia having taught for 
one year at Lehigh and for two years at 
Northwood. 



The family are consistent and faithful 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
in which they take an active interest. Mr. 
Worster has served as an officer of the church 
and was assistant superintendent of the Sun- 
day school. He has also been a member of 
the school board in Colfax township for a num- 
ber of years but he has no aspiration for polit- 
ical office, although he is a stalwart republican 
in politics. His energies have been largely 
concentrated upon his busin&ss, which is cap- 
ably managed and well directed, bringing to 
him a gratifying measure of success, so that 
he is now one of the prosperous citizens of the 
count3\ He is a man of genial nature, always 
approachable, and he has gained an enviable 
position in the favorable regard of his fellow 
citizens during the long years of his residence 
in this county. 



ALVIN BEVER. 



Alvin Bever owns and operates a good farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres on section 1, 
Colfax township, and his business qualifications 
and his genuine persdiial worth entitle him to 
mention with the representative residents of 
Dallas county. Moreover, he is an (honored 
veteran of the Civil war and as such the coun- 
try owes him a debt of gratitude which can 
never be repaid, for the soldier in the south 
bore hardships and faced dangers for which 
there can be no monetary compensation. Like 
a great majority of the boys in blue he was but 
a young man when he went to the front. 

His birth occurred in Seneca county, Ohio, 
August 27, 1842, his parents being Solomon 
and Maria (Cross) Bever, both natives of Vir- 
ginia. Leaving the Old Dominion they be- 
came early residents of Ohio, Solomon Bever 
taking up his abode in the Buckeye state at a 
time when much of the land was still in the 
possession of the government. He entered a 
tract of eighty acres which was entirely unim- 
proved and with characteristic energy began 




;\IR. AND MRS. AL^'IN BEVER 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



317 



transforming this property into arable and 
productive fields which would render his labors 
profitable in the rich harvest that they would 
produce. He carried on farming there until his 
death and his wife ako passed away upon the 
old Ohio homestead. In their family were 
eleven children, of whom ten are yet living: 
John B., a resident of Dallas county, Iowa; 
William, a resident of Ionia county, Michigan ; 
Joseph, who makes his home in Pawnee coun- 
ty, Nebraska; Henry, who is living in Williams 
county, Ohio; Martin, who is located in Ionia 
county, Michigan ; Mrs. L. J. Egbert, who died 
in Adel, Iowa, at the age of fifty-six years; 
Alvin, of this review; Russell B., who is living 
in Dallas county; Wesley, who is engaged in 
business in Livingston county, Illinois; Mrs. 
Annie M. Greene, whose home is in Columbus, 
Ohio; and Cecelia, who is residing in Pawnee 
county, Nebraska. 

Alvin Bever was reared to the occupation of 
farming and has made that pursuit his life 
work. When a boy he took his place in the 
fields, performing such tasks as his age and 
strength permitted. He worked from the time 
of the early spring planting until the crops 
were harvested in late autumn and during the 
winter months attended the public schools. 
Reading and observation in late years have 
made him a well informed man and his busi- 
ness interests have brought him wide experi- 
ence in agricultural lines. He remained with 
his parents until twenty-two years of age when 
he went to Michigan and there, on the 6tli of 
August, 1864, he enlisted for service in the 
Union army and was sent to Tennessee. He 
entered at once upon active duty in the south. 
l)articipating in the battle of Murfree.sboro and 
other engagements. When the war wa.s over 
and the stars and stripes floated victoriously 
over the south, he was mustered out in Wash- 
ington, D. C, on the 13th of .July, 1865, and 
returned to his home. Through the successive 
six months he remained in Ohio and during the 
next four years his time was divided between 
Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. In 18f)9 he camo 
to Dalla.s county, Iowa, where he provided for 



his own support by working as a farm hand 
for several yeai-s. 

As a companion and helpmate for life's jour- 
ney Mr. Bever chose Miss Annie Mitchell, to 
whom he was married May 28, 1872. She was 
born in Vermilion county, Illinois, July 12, 
1844. Her father, John Mitchell, was a na- 
tive of Ohio, in which state her mother, who 
bore the maiden name of Caroline Baldwin, 
was also born. They became early residents 
of Illinois, where they remained until 1853, 
which year witnessed their arrival in Dallas 
county, Iowa. Here Mr. Mitchell purchased 
a quarter section of wild land upon which no 
improvements had been made and they cast in 
their lot with the pioneer settlers who had 
come to the frontier to establish homes and 
were aiding in reclaiming the district for the 
uses of civilization. Though many hardships 
and trials were to be borne in the early days 
Mr. Mitchell resolutely took up the work of 
developing the new farm and continued the 
task of cultivating the fields and caring for 
the crops until his life's labors were ended in 
death in 1899. For about five years he had 
survived his wife who died in 1894. Thus the 
county lost two of its well known and worthy 
pioneer settlers, who for more than forty years 
had been residents of this section of the state, 
Mr. Mitchell having aided in laying broad and 
deep the foundation for its present develop- 
ment. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. Bever pur- 
chased eighty acres of land and a little later 
bought forty acres more in Washington town- 
ship. The improvements on the place at the 
time of the purchase consisted of a small house 
and a little barn, while thirty aci-es of the land 
had been broken. Mr. Bever began the fur- 
ther development and cultivation of the land, 
carrying on the farm work there until he 
traded that property for land in Van Meter 
township, upon which he lived until 1890. In 
that year he sold the farm and purchased his 
present place of one hundred and sixty acres 
(in section 1. Colfax township. Here he has 
now lived for about seventeen years. The place 



31S 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



is a finely improved farm equipped with large 
barns and outbuildings, while the residence, 
which was built by Mr. Bever a few years ago, 
is one of the commodious, substantial and beau- 
tiful homes of Dallas county. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bever have been born 
five children and the family circle yet remains 
unbroken by the hand of death. In order of 
birth they are as follows: Emma C, at home; 
Wesley, who is living in California; \V. A., 
who is also on the home farm ; Franklin C, 
who married Miss Bessie Britton and resides 
in Dallas county ; and May, who married Clive 
Mills and lives in Washington township, this 
county. 

The parents are members of the Methodist 
church and are esteemed as citizens of genuine 
worth who are actively interested in public 
progress along material, intellectual and moral 
lines. Mr. Bever has been a school director 
for a number of years and the cause of educa- 
tion finds in him a stalwart champion. His 
political support is given the republican party. 
Viewed from a business standpoint his life may 
be termed a success, for he started out empty- 
handed, yet realizing that there is no excel- 
lence without labor, he has put forth strenuous 
effort to achieve the measure of prosperity he 
is now enjoying. 



A. M. ALLEN. 



A. M. Allen, for forty-one years a resident 
of Polk county, and for four years of Dallas 
county, is living on .sections 12 and 13, Walnut 
township. He is an active, energetic and prac- 
tical farmer and stock-raiser, who owns and 
controls two hundred and forty acres of land. 
He was brought to Iowa in 1867, when a little 
lad of less than ten years, his birth having oc- 
curred in Green county, Wisconsin, November 
7, 1849. His father, Levi C. Allen, was born 
in Canada, and the grandfather was a native 
of New York. The latter served as a soldier in 
the war of 1812 and was wounded in the leg 



in an engagement. Levi C. Allen was reared 
in Cattaraugus county, New York, and was 
married there to Miss Mary Eliza Colby. They 
became early settlers of Wisconsin, Mr. Allen 
entering land from the government in Green 
county, and he developed there an excellent 
farm, which he continued to cultivate until 
his death, about 1855. His wife and three 
children afterwards removed to Iowa, setthng 
in Walnut township, Polk county, in 1861. 
There she secured land, had the farm tilled and 
upon that place reared her children, doing a 
mother's full part towards her little ones. She 
died in Polk county in February, 1895, and 
was buried at Waukee. 

A. M. Allen, the only surviving member of 
the family, was reared in Polk county and is 
largely a self-educated as well as self-made man, 
for he had little opportunity to attend school 
in youth and acquired the greater part of his 
knowledge through reading, observation and 
experience since attaining man's estate. He 
was married in Polk county on the 8th of 
January, 1874, to Miss Emma Hunt, who was 
born in Peoria county, Illinois, and is a daugh- 
ter of J. W. and Eliza Hunt. The family re- 
moved to Iowa and Mrs. Allen was largely 
reared in Polk county. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Allen 
located on a farm. He improved two hundred 
and forty acres in Webster township, Polk 
county, where he carried on farming for nearly 
twenty-nine years. He had previously pur- 
chased the place where he now resides, on sec- 
tions 12 and 13, Walnut township, Dallas 
county, and in 1904 he took up his abode here. 
He built the house and barn and has developed 
a neat and attractive farm. He rents his old 
place, from which he derives a good income, 
and his time and energies are devoted to tilling 
the soil and raising stock in Dallas county. 
He feeds and fattens about five carloads of 
cattle and three carloads of hogs annually and 
is very practical in his business methods, reach- 
ing results which are most satisfactory. He 
was formerly president of the Farmers Savings 
Bank at Grimes and is regarded as an enter- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



31 'J 



prising business man, who doe.s everything in 
his power to win that ultimate success which 
is the merited reward of earnest and persistent 
labor. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born 
four children: Lee, who is married and resides 
on a farm in Grant township; Alta, the wife 
of H. C. Thompson, of Webster township, Polk 
county, by whom she has one child, Allen 
Thompson ; and George and Frank, at home. 

In politics Mr. Allen has been a lifelong 
republican. His father was an old line whig 
and abolitionist. A. M. Allen has ever been in 
hearty sympathy with the principle.? of the re- 
publican party and while living in Polk county 
he served as township trustee for sixteen years. 
He is also a believer in good schools and in 
the employment of competent teachers and did 
effective work in that direction as a member 
of the school board. He has likewise been a 
delegate to county conventions and is recog- 
nized as a leading republican of his district. 
He belongs to the Odd Fellows society at 
Grimes, in which he has passed all of the chairs 
and is a past grand. He has also been repre- 
sentative to the Grand lodge and his wife is . 
connected with the Order of the Rebekalis, in 
which she has also filled all of the offices. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Allen are true to the teachings 
of the fraternity, which is based upon mutual 
helpfulness and a spirit of brotherly love. They 
have resided for many years in this part of the 
state and the circle of their friends is exten- 



barn in 1900. He now owns a fine livery 
stock and barn and has a liberal patronage, 
owing to his reasonable prices, his fair deal- 
ings and his earnest desire to please his jjatrons. 



B. F. WRIGHT. 



B. P. Wright, who has been engaged in the 
livery business in Adel, now conducting a first- 
class barn under the style of B. F. Wright. 
B. F. Wright is a native of Indiana and crossed 
the Mississippi in 1853 to become a resident of 
the Hawkeye state. He first located in Jones 
county, Iowa, whence he removed to Dallas 
county in 1856. He is now engaged in the 
livery business in Adel, having established the 



DAVID E. KING. 



Dallas county finds a worthy representative 
of its farming interests in David E. King, who 
is living on section 13, Colfax township. He 
was born in Clinton county, Ohio, June 9, 
1843. His father, Isaac E. King, was born 
October 1, 1818, in the same county, and after 
residing there for many years, came to Dallas 
county, Iowa, in 1852. Throughout his en- 
tire life he has followed farming and he now' 
makes his home with his son David. He mar- 
ried Maria Hilterbrant, who was born in Ohio, 
January 8, 1816, and who died in 1885, at the 
age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents 
of nine children, of whom six are yet living: 
Mary A. Grarantte, who is living in Sac county, 
Iowa; David E., of this review; W. J., who re- 
sides in. Adel township; Mrs. Nan J. Leddie, 
who is living in Erland, Iowa ; Mrs. Marie E. 
Schnider, of McKinzie, North Dakota; and A. 
J., who makes his home near Piatt, South 
Dakota. 

David E. King spent the first nine years of 
his life in the state of his nativity and came 
to Dallas county with his parents in 1852. He 
was reared upon a farm and early became 
familiar with the duties and labors that fall 
to the lot of the agriculturist. He attended 
the district schools when not busy with his 
text-books and continued to aid his father until 
eighteen years of age, wdien he offered his 
services to the government in defense of the 
Union. It was on the 2d of November, 1861, 
when he enlisted, joining the boys in blue of 
Company B, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, with 
which he served for three years and nine 
months, or until the close of the war. He was 
mustered out at Louisville, Kentuckv. after the 
clo.se of hostilities and returned home with a 



320 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



creditable military record. He participated in 
the battles of Pittsburg Landing, luka, Corinth, 
the siege of Vicksburg and other important 
engagements. He also went on a march to the 
middle of Mississippi, a distance of one hun- 
dred and eighty miles, to destroy a lot of corn 
and salt. He re-enlisted at Vicksburg in 
January, 1863, and was granted a veteran fur- 
lough of thirty days, which he spent at home. 
He then joined Sherman's army at Resaca, 
Georgia, and took part in the battles of Big 
Shanty and Kenesaw Mountain. On the 21st 
of June he was at Atlanta, and participated in 
the military movements there, which resulted 
in the death of General McPherson on the 22d 
of July, 1S84. The troops then proceeded to 
a point southwest of Atlanta, and Mr. King 
took part in the battle of Jonesboro, July 28, 
and afterward followed Hood's army back to 
Buzzards Roost Gap. The regiment next pro- 
ceeded to Marietta, Georgia, where they drew 
provisions and started on the march to the sea. 
When that memorable campaign was ended 
they took an ocean steamer at Savannah, 
Georgia, for Beaufort, South Carolina, and 
thence started on a march across the Carolinas 
and through Virginia, taking part in the battle 
at Bentonville, North Carolina, which was one 
of the la.st engagements of the war. They made 
the march in February and suffered untold 
hardships, often crossing sloughs and rivers 
filled with slush, ice and water, wading any- 
where from knee deep to shoulder deep. The 
unpleasantness of such experiences can better be 
imagined than described. From Raleigh the 
troops proceeded to Richmond, Virginia, and 
thence to Washington, D. C, there participating 
in the grand review on the 25th of May, 1865. 
It was a day of general rejoicing throughout 
the north, and thousands of happy people 
lined the .streets of the capital city to greet the 
returning soldiers, whose valor had saved the 
LTnion. During the time that Mr. King was 
in the army he marched or traveled by railroad 
and steamboat eight thousand five hundred and 
eighteen miles, and he was a brave and loyal 
soldier, never faltering in his allegiance to the 



old flag. On the 15th of December, 18G4, he 
was promoted from third sergeant to second 
lieutenant of Company B, Fifteenth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, and was placed in com- 
mand of his company. He was promoted from 
second to first lieutenant January 26, 1865, 
and remained in command of the company 
until the close of the war. 

When the war was over Mr. King returned 
to Dallas county and bought one hundred acres 
of land where he now lives. Eighty acres of 
this was raw prairie, while twenty acres had 
been broken, but there was no house or build- 
ing of any kind upon the place. On the day 
on which President Grant was inaugurated and 
took his place in the White House, Mr. King 
and his wife removed to the farm where they 
still live. He has led an active, useful and 
honorable life, and he now owns two hundred 
and forty-one acres of valuable land as the 
result of his basiness ability and judicious in- 
vestments. 

On the 28th of February, 1869, Mr. King 
was married to Miss Mary E. Slaughter, who 
was born in Randolph county, Indiana, April 
26, 1850. Her father, Moses Slaughter, was 
born December 11, 1814, in North Carolina, 
and died March 29, 1891. Her mother was 
Mrs. Mary (Powell) Slaughter, who was born 
February 3, 1824, and died March 11, 1902. 
In the family of this worthy couple were six 
children, of whom two died in infancy, while 
one son, Leroy S. Slaughter, was killed in the 
battle at Pea Ridge while serving in the Union 
army as a member of Company C, Fourth Iowa 
Volunteei-s. Two sisters of Mrs. King are yet 
living, Mrs. Julia Lunn, of Des Moines, Iowa, 
and Mrs. G. E. Whitlock, of Valparaiso, Ind- 
iana. Chauncy M. is deceased. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. King had been born four 
children : Mrs. Laura A. Crowel, of Spirit Lake, 
Iowa; Lester D., who is at home; Mrs. Alice C. 
Dillon, who is residing in Colfax township; and 
C. Ward, who is located in Colfax township. 
The parents are members of the Methodist 
church at Adel and are much interested in its 
work and growth. In politics Mr. King is an 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



321 



earnest republican, while fraternally he is con- 
nected with the Masons and the Grand Army of 
the Republic. He is as tnie and loyal today to 
his duties of citizenship as when he followed 
the stars and stripes upon southern battle- 
fields. When the war ended there was a large 
banner suspended across Pennsylvania Avenue, 
in Washington, bearing these words : "The only 
debt which the country cannot pay is the debt 
M'hich she owes her soldiers." Mr. King is 
numbered among those who deserve the credit 
and praise of the nation for valorous service 
in the south, and it is with pleasure that we 
present to our readers the life history of an- 
other honored veteran of the Civil war. 



BURTON RUSSELL. 



One of the most prominent and, by the con- 
sensus of public opinion, the most able of the 
younger members of the Dallas county bar is 
Burton Russell of Adel, who is now serving as 
deputy county attorney and is likewise en- 
gaged in the private practice of law as the 
junior member of the firm of Miller & Russell. 
So widely and favorably is he known that his 
life history cannot fail to prove of interest to 
many of our readers. He is one of the native 
sons of the county, having been born in Spring 
Valley township, Dallas county, February 6, 
1873." 

His parents were the Hon. William S. and 
Ada (Green) Russell. The father was born 
in Indiana and in 1856, when ten years of age, 
came to Iowa with his parents, Peter T. and 
Adelgertha Russell. In 1863 he enlisted for 
service in the Civil war, joining an Iowa regi- 
ment, Avith which he continued actively at the 
front until after the close of hostilities, when 
he retiu'ned home with a most creditable mili- 
tary record. He served for three terms in the 
state legislature and has been a leading and 
prominent factor in political circles and pub- 
lic life. He belongs to Perry lodge, A. F. & 
A. M. The familv numbered three sons and 



a daughter and three of the number are now 
living, namely: Burton, of this review; Kathe- 
rine, the wife of Dr. H. B. Byers, a resident 
of Manchester, Iowa; and C. D., who is living 
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, being manager of 
the sales department of the Merical Pressed 
Stone Company. 

After acquiring a knowledge of the element- 
ary branches of English learning Burton Rus- 
sell became a student in the high school at 
Perry and afterwards attended the Northern 
Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, Indiana, 
for three years. He was graduated in the class 
of 1896, winning the degree of Bachelor of 
Science, and subsequently he attended the 
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for three 
years, where he prepared for his chosen pro- 
fession, being graduated from the law depart- 
ment in the class of 1901. He made an 
excellent record in college and gained thorough 
and comprehensive knowledge of the principles 
of law but he did not immediately enter upon 
active practice, for during the succeeding win- 
ter he was superintendent of schools at Wood- 
ward, Iowa. He had been superintendent of 
schools at Linden, Iowa, in 1897 and had 
proved himself a capable educator, doing much 
to advance the standard of the schools in the 
localities where he labored along educational 
lines. 

He was admitted to the bar of Michigan on 
the 19th of June, 1901, and to the bar of Iowa 
on the 15th of May, 1902. There were twenty- 
seven applicants for admission at that time but 
only fourteen were successful. The highest 
marking any applicant received was eighty- 
six per cent and Mr. Russell stood eighty-five. 
Besides being admitted to practice in the su- 
preme court of Iowa Mr. Russell was, upon 
motion of an attorney, also admitted to prac- 
tice in the district and circuit courts of the 
United States. He opened an office in Adel 
on the 4th of .July, 1902, and on the 12th of 
March, 1904, he formed a partnership with D. 
H. Miller for the practice of law under the 
firm .style of Miller & Russell. On the same 
date he wa.« appointed deputy county attorney 



322 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and holds the office to the present time. Since 
entering upon active practice here Mr. Russell 
has been connected with a number of notable 
cases. The firm brought suit in the Dallas dis- 
trict court to test the question of beverage liquor 
sold under various titles. Judge Nichols ren- 
dered a decision adverse to the contention of 
Messrs. Miller & Russell, but an appeal was 
taken to the supreme court, where the decision 
of the lower court was reversed. Another case of 
interest was that in which the Northwestern 
Life & Savings Company, formerly of Des 
Moines, brought an action upon an insurance 
note against Nelson MoGrifF. Mr. Russell in 
his defense alleged in lii.< answer that the note 
was given for insurance premiums and that the 
note was uncollectible for the reason that it did 
not state upon its face that it was given for in- 
surance. He won a verdict in favor of his cli- 
ent and in commenting upon this a local news- 
paper said, "His ability as a lawyer is attract- 
ing more than local attention." General inter- 
est was also felt in the case concerning the set- 
tlement of the estate of Luther E. Colton. It 
seems that Colton was three times married. In 
the settlement of the estate his first wife came 
fom-ard and asked for her share of the property 
as his lawful wife, alleging that Luther E. Col- 
ton was her husband at the time of his death, 
as they had ne\'er been divorced. In the lower 
court the case was decided in favor of the de- 
fendant, Eliza A. Tubbs. wife No. 3, but the 
supreme court, to which an appeal was taken, 
reversed the decision, establishing the claim of 
the first wife. Although one of the younger 
members of the bar Mr. Russell has made a 
most creditable record for legal discrimination, 
keen analytical power and inductive reasonins. 
On the 14th of June. 1906, was celebrated 
the marriage of Mr. Russell and Miss Nellie E. 
Britton, who was bom in this county. Januarj- 
31, 1883, a daughter of Samuel H. and Mar- 
garet (Gudgel) Britton. both natives of Brad- 
ford, Illinois. The father is now living at Lin- 
den, this county, but the mother died in 1896, 
at the age of thirty-eight years. In their family 
were three daughters and a son : Pearl, who 



married Frank Orton and is living at Linden ; 
Edna, who is studying music in Leipsic, Ger- 
many ; Mrs. Russell ; and Guy. The father first 
located in Colfax township, this county, where 
he engaged in farming for a number of years 
and then removed to Linn township, settling 
on a farm which he made his home until his 
removal to his present farm in the same town- 
ship. He is recognized as one of the leading 
agriculturists of the community. In politics 
he is a republican and is a member of the 
Christian church. 

Mr. Russell belongs to Adel lodge, No. 80. A. 
F. & A. M. He, too, is a member of the Chris- 
tian church, taking a most active and helpful 
part in its work and he has filled the pulpit in 
the absence of the regvilar pastor. In politics 
he is an earnest republican and has frequently 
addressed the public on political and other ques- 
tions. He was called upon to deliver the 4th 
of July oration at Linden in 1905 and the ad- 
dress on that occasion was spoken of as "a most 
excellent oration, expressing original thought." 
He has always been listened to with attention 
whether on public occasions or in the court- 
room and is an orator of more than ordinary 
force and power. 



WILLIAM BROWN. 



On the 2d of February, 1907, there occurred 
an event which was the occasion of deep sorrow 
in the village of Perry as well as the surround- 
ing districts, for on that date William Brown, 
who had been an honored and respected citizen 
of the county for thirty-two years, departed this 
life. Mr. Brown had for many years been en- 
gaged in farming and gardening on a well im- 
proved tract of land adjoining the limits of 
Perry, having located thereon in 1875, and 
he was therefore widely and favorably known 
in this district. He was born near Morgan- 
town, in Monongahela county, West Virginia, 
June 17, 1845, and -was there reared and edu- 
cated. After putting aside his text-books he 




WII.IJAM BROWN 




iNIRS. WILLIAM BROWN 



PAST AND PRESENT OP DALLAS COUNTY. 



32'; 



engaged in teaching in his native county for 
a sliort time but the attractions of the new west- 
ern country took him as a young man to IIH- 
nois, where he was engaged in teaching both 
in Putnam and Bureau counties. 

It was in the former county on the 6th of 
March, 1873, that Mr. Brown was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Etta Stickel, who was 
born and reared in that county, where she was 
also engaged in teaching for a time. A sketch 
of her father and her brother, Addison Stickel, 
is also given in this volume. 

Following his marriage Mr. Brown engaged 
in farming in Putnam county for one year and 
also followed that pursuit in Bureau county for 
a similar period. In 1875 he removed to Dal- 
las county, this state, having previously made 
a trip here and purchased a tract of land, 
situated in Dallas township, south of Dawson. 
Locating on this farm he there opened up and 
developed a good property and made his home 
there for several years. Eventually he traded 
that property for a farm near Perry. Remov- 
ing to the place, he erected a good house and 
barn, set out an orchard and made many other 
improvements, thus making it a model pro- 
perty. He was there engaged in carrying on 
general agricultural pursuits and also did gar- 
dening, selling his products in the city markets. 

Mr. Brown was also an honored veteran of 
the Civil war. He enlisted in 1864, when a 
young man of seventeen years, as a member of 
Company G, First Regiment of West Virginia 
Cavalry, with which he served until the close 
of the war, receiving an honorable discharge 
July 8, 1865. While at the front he displayed 
great bravery and returned home with a most 
honorable and creditable military record. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brown was ■ 
blessed with eight children but one daughter, 
Cecil A., died in infancy. The surviving mem- 
bers of the family are ; Jessie Mabel, the wife 
of Charles Bills, a resident farmer of Boone 
county, Iowa, her family numbering two sons, 
Harold and Loren Bills; Sina M., the wife of 
Thomas Morfoot. of Boone county, by whom 
she has a daughter, Rachel : Grace, the wife of 



AA'illiam White, a merchant of Juniata, Ne- 
braska, and the mother of two children, Phyllis 
and Hiram White; Arthur C, a young man, 
who i.s carrying on the home farm ; Orpha, who 
graduated from the Perry high school and is 
now engaged in teaching; Percy A., who was 
given liberal educational advantages and is 
now holding a business position in Perry; and 
Wilfredo, a young lady at home. Mrs. Brown 
and the daughters are members of the Christ- 
ian church at Perry, while Mr. Brown was 
identified with the Methodist Episcopal church 
during his residence in his native state. 

Politically Mr. Brown was a republican and 
although he kept well informed on the political 
questions and issues of the day he was never 
an office seeker. He was identified with Red- 
field post, G. A. R., at Perry. He was an active 
and industrious citizen, a man of good business 
ability, and commanded the confidence and es- 
teem of all with whom he was associated. He 
loved his home and his family and his most 
pleasant hours were spent in their companion- 
ship and it is within the family circle that his 
loss is most deeply felt. The widow with her 
two sons and daughters still resides on the home 
farm and the family is highly respected in 
their home locality as well as in Perry. 



REV. H. H. GARWICK. 

The agricultural interests of Walnut town- 
ship find a worthy representative in Rev. II. 
H. Garwick, who is living on section 6. He 
is thoroughly progressive as a farmer, stock- 
raiser and dairyman and he is also well known 
as a minister of the Brethren of Christ church. 
Born in Carroll county, Illinois, on the 14th 
of August, 1862, he is a son of Henry Garwick, 
a native of Germany and one of the earliest 
settlers of Carroll county. Subseciuently he re- 
moved to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he 
opened u]) a farm, clearing the land and de- 
veloping a good property. It was upon that 
place that he reared hi.s family and spent his 



328 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



remaining days, his death occurring in Sep- 
tember. 1902, while his wife passed away in 
1890. Their family numbered four sons and 
two daughter^;, all of whom have reached ma- 
ture years and reared families. 

Eev. H. H. Gan\-ick was reared in White- 
side county, Illinois, where he acquired a com- 
mon-school education. His privileges, how- 
ever, were somewhat limited in that regard, but 
possessing an obsen-ing eye and retentive mem- 
orj' he has added lai-gely to his knowledge since 
attaining man's estate. 

-Vs a companion and helpmate for life's jour- 
ney Rev. Garwick chose Miss Bar-bara Stoner, 
to whom he was married in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 15th of February, 1887. 
She is a native of Penn.*ylvania and spent her 
girlhood days in that state. After their mar- 
riage they located on a farm in Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois, where Mr. Garwick carried on gen- 
eral agricultural pursuits until 1892. In Feb- 
ruai'y of that year- he came to Dallas county, 
Iowa, where he first purchased eighty acres of 
land, which he began to cultivate and develop. 
He has rebuilt and remodeled the house, which 
is a two-story frame structure, has also built 
barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of 
grain and stock and has added to the produc- 
tiveness of his land by tiling, has fenced his 
fields, and has purchased forty-eight acres ad- 
joining the original tract, so that he is now the 
owner of one hundred and twenty-eight acres. 
constituting a good farm. He also makes a 
specialty of raising stock, keeping good grades 
of hog.<, and he is likewise successfully en- 
gaged in the dairy business, ha\ing high-grade 
Herefords for this purpose. The labor he has 
bestowed upon his place has made it a well im- 
proved and valuable farm, which in its neat 
and thrifty appearance indicates his careful 
supervision. 

Unto Mr. and ^Ii-s. Garwick have been born 
eight cliildren, four sous and four daughters: 
Noah S.. Aaron, -Tesse. Ruth. Rachel, Esther 
and Rhoda. They also lost an infant son. 

Politically Mr. Gai'wick is a prohibitionist. 
He has alwavs believed in and worked for tem- 



perance and does everything in his power to 
promulgate temperance principles. He is a 
believer in good schools and the employment 
of competent teachers and has served as treas- 
urer of his school district. His life has ever 
been honorable and upright and he is well 
known as a minister of the Brethren of Christ 
church, having been one of its active members 
since a young man of nineteen yeai-s. He was 
ordained to the ministry in 1888 and has had 
charge of two churches, one at Dallas Center 
and the other at district No. 6 in Sugar Grove 
township. For not less than fourteen times in 
fifteen years has his home been open for the 
annual meetings or lovefeast occasions of the 
Brethren in Christ, at which member': from all 
parts of Iowa and from other states have been 
present. He has sei^ved as a delegate to the 
conventions of the chui'ch in Pennsylvania, 
Kansas. Iowa and also Ontario. He is well 
known in northern Illinois and in this state, 
having been a resident here for fifteen years, 
during which time his genuine worth, his ac- 
tive life and his high principles have commend- 
ed him to the good-will, tiiist and respect of 
all with whom he has been associated. 



O. S. GIBBONS. 



0. S. Gibbons is the owner of a valuable farm 
in Dallas county, comprising an excellent tract 
nf level prairie land conveniently situated with- 
in a mile of the thriving village of Earlham. 
A native of Illinois, he was born in De Kalb 
county, on the 27th of August. 1860. his par- 
ents being William and Emily (Warren) Gib- 
bons. Both parents were born in the state of 
New York and at an early day removed to 
western Illinois, settling in Victor township, 
De Kalb county, where the father purchased 
land and began farming. He is still the owner 
of three hundred and twenty acres in that town- 
ship from which he derives an excellent income, 
it being now a very desirable and valuable farm. 
However, he is now living retired in the v\\- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



329 



lage of Waterman, having well merited the rest 
which he is today enjoying. Unto him and 
his wife have been born two sons and a daugh- 
ter: W. H. Gibbons, a resident of Steelville, 
Missouri; 0. S., of this review; and Rachel, the 
wife of Thomas Bruce, whose home is in Joliet, 
Illinois. 

0. S. Gibbons was reared in De Kalb county, 
remaining at home until twenty-one years of 
age, during which period he became familiar 
with all of the farm work from the time of 
earlj- spring planting to the time of harvest- 
ing in the late autumn. UjDon attaining his 
majority he entered the employ of Isaac Ell- 
wood, in De Kalb, with whom he remained for 
a year, but believing that he might have better 
opportunities west of the Mississippi he started 
for Iowa and e.stablished a home in Story coun- 
ty in 1888. There he purchased a farm of one 
hundred and si.xty acres for which he paid sev- 
enteen dollars per acre. His cash capital at 
that time amounted to only one hundi'ed and 
fifty dollars, but he gave this in pai'tial pay- 
ment on the place and then resolutely under- 
took the task of meeting the other payments. 
For a year he rented his farm while he 
worked out by the month in order to secure 
money with which to purchase a team. The 
struggle has been a difficult one but hits been 
courageously carried forward, and as the years 
liave passed Mr. Gibbons has gained that suc- 
cess which always crowns earnest, persistent 
and honorable efforts. 

In 1890 occurred the marriage of 0. S. Gib- 
bons and Miss Emily V. Willey, of De Kalb, 
Illinois, at which time they began their do- 
mestic life upon the farm in Story county, 
Iowa, which was their home until 1902. Mrs. 
Gibbons spent her girlhood days in De Kalb 
county, her parents being Morris and Mary 
(Bovee) Willey. Her father was born in the 
state of New York and her mother's birth oc- 
curred in Indiana. They became residents of 
De Kalb at an early day and unto them were 
born eleven children, five of whom are still 
living, as follows: Warren, who is now a resi- 
dent of De Kalb; Eliza, the wife of William 



Bi'ittain, who is living in Story county, Iowa; 
Mrs. Gibbons; Richai'd, also a resident of Story 
county; and Lily, whose home is in De Kalb, 
where she lives with her father. The wife and 
mother died in 1901 but the father is still liv- 
ing in De Kalb where he has long made his 
home and where he is very widely and favora- 
bly known. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons have 
been born three children of whom Willie and 
Ora P. are at home, Eva, the second child, 
has departed this life. 

Following his marriage Mr. Gibbons settled 
on his farm in Story county, Iowa, where he 
lived for twelve years. He then sold that prop- 
erty and bought land in Adams township, Dal- 
las county, becoming the owner of two hun- 
dred acres of land a mile north of Earlham 
and situated on section 30, Adams township. 
He removed to this place in 1902 and began its 
improvement, building a fine house and a large 
barn. The place is now known as the Garden 
Grove Stock Farm and Mr. Gibbons makes a 
.-[lecialty of raising full-blooded Hereford cat- 
tle. He has a fme herd of sixty head and al- 
ways has males on hand for sale. He owns 
some of the finest stock in the state and has 
gained a wide reputation in this connection. 
He is a most energetic business man, realizing 
fully the truth of the old Greek adage — "Earn 
thy reward: the gods give naught to sloth." He 
has worked persistently to win success and has 
made the Garden Grove Stock Farm one of 
the most profitable properties in this part of 
the state. He has been very successful in all 
of his land purchases and the farm which he 
bought in 1902 at a cost of fifty-two and a half 
dollars per acre is now worth one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars per acre. The soil is rich 
and the fields are productive, owing to the care 
and labor which he bestows on them, while his 
stock-raising interests constitute an important 
branch of his business. 

Mr. Gibbons votes with the republican [lar- 
ty. He has held the office of school director 
for several years but otherwise has never sought 
or~desired office. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Earl- 



330 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ham and are interested in the work for the 
moral progress and uplifting of the commu- 
nity. 



\V. SCOTT GUTHRIE. 

W. Scott Guthrie, living on section 15, Des 
Moines township, successfully carries on farm 
work upon a tract of land of one hundred and 
twenty acres which is his own property. The 
years which have come and gone since his ax- 
rival in the county number fifty-three, and 
great changes have occurred during this period, 
of which Mr. Guthrie has been an interested 
witness, while to a large ext-ent he has been 
an active participant in the work and events 
which have brought about the modern condi- 
tions of progress and pro.sperity here. He was 
born in Richland county, Ohio, July 22, 1850, 
his parents being Francis E. and Matilda 
(Stuart) Guthrie, the former a native of Ohio 
and the latter of New York. They were mar- 
ried, however, in ^Michigan, but afterward re- 
sided in Ohio until 1854, when they sought a 
home in Iowa, driving across the country with 
teams to Dallas county. Here Mr. Guthrie en- 
tered forty acres of land from the government, 
upon which not a furrow had been turned nor 
an improvement made. He also bought one 
hundred and sixty acres upon which he made 
his home and subsequently added twenty acres 
more. The first house which he built he occu- 
pied for four years and in 1860 he erected one 
of the first frame houses in Des Moines town- 
ship, building it from native lumber. As time 
passed, he continued the work of breaking the 
sod and bringing his fields under cultivation, 
carrying on his farm work with good success 
until his death, which occurred in 1872 when 
he was sixty-one years of age. His wife passed 
away in 1887 when seventy-two years of age. 
In their family were seven children, all of 
whom reached years of maturity, but the eldest 
son. AVesley, died at Keokuk, Iowa, while serv- 
ing in the army as a soldier in the Civil war. 



He was a member of Company B, Fifteenth 
Iowa Infantry. 

W. Scott Guthrie was the fifth in order of 
birth and was only about four years of age 
when brought by his parents to Iowa. He was 
here reared on the home farm and was educated 
at Ames College, being one of the first students 
of the institution. He remained there for 
three years and then, because of ill health, went 
to Colorado, where he spent three years in the 
lumber business, being greatly benefited by the 
change of climate. When his father was ac- 
cidentally killed in 1872 by the overturning of 
a log sled, Scott Guthrie returned home and 
took charge of his father's farm. He inherited 
forty acres of land, purchased a portion of the 
interest of the other heirs and has since bought 
an additional tract of forty acres. He is now 
the owner of one hundred and twentj' acres of 
good farming land on section 15, Des Moines 
township, and his farm in its fine appearance 
indicates his valuable supervision and practi- 
cal, progressive methods. He has also been 
closely associated with educational interests in 
his community. He has taught sixteen terms 
of school in Des Moines township and two 
terms in Beaver township. While attending 
Ames College he also taught school during a 
winter term' and later he has taught several 
years both during the winter and spring terms. 
He helped to set out the shade trees that now 
adorn the campus of Ames College and he has 
great affection for his alma mater. Since giv- 
ing his attention exclusively to farm work he 
has remodeled his residence, has built the barn 
and outhouses, has fenced the fields and tiled 
the land. Throughout his life he has been 
raising and fattening stock and this branch of 
his business proves to him a profitable source 
of income. 

On the 18th of March, 1878, Mr. Guthrie 
was united in marriage to Miss Lina Newell, a 
native of Des Moines township, and the daugh- 
ter of A. C. and Elizabeth (Robbins) Newell. 
Unto them have been born four children, three 
sons and one daughter: Harry, who was edu- 
cated at Ames College, and is now with Swift 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



331 



& ComjJiiny at Omaha, Nebraska, married a 
Miss Kathcrine Broderick and they have one 
thild. Mabel ; Clarence C, who attended busi- 
ness college at Des Moines, is now in North 
Dakota and has taken up a homestead claim; 
Hai'vey is a student in the Woodward schools; 
and Lottie i.? at home. 

Where national issues are involved Mr. Guth- 
rie has always given his support to the repub- 
lican party, casting his fii'st i^ residential ballot 
for U. S. Grant. He was township clerk for 
fifteen years and is now one of the township 
trustees. He has been identified with the school 
in various official capacities all his life and at 
the present writing is treasurer for the school 
district. Whatever tends to promote the intel- 
lectual, material, social or moral welfare of the 
community receives his endorsement and his 
efforts have been an effective force in promoting 
public progre.=s. For twenty years he has been 
a member of the jNIasonic lodge at AVoodward 
and has filled all of its offices, while he and his 
wife are members of the Eastern Star, in which 
she has served as an official. He belongs to 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Wood- 
ward and both he and his wife attend the 
Methodist Episcojjal church of which the lat- 
ter is a member. Mr. Guthrie is largely fa- 
miliar with the history of the county and has 
intimate knowledge of the events which have 
changed its annals and most of its policies. His 
worth and work entitle him to mention among 
the representative men of this part of the state, 
and it Ls therefore with pleasure that we pre- 
.sent his record to the readers of this vohuiie. 



SAM H. COOK. 



The record of Sam H. Cook is that of a man 
who has by his own unaided efforts worked his 
way upward to a position of affluence. His life 
has been one of industry and perseverance and 
the systematic and honorable business methods 
which he has followed have won him the re- 
spect and confidence of many. Without the 



aid of influence or wealth he has risen to a 
creditable position and his native genius and 
acquired ability are the stepping stones on 
which he mounted. He is now successfully 
engaged in merchandising at Van Meter as a 
dealer in general implements. 

A native of New York, Mr. Cook was born 
in Steuben county, mi the 2'2d of August, 1847, 
his parents being George B. and Sarah (Bon- 
ham) Cook. They were farming jjcople in the 
east and on removing to the Mississippi valley 
settled at Freeport, Illinois, in 1859, there re- 
maining for four years, or until 1863, when 
they removed to Warren, Illinois. There the 
father spent his remaining days, passing away 
in 1870, while his wife afterward removed to 
Janesville, Wisconsin, where her death oc- 
curred. The members of the family were: 
Regina H. ; Sherman M., who is now po-t- 
master of Booneville, Iowa; Sam H., of this 
review; and Hadden, deceased. 

Sam H. Cook was a lad of about twelve years 
when taken by his parents to Illinois. In 1871, 
when twenty-four yeai's of age, he returned to 
the county of his nativity, where he worked for 
his uncle for four years, but believing the west 
offered more advantageous opportunities he 
came to Dallas county, Iowa, where he has 
since lived. In 1876 he took up his abode in 
A'an Meter and began business here as a grain 
merchant. Later he added a stock of imple- 
ments and finally discontinued the grain trade 
altogether, devoting his entire attention to his 
mercantile interests. He was the original and 
is now the oldest implement dealer in the vil- 
lage. He carries a large stock of agricultural 
and other implements and is awarded a liber- 
al patronage, which he richly merits because of 
his earnest desire to please his patrons and his 
fair and honorable dealing. 

Mr. Cook was married in December, 1876, 
to Miss A. H. Hathaway, a resident of Steuben 
county. New York, and they now have three 
daughters. May, born May 15, 1868, is now 
a very successful teacher, having charge of a 
room in the seventh and eighth grades at Val- 
ley Junction, Iowa. Floy, born in September, 



332 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



1872, was graduated from the Van Meter high 
school, after which he pursued a special course 
in primary training at Highland Park, Des 
Moines, and is now a primary teacher in the 
schools of Storm Lake, Iowa. Beth, born No- 
vember 20, 1874, has taught in the district 
schools and ls now attending college at Simp- 
son, Iowa. All three daughters have thus been 
liberally educated and have successfully en- 
gaged in .teaching. 

Mr. Cook is a believer in republican princi- 
ples, having supported the party since he 
proudly cast his first presidential ballot for 
Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He was a member 
of the first village council of Van Meter upon 
the organization of the town and he has always 
been interested in the welfare and progress of 
the village, doing everything in his power for 
its advancement, not only through political 
lines but also in other ways as well. His wife 
and children are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Van Meter and Mr. Cook 
belongs to Coon Valley lodge, No. 257, I. 0. 
0. F., of Van Meter, in which he has passed all 
of the chairs. His actions have during his life 
been such as to distinctively entitle him to a 
place in this publication, and although his ca- 
reer has not been filled with thrilling incidents 
his life record illustrates the power of honesty 
and diligence in insuring success. 



THOMAS TAYLOR VAN CLEAVE. 

In a history of Dallas county it is imperative 
that mention be made of Thomas Taylor Van 
Cleave — else the record would be incomplete — 
for he is one of the honored pioneers of this 
part of the state, a veteran of the Civil war, a 
progressive agriculturist and a man whom to 
know is to respect and honor. He has now 
almost reached the seventy-eighth milestone on 
life's journey, his birth having occurred No- 
vember 11, 1829. He is a native of Mont- 
gomery county, Indiana, and a son of Benja- 
min and Matilda (Taylor) Van Cleave. The 



mother was born in Virginia and in her girl- 
hood days went with her parents to Kentucky 
where she gave her hand in marriage to Benja- 
min Van Cleave. Three children were born 
unto them during their residence in that state, 
after which they removed to Montgomery 
county, Indiana, then a frontier district, in 
which the father entered land from the govern- 
ment. All was wild and the work of develop- 
ment and improvement seemed scarcely begun 
there. The family shared in the hardships of 
life on the frontier and assisted in the reclama- 
tion of the county for the uses of the white race. 
In 1853 the father made a trip to Iowa and 
being pleased with the countrj- removed his 
family to Dallas county in 1854. He was not 
long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, 
his death occurring in 1855. The mother soon 
afterwai'd entered one hundred and sixty acres 
of government land in Adams township and 
thus provided a home for her family, having 
the assistance of her sons in the development 
of the property. She lived to the advanced age 
of eighty-three years, spending her last days 
among her children. The family numbered 
thirteen children, of whom six are yet living: 
Mary E., now the widow of Preston Van Cleave 
and a resident of Idaho: Ada A., the widow of 
Allen Moore, making her home in California; 
Thomas T. ; Samuel, of Adams township, this 
county; Solomon, who is li^dng in northern 
California; and Cornelivis of Polk county, Ne- 
braska. 

The Indiana farm on which his birth oc- 
curred was also Mr. Van Cleave's playground 
in youth and his training school for life's prac- 
tical duties. He was early taught the value of 
industrj' and diligence as he worked in the 
fields through the summer months. In the 
winter seasons he had the opportunity of at- 
tending the common schools. In the fall of 
1852 he came to Iowa, spending the succeeding 
winter in Wapello and Monroe counties, and 
in the spring of 1853 he came to Dallas county, 
casting in his lot with its earliest settlers, who 
were reclaiming this region for cultivation and 
transforming the once wild prairie into rich 




.Mi;. AND ^Ii;s. T. T. VAX CLKAVE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



3;:i5 



fiXi"ms. He located in Adams township and 
bought of Allen Moore one hundred and twenty 
acres of land, for which he gave a horse and a 
note on j\Ir. Moore's brother for sixty acres, 
while Mr. Moore, himself, owed Mr. Van Cleave 
one hundred dollars. The joint amount con- 
stituted the purchase price of the farm. Mr. 
Van Cleave also entered lots 5 and (J (eighty 
acres) the same year and from time to time he 
purchased additional tracts until he became 
the owner of three hundred and forty acres. 
Subsequently, however, he sold much of the 
land to his children, retaining eighty acres of 
the old home farm, which is still his place of 
residence. Here he has lived for fifty-four 
years. 

On the 17th of September, 1857, Mr. Van 
Cleave was united in marriage to Jliss Martha 
A. Fisher, the wedding ceremony being per- 
formed in Webster City by Judge Maxwell. 
The lady was at that time residing near Weh- 
ster City but was a native of Indiana, her par- 
ents having come to Iowa during the pioneer 
epoch in the history of this part of the state. 
As the years went by seven children were added 
to the Van Cleave household and five are yet 
living: Sylvester A., a resident farmer of 
Adams township; Anderson A., living in the 
same township; Adolphus B., who carries on 
farming in Adams township; Alva W., one of 
the proprietors of the Cedar Falls Daily 01ol)e, 
of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and Elmer A., living in 
Adams township. 

The only inten-uption of any length of time 
which Mr. Van Cleave has experienced in his 
farming operations was when he served his 
country as a soldier in the Civil war. In re- 
sponse to his countiy's need, he enlisted in 
August, 1862, as a member of Company C, 
Twenty-ninth Regiment of Iowa ^^olunteers, 
serving with that command for three years or 
until the close of the war and rendering valiant 
aid to the government in crushing out the re- 
bellion in the south. He has usually voted the 
democratic ticket and is in sympathy with the 
principles of the party, yet is liberal in his 
views. He belongs to the Baptist church, in 



which he has served as a deacon for nearly 
forty years, and his life has been guided by his 
Christian faith, making him a man honorable 
in all i-elations and true to a high standard of 
conduct. He is one of Iowa's well preserved 
and grand old pioneers to whom the state owes 
nuich for what he has done in promoting her 
material progress and in upbuilding and up- 
holding her intellectual, legal and moral status. 



F. S. DUNBAR. 



If "those who claim that fortune has favored 
certain individuals above others will but inves- 
tigate the cause of success and failure it will 
be found that the former is largely due to the 
improvement of opportunity — the latter to the 
neglect of it. Fortunate environments encom- 
pass nearly every man at some stage of his 
career, but the strong man and the successful 
man is he who realizes that the proper moment 
has come, that the present and not the future 
holds his opportunity. It is this quality in 
Mr. Dunbai- that has gained him an enviable 
position in the business world and made him 
widely known as a progressive farmer and as 
a breeder and dealer in pure blood Hereford 
cattle. He makes his home on section 12, Wal- 
nut township, where he owns and cultivates a 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres. 

He has been a resident of this county since 
1884, and is a native of the neighboring state 
of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Knox 
county, on the 31st of March, 1855. He was 
reared to manhood there, spending his youth 
upon a farm and to some extent attending the 
common schools, but has largely acquired his 
education since he attained man's estate. After 
reaching his majority he rented land and con- 
tinued to farm in Illinois until 1884, when he 
came to Iowa. Here again he rented land for six 
years but carefully husbanded his resources 
and on the expiration of that period wa. 
enabled to purchase eighty acres of land oi 
section 12, Walnut township. Taking up hi 



330 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



abode thereon he has since made it his home, 
farming and improving the property. He ad- 
ded to and remodeled the house, built a barn 
and divided the land into fields of convenient 
size by well kept fences. He has also drained 
it by the judicious use of tile, has set out an 
orchard and made a nice place. He has furth- 
er extended the boundaries of his farm by the 
additional purchase of an adjoining forty acres, 
so that his place now comprises one hundred 
and twenty acre?. The land is rich and arable 
and returns him excellent harvests. He began 
raising Herefords about 1893, since which time 
he has had sevenil sales of pure blooded stock 
and has become a well knowm breeder of and 
dealer in Hereford cattle. This branch of his 
business is proving profitable and he has gained 
an excellent reputation as a stock-raiser. He is 
also a stockholder in the Farmers' Telephone 
Company and for some years he has been in- 
terested in rai.*ing and breeding Belgium horses 
and is part owner in a fine imported male. 

On the 7th of April, 1880, in Knox county, 
Illinois, Mr. Dunbar was married to Miss Agnes 
Mitchell, who was born and reared in that 
county and wa- a daughter of James Mitchell. 
There are five children, three sons and two 
daughters: Burdette Stanley, who is married, 
follows farming and has one child, Earl E. ; Ar- 
chie R., at home; Fred Harrison, who is also 
under the parental roof; Abbie L., the wife of 
Charles Wright, a farmer of Walnut township, 
by whom she has one son, Fred T. : and Effie 
Belle, a student in the home school. 

Mr. Dunbar is a stalwart republican, who has 
given his allegiance to that party since attain- 
ing his majority. He has sen-ed as supervisor 
and as a member of the school board for a num- 
ber of j'ears, being now president. He and liis 
wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church 
at Waukee and Mr. Dunbar affiliates with the 
Odd Fellows lodge at Grimes. Both he and his 
wife are much esteemed because of many excel- 
lent traits of character. He is a strong man of 
excellent judgment, fair in his views and high- 
ly honorable in his relations with his fellow- 
men. His integrity stands as an unquestioned 



fact in his cai-eer. His life has been manly, 
his actions sincere, his manner unaffected and 
his example is well worthy of emulation. 



E. J. GOAR. 



The name of E. J. Goarls inseparably inter- 
woven with the history of Van Meter, with its 
growth, development and commercial enter- 
prise. Although he is now living retired in 
the enjoyment of a well merited rest he was for 
twenty-three years engaged in merchandising 
in the village and was also the founder of the 
first bank here. His efforts have ever been dis- 
cerningly directed along well defined lines of 
labor and in this connection we are reminded 
of the words of a prominent New York finan- 
cier, who said, "If you are not successful do not 
blame the time nor the circumstances, but place 
the blame where it lies — in yourself. If you 
would win success you must pay the price." 
And Mr. Goar has paid the price of close appli- 
cation, concentration and unremitting dili- 
gence. 

A native of Tipton county, Indiana, lie was 
born on the 20th of March, 1839, of the mar- 
riage of Joseph and Clarissa Goar, who were 
natives of West Virginia, the former born on 
the 8th of October, 1808, and the latter October 
22. 1813. They went to Indiana in 1838 and 
by their marriage sixteen children were born, 
including three paii^ of twins. They are as 
follows: Sarah A., James M., Martha J., Joseph 
J., E. J., L. v., Louisa, Nancy L., Benjamin F.. 
Lamanda J., Caroline, Emily M., William H.. 
Matt A., John C. and Clarissa. The father of 
this family died in California on the 11th of 
May, 1895, and the mother passed away on the 
22d of November, 1885, in Minnesota. Of 
their children James died in Indiana, Sarah 
died in Minnesota in 1901, and Benjamin died 
in Kansas City. Missouri, April 8, 1906. 

E. J. Goar was reared under the parental roof 
and in his youth worked in field and meadow, 
early becoming familiar with all of the duties 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



33^ 



and labors that fall to the lot of the agricultur- 
ist. His education wa^ acquired in the public 
schools and when he was not busy with his text- 
books he assisted in the work of the farm. He 
was married on the 23d of December, 1868, to 
Miss Emily Mott, who was born in Ohio, No- 
vember 30, 1838. Her parents were natives of 
the state of New York and removed to Ohio 
in the early '30s, spending their remaining 
days there. Mr. and Mrs. Goar have become 
the parents of three children but J. E. Goar is 
the only one now living. He was born Decem- 
ber 6, 1869, and lives in Des Moines, where he 
is cashier for the Warfield Pratt Company, a 
wholesale grocery house. He married Miss Jes- 
sie Fletcher, who w^as born in jMadison county, 
Iowa. The two other members of the family 
were twins, born March 19, 1875, but they died 
in infancy. 

It was in that year that Mr. Goar removed 
from Indiana with his family and took up his 
abode in Minnesota, where he lived for about 
a year. He then removed to Dallas county, 
Iowa, where he has since made his home, cover- 
ing a period of more than thirty years. For 
twenty-three years he engaged in merchandis- 
ing in the village of Van Meter, having a well 
appointed store and enjoying an extensive and 
growing trade. His business soon became a 
profitable invastment and for a long period he 
ranked with the leading merchants of the vil- 
lage. He also figured prominently in finan- 
cial circles here and was the organizer of the 
first bank of Van Meter. He displayed keen 
discernment combined with a recognition and 
utilization of opportunities that have brought 
him success, while his reputation for business 
integrity is unassailable, as his methods have 
ever been such as would bear close investiga- 
tion and scnitiny. 

In 1896 Mr. Goar made a trip to California 
for the benefit of his wife's health. She died, 
however, after their return to Van Meter, pass- 
ing away on the 20th of April, 1904. She was 
a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and a lady whose many good traits of 
heart and mind endeared her to those with 



whom she came in contact. Mr. Goar is also 
a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and is much interested in the moral 
progres.s of the community as well as in its 
intellectual and material development. In pol- 
itics he is a republican and for twelve years 
served as school director. He acquired only a 
common-school education himself, but reading 
and observation have made him a well in- 
formed man and he has always been a stalwart 
champion of the cause of education. He now 
owns six fine residences in the village of Van 
Meter and two in Des Moines. He has retired 
from active business life save for the super- 
vision of his invested interests, for he has ac- 
cumulated a handsome fortune. Faithfulness 
to duty and strict adherence tn a fixed puriKise 
in life will do more to advance a man's inter- 
ests than wealth or advantageous circumstances. 
The successful men of the day .are they who 
have planned their own advancement and have 
accomplished it in spite of many obstacles and 
with a certainty that could have been attained 
only through their own eff'orts. This class 
of men has a worthy representative in Mr. 
Goar, who is honored and respected in ever\' 
class of society and most of all in the commu- 
nity where he is best known. 



HENRY STEVER. 



A large percentage of the men who follow 
agricultural pursuits in Dallas county become 
possessed of a comfortable competence, for the 
land is rich and productive and responds 
readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it. 
If a man is diligent and persevering, therefore, 
he may win success. Mr. Stever is numbered 
among those who have prospered in their un- 
dertakings and though he was for many years 
connected with agricultural pursuits he is now 
living retired in Adel in the enjoyment of the 
fruits of his former toil. 

A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Stever was 
born about eighteen miles from Philadelphia, 



338 



PAST A:ND present of DALLAS COUNTY. 



on the 16th of April, 1828. His parents, 
Samuel A. and Sarah (Ash) Stever, were also 
natives of the Keystone state and, removing 
westward to Ilhnois, they settled on a farm in 
Bureau county in 1858. There they spent 
their remaining days, the father passing away 
at the age of seventy-eight years and the mother 
when seventy-six years of age. In their family 
were eight children but only two are now liv- 
ing, the daughter being a Mi-s. Simon of Colfax 
township, Dallas county, Iowa. 

Henry Stever was reared in the state of his 
nativity and for a few months each year pur- 
sued his studies in one of the old-time log 
schoolhouses of an early day. His educational 
privileges, however, were limited. In his youth 
he learned the ship-carpenter's trade which he 
followed in the west until 1858, when he ac- 
companied his parents to Illinois. Then he 
purchased a farm and lived in Bureau county 
until 1882, when he sold his property there 
and came to Dalla.s county, Iowa. His daugh- 
ter had married and lived here and while visit- 
ing her Mr. Stever invested in land in Colfax 
township and came to live in this county, as 
before stated, a quarter of a century ago. Tak- 
ing up his abode upon this farm, he engaged 
in general agricultural pursuits and became the 
owner of four hundred and forty acres of rich 
and productive land. He still owns two hun- 
dred acres in Colfax township although he re- 
tired from business life eleven years ago and 
has since lived in the city of Adel, where he 
has a comfortable home. 

The year 1850 witnessed the marriage of 
Henry Stever and Miss Marietta Leibencuts, 
who was born in Pennsylvania, March 17, 1832, 
a daughter of Abram and Sarah (Koontz) Lei- 
bencuts, also natives of Pennsylvania, where 
they lived upon a farm until called from this 
life. Mr. and Mrs. Stever have become the 
parents of seven children : Sarah Louise, wife 
of George Britton, a resident of Oklahoma, by 
whom she has thirteen children ; Katie ^\nn, 
wife of 0. G. Davis, of Dallas Center, Iowa; 
Marietta, wife of Thomas Hay, of Cripple 
Creek, Colorado; Henrv^ H., of Lowerville, 



Iowa; Nathaniel, who died at the age of twenty- 
seven yeai's; Ellen, wife of John Dawson, of 
Colfax township; and Manida, wife of James 
Kennedy, of Colfax township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stever are members of the 
Presbyterian church, with which they have 
been identified since 1846. He has followed 
in the political footsteps of his ancestry and 
gives his support to the democracy. He has 
served as justice of the peace for eight years 
;xnd has been a school director, but has not been 
a politician in the sense of ofRce-seeking though 
he has ever kept well informed on the questions 
and issues of the day. Both he and his' wife 
are now enjoying good health though Mr. 
Stever has passed the seventy-ninth milestone 
on life's journey. A venerable man, he re- 
ceives the respect which should ever be accorded 
to one of advanced years whose life has been 
active and honorable, as his has been. 



H. E. CLARK. 



The unostentatious routine of private life is 
not always given the prominence it deserves 
and we are glad to record the life of H. E. 
Clark, who is distinguished among his friends 
for his success in private life and enjoys the 
respect and confidence of all of them. He was 
born in Montgomery county, Indiana, May 6, 
1862, being the son of A. C. and Nancy Clark, 
both natives of Indiana. His father was born 
October 16, 1839, and his mother August 3, 
1842. It was in the year 1864 that they came 
to Dallas county, Iowa, where they located in 
Washington township. Here they remained 
until 1902, when they removed to Kansas, 
where they are still living. They were the pa- 
rents of fourteen children, nine of whom sur- 
vive: AV. H.. of Des Moines, Iowa; H. E. ; 
C. A., who is married and lives in this county; 
Ida, living in Kansas ; Hattie and Clarence H., 
both of Des Moines; Claud, Addie Pearl and 
Belva E., all residents of Kansas. 



pi 




PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



341 



H. E. Clark enjoyed the advantages of the 
common schools but it was in the practical 
school of life that he attained his most valu- 
able education. Mr. Clark worked at home 
until twenty-five years of age, at which time he 
was married and then for one year lived on his 
father-in-law's farm. In 1888 he purchased 
si.xty-f our acres where he now lives. At . that 
time there was a frame house sixteen by twenty- 
two on the place. He has added to his original 
purchase until he now owns two hundred and 
thirty-five acres. 

In 1904 he erected a fine country residence. 
The house is modern, with bath, having both 
hot and cold water in the lavatory. He has 
two good barns and numerou.s outbuildings. 

Beginning at the bottom of the ladder he 
has, by industry and frugality, gradually estab- 
lished him.self as a leading agriculturist and 
now owns two hundred and thirty-five acres of 
land on section 38, Washington township. Here 
he is making a specialty of raising thorough- 
bred stock and poultry and his farm is known 
as the White Plume Poultry Yards and Farm. 

Mr. Clark was married, July 3, 1887, to 
Clara Mills, who was born January 2, 1867. 
She was a daughter of Jeremiah and Nancy 
(Etcbison) Mills, both natives of South Caro- 
lina. Mr. Mills was born in 1822 and his wife 
in 1824. The former died October 21, 1895, 
and the latter is living on the old homestead. 
Their first home was in Indiana, where they 
lived until 1856, removing at that time to Dal- 
las county, Iowa. To this union were born six 
children, of whom four survive: Mahala A., 
born in Indiana and now living in Washing- 
ton township, Dallas county, the wife of H. H. 
West; J. F., who makes his home at the same 
place; Mary E., wife of W. M. Bever of Wash- 
ington township; and the wife of our subject. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born six 
children : Bertha, deceased ; Earl Clifford, born 
July 22, 1889; Ivol Willis, born May 13, 1891; 
Estlier Pearl, born August 30, 1892; Everett 
Alson, born January 15, 1895; and Dean Al- 
bert, born October 7, 1897. It is to tbo men 
and measures of the democratic party that Mr. 



Clark has always given his support. He has 
filled many offices efficiently, having served in 
most of the township positions. He is at pres- 
ent assessor. The cause of education has al- 
ways found in him a warm supporter and he 
has served his community as school director 
for three successive terms. He and his wife 
are members of the Christian church, to which 
they have always given a liberal support. They 
are people who have distinguished themselves 
by the j^ossession of qualities of characte- which 
have won them a large circle of friends. 



JOHN BADGER. 



John Badger is a worthy representative of 
the farming interests of Colfax township, his 
home being situated on section 4, where he has 
a good farm under a high state of cultivation 
and improvement. He was born in Union 
county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1843, his 
parents being Robert and Annie (Shiverly) 
Badger. 

The father was born January 22, 1819, in 
the Keystone state and in early life learned and 
followed the carpenter's trade. He continued 
his residence in the east until 1858, when he 
determined to try his fortune in the middle 
west and made his way to Stephenson county, 
Illinois. He was then a poor man and in fact 
was in debt, but he possessed a resolute, deter- 
mined spirit, made good use of his opportuni- 
ties and brooked no obstacles that could be 
overcome by determined and honest purpose. 
He was successful in the west and returning to 
Peimsylvania he again took up his abode there, 
paid off all his debts and lived in that state until 
February, 1870, when he came to Dallas 
county, Iowa. 

Here Robert Badger purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres of rich and productive land 
near Panther. It was at that time unimproved 
save that there was a small house and a prairie 
stable upon the place, but with characteristic 
energy he began the development of the fields 



342 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and as the yeai's passed carried on the work of 
progress until he made his farm a valuable and 
productive property. He continued to engage 
in its management and improvement until 
1884, when he retired from the active work of 
the farm to spend his remaining days in well 
earned rest. He passed his last years in the 
home of his son Samuel. He was a member 
of the German Baptist church for many years 
and acted as one of its ministers from 1856 
until called to his final rest a half century later. 
He died February 24, 1906, leaving to his 
family the priceless heritage of an untarnished 
name. He was ever honorable and upright, 
highly respected by all who knew him, and his 
word was as good as a government bond. 

His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, 
July 19, 1819, passed away on the 13t.h of 
November, 1894, and her death, too, was deeply 
regretted by many who knew her. In the 
family of this worthy couple were thirteen 
children, of whom five died in infancy, while 
Mrs. Susan Bowers, one of the daughters, died 
at the age of forty-nine years at her home in 
Kansas. The other members of the family are : 
.John, of this review; Samuel, who is living in 
Colfax township, where he follows farming; 
Mrs. Kate Armagost, a widow living in Colfax 
township ; Mrs. Mary Bever, of the same town- 
ship; C. M. and D. W.. who are resident farm- 
ers of Colfax township: and ^Irs. Elizabeth 
Myers, of the same township. 

John Badger spent the first fifteen years of 
his life in the state of his nativity and went 
with his parents to Illinois in 1858. His edu- 
cational privileges were extremely limited be- 
cause of his ill health. He lived in Illinois 
from 1858 until 1870, when he came to Iowa 
and bought forty acres of wild land, which he 
at once began to develop and improve. He 
carried on that farm for two years and then 
sold the property, after which he bought eighty 
acres on section 4, Colfax township. Here he 
has since lived. In his life his progress has 
been impeded by conditions which would ut- 
terly have discouraged and disheartened many 
a man of less resolute purpose. He has suffered 



greatly from ill health and has had much sick- 
ness in his family, but he possesses an optimis- 
tic nature, being inclined to always look on the 
bright side, and his commendable courage and 
resolution have enabled him to accomplish 
much more than many others would have done 
in similar circumstances. He certainly dcsei-ves 
much credit and he receives the respect and 
good-will of all with whom he has come in 
contact. 

On the 27th of November, 1870, ^Ir. Badger 
was united in mai'riage to Miss Elizabeth Fry, 
who was bom in Stephenson county, Illinois, 
September 20, 1851. She is a daughter of 
Daniel Fry, who was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania. The mother was a native of Ohio 
and died when Mrs. Badger was but six 
weeks old. In the family were nine children 
but only two are now living, the elder being 
Loidia, who married Henry Feringer and lives 
in Lena, Illinois. In early life Mr. Fry re- 
moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he 
was married, afterward taking his family to 
Illinois, his home being in Stephenson county. 
He was a farmer by occupation and was quite 
successful in all that he undertook, carefully 
conducting the work of the fields until he had 
gained a goodly competence from his labors. 
He was also a minister of the German Baptist 
church for many years, devoting his life with 
zeal and untiring interest to the cause of 
Christianity, and at the age of seventy-one 
yeai-s he went to Denmark as a missionary to 
proclaim the teachings of the gospel according 
to the interpretation of his denomination, re- 
maining in that country for a year. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Badger have been born 
two children : Mrs. Susan E. Hull, now of 
South Dakota; and Annie R., who is at home 
with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Badger have 
been lifelong members of the German Baptist 
church and are earnest, consistent Christian 
people, much esteemed for their many good 
qualities. Mr. Badger has ever displayed much 
faith in human nature, preferring to see the 
good rather than the bad in friends and neigh- 
bors, and his tnist has inspired those with 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



343 



whom he has come in contact to display their 
best traits of character! It is a well known 
fact that a belief in others awakens a desire for 
good in the individual and in this way he has 
done much to inculcate habits of right living 
among those with whom he has been associated. 



M. H. THATCHER. 



M. H. Thatcher is well known in public life 
in Dallas county, where he carries on farming 
and is also connected with banking interests. 
He resides on section 14, Walnut township, 
and has been so closely associated with the de- 
velopment and upbuilding of this section of 
the state as to render it imperative that men- 
tion be made of him in this volume. On com- 
ing to Iowa in 1864 he settled in Marshall 
county but since 1867 ha? lived in Dallas 
county. 

Mr. Thatcher is a native of Ohio, his birth 
having occurred in Clinton county, on the 2d 
of April, 1838. He was reared to manhood in 
the Buckeye state and in early life worked in 
a mill, on a farm and in a store. He obtained 
a practical education through public instruc- 
tion and in the school of experience, and he 
also had the benefit of intellectual training for 
a time in Lebanon (Ohio) Normal school. He 
engaged in teaching for one or two terms but 
during much of his life has carried on general 
farming. 

When a young man he came to Iowa and 
spent two or three years on a farm in Marshall 
county, while later he accepted a position as 
salesman for a wholesale company in Nevada, 
Iowa. He was also employed in a similar 
capacity in Newton, Iowa, and afterward car- 
ried on a mercantile business on his own ac- 
count. When he sold that he gave his atten- 
tion to the grain trade for about six months 
and then again disposed of his business, while 
in the fall of 1867 he came to Dallas county 
and purchased land on section 14, Walnut 
township. In his farming operations he has 



been active and energetic, his labors proving 
a resultant element in the very gratifying suc- 
cess which has come to him. He broke the 
sod, planted the seed and in course of time 
gathered good harvests. He has also fenced 
the fields, put up good buildings and made the 
farm a valuable property. Since making Ids 
first purchase he has bought and owned several 
farms and, moreover, has been connected with 
numerous public enterprises. He is a man of 
resourceful business ability, who looks beyond 
the exigencies of the moment to the possibili- 
ties of the future and utilizes the means at 
hand toward the furtherance of his success. 
Moreover, in all his business dealings he is 
thoroughly reliable and honorable. He is one 
of the stockholders and directors of the Grimes 
Bank and is president and practically the 
owner of the Luther Bank in Boone county. 
He was one of the promoters of the Farmers 
Mutual Insurance Company and is also con- 
nected with the Agricultural Society. 

Aside from his business interests, which have 
contributed to the substantial upbuilding of the 
community, Mr. Thatcher has done much to 
further public progress. He was instrumental 
in securing the passage of the bill to make 
ever}' fourth section a school district, and this 
was followed by the establishment of the schools 
according to the law adopted. He is today the 
only man who was residing in "\^'alnut township 
forty years ago. He served as township clerk 
in 1867, and while he has always been espe- 
cially interested in the welfare and upbuilding 
of the county he has never sought or desired 
office, being content to do his public service as 
a private citizen. 

Mr. Thatcher was married in Fayette county, 
Ohio, September 11, 1862, to Miss Catherine 
Crispin, who was born and reared in Ohio. 
They have seven children, two sons and five 
daughters: Silas J., who is upon the home 
farm; Orville M., cashier of the Luther Bank; 
Fannie, the wife of Thomas Thatcher, a stock- 
man of Wilsey, Morris county, Kansas ; Hattie, 
the wife of 0. M. Coats, an electrician of Des 
Moines, Iowa ; Virginia, the wife of A. B. Coats, 



344 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



engaged in the real-estate business in Des 
Moines; Martha, who is engaged in the mil- 
linery and dressmaking business; and Cather- 
ine, the wife of Obi Price, a farmer of Walnut 
township. 

Mr. Thatcher has always voted with the re- 
publican party since casting his ballot for Abra- 
ham Lincoln. He took an active part in the 
Fremont campaign and was captain of a cam- 
paign companj'. He and his wife are members 
of the Society of Friends or Quakers. He is 
a worth}' representative of that class of citizens 
who lead quiet, industrious, honest and useful 
lives and constitute the best portion of a com- 
munitv. 



JOHN B. WHITE. 



John B. White, who since 1874 has engaged 
in the practice of law at Adel, occupying a fore- 
most place at the bar throughout the third of a 
century which has elapsed since he located 
here, was born in Taylor county, Kentucky, 
January 14, 1849. His parents were Rev. Field- 
ing and Sarah Elizabeth (Cooley) White. The 
father was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, 
near Harpers Ferry, and that the family is an 
old one in America is indicated by the fact that 
the grandfather was a soldier of the Revolu- 
tion. 

John B. AVhite spent the first five years of his 
life in the state of his nativity and in the fall 
of 1854 was brought to Iowa by his parents, 
who settled first in Keokuk county, near Fre- 
mont, whence they removed to Mahaska county, 
Iowa, in 1856. In 1859 they became residents 
of Poweshiek county, in 1861 went to Warren 
county and in 1864 to Marion county. Mr. 
White of this review accompanied his parents 
on their various removals and on the 13th of 
January, 1873, he came to Dallas county, where 
he has since lived. He was provided with liber- 
al educational privileges, and after completing 
hie preliminary studies he entered Oskaloosa 
College at Oskaloosa, Iowa, from which he was 



graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts 
in June, 1871. Later he received the Master 
of Arts degree from the same college and in 
1904 the honorary degree of Doctor of Law 
was conferred upon him by Drake University 
at Des Moines, Iowa. 

After coming to Dallas county he began 
teaching, sen-ing as principal of the high school 
of Adel from the 14th of January, 1873, until 
June, 1874. In the meantime he had taken up 
the study of law, had largely mastered the prin- 
ciples of jurisprudence and was admitted to the 
bar. After completing the school work in June, 
1874, he entered upon practice in Adel and 
since January, 1882, has been a partner of G. 
W. Clark, this constituting one of the strongest 
law firms of the county. In the trial of cases 
he is strong in argument and logical in his de- 
ductions. He prepares his cases with great 
thoroughness and care and is seldom, if ever, 
at fault in the application of a legal principle. 
Almost from the beginning he has enjoyed a 
goodly measure of success and for years his 
clientage has been of a distinctively representa- 
tive character. 

In June, 1874, Mr. White was married to 
Miss Maiy Greene, of Adel, Iowa, a daughter 
of Benjamin Greene, one of the pioneer settlers 
of Dallas county. They have two adopted 
daughters, Gertrude and Lottie, aged respective- 
ly twenty-four and sixteen years. Gertrude is 
now the wife of Julius F. Bacon, an attorney 
of Billings, Montana. 

In politics Mr. White is a republican, with 
strong liberal tendencies. He has held no of- 
fice except that of member of the school board, 
in which capacity he has served for a quarter of 
a century, while for twenty years he has been 
president of the board. The cause of education 
has indeed found in him a warm and stalwart 
friend and under his guidance the standard of 
the schools has been raised. Mr. White belongs 
to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and was 
grand tribune of the lodge for ten years. He 
is a member of the Disciples of Christ and for 
thirty-one years was superintendent of the Sun- 
day school at Adel but retired from that posi- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF . DALLAS COUNTY. 



345 



tion in December, 1904, owing to ill health, 
which obliged him to seek rest in southern 
Florida and Cuba. He has, however, always 
been deeply interested in church work and his 
influence has ever been on the side of right, 
justice and truth. 

His life has been rather that of a student and 
professional man than of a business man, al- 
though various business interests have profited 
by his co-operation and his counsel. He is a di- 
rector in the Van Meter State Bank, president 
of the News Publishing Company and president 
of the Adel Abstract Loan and Land Company. 
He is also a park commissioner of Adel and 
every interest calculated to benefit the city re- 
ceives his endorsement. He traveled quite ex- 
tensively in Europe in 1896, visiting Ireland, 
Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, Ger- 
many and Belgium. He has decided taste for 
the study of languages and in addition to 
courses in Latin and Greek in college he has 
.since studied French and Spanish. He is widely 
recognized as a man of scholarly attainments 
and literary tastes and his strong intellectual 
development has been an element in his pro- 
fessional success and his widely felt influence 
in his adopted county. 



WILLLm H. GEORGE. 

William H. George, inventor and manu- 
facturer and one of the leading business men 
of this section of Iowa, was born in Muscatine 
county, this state, June 24, 1862, a .son of Clark 
and Martha J. (Morrison) George. The father 
was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, July 10, 
1823, and was there reared to agricultural pur- 
suits. He came to Iowa in 1851, entering one 
hundred and sixty acres of government land, 
on which he built a comfortable frame house. 
Here he resided until about 1887, when he 
came to Dexter, Dallas county, having acquired 
a competence that enabled him to live retired 
until the time of his demise on November 8, 
1904. He was a stanch republican and an active 



member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
which he had joined in his boyhood days. He 
was esteemed as a man of genuine personal 
worth and one whose co-operation could always 
be counted upon in advancing the moral, intel- 
lectual and material development of the county. 
Mrs. George was born in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1835, her father being a prominent 
grocery merchant of that city. He later came 
west to Muscatine, Iowa, being here also iden- 
tified with the grocery business. His daughter, 
.Mrs. George, is still living and now resides with 
our .subject. Mr. George of this review has only 
two brothers — the Rev. Albert George of Jami- 
son, Iowa, who is connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal ministry ; and W. P. George, residing, 
in Omaha, Nebraska. 

William H. George was reai'ed on the home 
farm, acquiring his education in the public 
schools of Muscatine county, Iowa. When he 
had reached his majority he began his business 
career as an agriculturist, being identified with 
this pursuit for seven years. During this lime, 
however, he had been at work on the invention 
of a threshing machine tooth and had secured 
patents for the same. In 1890 he obtained em- 
ployment as a traveling salesman for the firm 
of Gaar, Scott & Company, manufacturers of 
threshing machines, remaining in their employ 
for two years. During these two yeare he had 
begun the manufacture of his thresher tooth 
and the business soon attained such volume that 
it demanded his entire attention. He therefore 
resigned his position with Gaar, Scott & Com- 
pany and a year later sold a half interest in 
his patent and organized a company in Dex- 
ter which was known as The Excelsior Thresher 
Tooth Company. It was organized on August 
27, 1892, and capitalized for thirty thousand 
dollars. In 1903 a modern factory building 
was erected in Dexter to facilitate the growing 
business, the output of the plant including au- 
(omatic engine couplers, adjustable belt guards, 
cylinder wrenches and harrow carts, in connec- 
tion with the thresher tooth. All of these in- 
ventions are the product of Mr. George's fertile 
brain, combined with his mechanical skill and 



346 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ingenuity. On February 25, 1907, the factory 
was destroyed by fire, but preparations are now 
well under way for the rebuilding of the plant 
on a greatly enlarged scale. A few months 
ago a new department was added to the enter- 
prise in the manufacture of washing machines, 
and this has already grown so rapidly that it 
will also require increased facilities. Mr. 
George is widely recognized as one of the lead- 
ing business men of this section of the state, 
the volume and importance of his business 
bringing to him a gratifying measure of pros- 
perity. He is also the owner of a tract of farm 
land in the southeastern part of North Dakota. 

On October 18, 1883, William H. George 
was married to Miss Olive M. Nolte, a daughter 
of Herman Nolte of ^Muscatine county, Iowa, 
who came here from Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. 
George were the parents of four children : Lilly, 
who is attending Simpson College at Indianola, 
Iowa; Grace, a graduate of the high school, 
who expects to enter college in the fall of 1907 ; 
Verna, deceased ; and Clark. The children are 
all yet at home and add to the spirit of good 
cheer as well as to the air of culture and re- 
finement which pervades the household. 

In his political affiliations Mr. George is a re- 
publican, gives his support to the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and fraternally is connected 
with Dexter camp, No. 1632, M. W. A. Few 
men are more prominent or more widely known 
in the enterprising city of Dexter than Mr. 
George. He has been an important factor in 
business circles and his prosperity is well de- 
served, as in him "are embraced the characteris- 
tics of an unbending integrity, unabating en- 
ergy and industry that never flags. 



J. L. PLATT. 



J. L. Piatt, deceased, was a native of An- 
gelica, New York, born in 1826, and descended 
from English ancestry. In early manhood he 
engaged in merchandising in Pike county. New 
York. He had very limited capital but grad- 



ually worked his way upward and met with 
prosperity. Afterward he established and con- 
ducted a foundry in the state of New York. 
In 1854 he went to Chicago, where he engaged 
in the dry goods business and was very success- 
ful at that place. In 1858 he removed to Ke- 
wanee, Illinois, where he established what is 
now known as the Western Tube Company and 
a branch of the original company, the Kewanee 
Boiler Company, also the Kewanee Bank. He 
was a man of excellent business capacity, sound 
judgment and rare adaptability. His vision 
was never bounded by the exigencies of the 
moment for he recognized all the opportunities 
and possibilities of the future. While conduct- 
ing industrial and financial interests in Ke- 
wanee he also became connected with the opera- 
tion of coal mines at that place as well as at 
Fort Dodge and "\^an Meter, Iowa, the Fort 
Dodge mines alone employing four hundred 
men. In 1887 he went to the present site of 
the city of Red Lodge, Montana, and becaine 
the founder of that town. He developed the 
coal mines of that place until the output was 
about one thousand tons per day, after which 
he sold to the Northern Pacific Railroad. 
While developing the mining industries of Red 
Lodge he built forty-seven miles of railroad 
across the Crow reservation.' When he had dis- 
posed of his interests in the northwest he gave 
his entire attention to the management of the 
brick and tile works and mining interests at 
A'an Meter. The mines were closed down in 
1903 and have not been put in operation since. 
The tile plant at present has a floor space of 
eleven thousand two hundred and twenty 
square feet. There are several kilns with a 
daily capacity of sixty-five tons of clay ware. 

In early manhood Mr. Piatt was married to 
Frances Barker, a resident of Fredonia, New 
York. She was born in 1826, was liberally 
educated and is now living in Des Moines. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Piatt were born six chil- 
dren : Sarah, deceased ; Hessie, wife of F. A. 
White, a brick manufacturer of Mai'seilles, Mis- 
souri ; Francis and Flora, both deceased : .James 
L. and Chauncy B., who are associated in the 




.1. L. I'l.ATT 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



349 



management of the tile works at Van Meter 
and in the supervision of the Piatt estate. 

Mr. Piatt was indeed a prominent and enter- 
prising business man. To him there came the 
attaiiiment of a distinguished position in con- 
nection with the great material industries of 
three cities and his efforts were so discerninglj' 
directed along well defined lines that he seemed 
to have realized at any one point of progress the 
full measure of his possibilities for accomplish- 
ment at that point. A man of distinctive and 
foiTeful individuality, of broad mentality and 
most mature judgment, he left his impress 
upon the industrial world. For years he was 
an important factor in business circles and 
aided largely in the promotion of enteiprises 
which added not alone to his individual pros- 
perity but also advanced the general welfare 
in the localities in which his business interests 
were conducted. He died February 1, 1893, 
having accumulated through his intense and 
well directed efforts an estate estimuted at three 
hundred thousand dollars. 



C. B. PLATT. 



C. B. Piatt, one of the prominent citizens 
of Van Meter, Dallas county, displaying excel- 
lent executive force and keen discrimination 
in his supervision of important industrial in- 
terests, was born January 26, 1864, at Kewanee, 
Illinois, a son of J. L. Piatt. He took the civil 
engineering course at Iowa State University in 
the class of 1886. After completing his educa- 
tion he was associated with his father in busi- 
ness until the latter's death, since which time 
ho has aided in the management of the estate, 
which includes the tile works at Yan Meter. 
He readily solves intricate business problems 
mth an ease and facility that show a thorough 
understanding of all the elements that go to 
make up business success and of all the details 
and principles of immediate interests under his 
care. 



On Christmas day of 1894, Mr. Piatt was 
married to Miss Mary C. Stevens, of Kewanee, 
Illinois, and unto them has been born a son, 
Allen S., born May 26, 1896. In his poUtical 
views Mr. Piatt is an independent republican. 
He has served on the town board and has been 
president of the school board for two terms. 
His religious faith is that of the Christian 
Science church, while his wife is a member of 
the Congregational church. Socially he is con- 
nected with the Masonic lodge of Van Meter, 
of which he is now treasurer and both he and 
his wife are members of the Eastern Star lodge. 



FRANKLIN D. CHANEY. 

Franklin D. Chaney, a thrifty and enterpris- 
ing farmer living on section 12, Colfax town- 
ship, dates his residence in Dallas county from 
1857, so that he is numbered among its pioneer 
settlers who for a half century has lived within 
its borders and has been not only an interested 
witness but also a co-operant factor in many 
changes which have here occurred. He was 
only five years of age at the time of his arrival 
here, his birthplace being Highland county, 
Ohio, and his natal day the 19th of September, 
1852. 

His parents were Lewis and Sarah E. (Ham- 
ilton) Chaney. The father was born in Ohio, 
September 29, 1820, and the mother's birth oc- 
curred in Virginia, August 10, 1815. Both 
have now passed away but for many years they 
were worthy and valued residents of Dallas 
county, having come to Iowa from Ohio in 
1857, at which time they took up their abode in 
^Vdel township, where Mr. Chaney purchased 
one hundred and twenty acres of land. This 
was entirely unimproved save that a small log 
house had been built upon it. The family had 
few neighbors and the city of Adel was then a 
mere village, containing only a few dwellings. 
There was no railroad nearer than Des IMoines 
and the close-st mill was at Oskaloosa, where 



350 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



they had to haul their grain to be ground, thus 
securing their breadstuffs. The roads were "riv- 
ers of mud," as some one expressed it, but 
though in the springtime after the rains these 
highways were almost impassable the settlers 
soon learned that the land was very rich and 
productive and would respond readily to the 
care and labor bestowed upon it, bringing forth 
rich crops. The family suffered all the hard- 
ships and trials incident to pioneer life, when 
the homes were log cabins, when the heating 
apparatus was a fireplace and when the farm 
machinery was very crude as compared to the 
modern implements of the present day. 

Upon the old homestead farm here Mr. 
Chaney and his wife reared their family, num- 
bering eleven children. Six of the number, 
however, died in infancy. The others were: 
Isaac, who is a resident of this county : Mrs. 
Lizzie White, who is a soldier's widow and livas 
in Oklahoma; Franklin D., of this review; Mrs. 
Martha E. Shai-p, who died at the age of forty 
years; and Charles W., who died when sixty 
years of age. The death of the father occurred 
on the 19th of .January, 1894, while his wife 
survived for about two years and a half, passing 
away on the 16th of August. 1896. at the age 
of eighty-one yeai-s. 

Franklin D. Chaney, coming to Dallas coun- 
ty with his parents when but five years of age, 
received but very limited educational privi- 
leges, for there was no schoolhouse in the town- 
ship until he was fourteen years of age. He 
has by experience and obser\'ation, however, 
gained a good practical business education. He 
remained with his parents through the period 
of his youth, early taking his place behind the 
plow, and after he had attained his majority 
he began working his father's land. He lived 
with his parents and when his father became 
too old to woi-k Mr. Chaney of this review had 
the entire management of the property. He 
also cared for his father and mother during 
their last days and for five years prior to her 
death Mrs. Chaney was a lulpless invalid. Fol- 
lowing her demise Franklin D. Chaney pur- 
chased the interest of the other heirs in the old 



homestead and he now owns one hundred and 
twenty acres of fine farming land, together 
with twenty acres of timber land in Adel town- 
ship. His farm is richly cultivated and is 
equipped with all modern improvements and 
accessories, including the latest machinery to 
facilitate the work of the fields. 

Mr. Chaney was married on the 13th of De- 
cember. 1874, to Miss Delana A. Collins, whose 
birth occurred in Adel township, Dallas coun- 
ty. Sept-ember 8, 1855. She spent her girlhood 
days here and the marriage was celebrated in 
one of the old time log cabins of pioneer days. 
Her father, Adam Collins, was born in South 
Carolina, August 2, 1812, and died January 18, 
1882, while his wife, who was born June 17, 
1822, in Tennessee, passed away in 1892. They 
became residents of Iowa in 1854, settling in 
Adel township. Dallas county, on forty acres 
of wild land, a part of which was covered with 
timber. There were no improvements of any 
kind on the place and they had only one hoi-se. 
It meant much arduous labor to cultivate and 
develop this property but Mr. Collins resolutely 
undertook the task and as the years passed by 
the result of his labors was seen in rich fields 
bearing good crops. He aided, too, in the gen- 
eral development and progress of the county 
and is numbered among the pioneei-s whose 
worth was ^\•idely recognized. In his family 
were fourteen children, of whom five died in 
infancy, while nine reached years of maturity. 
Those still living ai'e : Mrs. Chaney ; Mrs. Mary 
A. Disl>ro. of Perry. Iowa; Mi's. Serena C. Noo- 
lun. who is living in Perry, Iowa; Joseph Col- 
lins and Mrs. Josephine Curry, who are twins 
and are residents of Perry; and Mrs. Rebecca 
M. Lee, of Clinton, Iowa. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Chaney has been 
ble.ssed with two daughters and two sons and 
the family circle yet remains unbroken by the 
hand of death. These are : Mrs. Amy A. Hai-- 
rison, who is living in Washington township 
and has two children, Florence A. and Elsie 
M. ; Mrs. Alvie E. Corneleson. a resident of 
Adel : and Kenneth B. and Harvey E., at 
home. 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



351 



Mr. and Mrs. Chaney have a wide acquaint- 
ance in the county and a host of warm friends. 
His political views are in accord with the prin- 
ciples of democracy but he has never sought or 
desired public office. He is a business man, 
active and energetic, who throughout his entire 
life has been connected with agricultiu'al pur- 
suits and who in his boyhood aided in develop- 
ing the farm which is now his home. A half 
century has come and gone since he was 
brought to the county. The railroads had not 
been built, few roads had Ijeen made, the 
streams were largely unbridged and the prai- 
ries uncultivated. Many of the homes were log 
cabins and there were various evidences of 
frontier life. Mr. Chaney has not only been a 
witness of the changes which time and man 
have wrought but has borne his part in the 
work of upbuilding as a pi'ogressive and public- 
spirited citizen. 



WILLLVM P. ttCOTT. 

William P. Scott is a self-made man who 
without any special family or pecuniary ad- 
vantages has gained a creditable place in the 
business world as one whose success has been 
honorably achieved and whose possessions are 
the visible evidence of a life of thrift and in- 
dustry. He lives in Dallas Center and for 
many years has made his home in Dallas coun- 
ty, where for a long period he has been classed 
with the progressive farmers of Sugar Grove 
township. He yet owns two farms, one of one 
hundred and ten acres and the old home place 
of eighty acres, the latter being pleasantly situ- 
ated within two miles of Dallas Center. For 
almost forty years he has made his home in 
this locality and is therefore well known to the 
citizens of Dallas county, with the history of 
which he has been closely identified, especially 
in its agricultural progress. 

Mr. Scott is a native of Scotland and pos- 
sesses many of the sterling characteristics of 
the people who claim nativity in the land of the 



hills and heather. He was born on the first 
of January, 1830, and is a son of Samuel and 
^lary (Philips) Scott, who were also natives 
of that country. The father devoted his atten- 
tion to farming in his native country. Four- 
teen children were born unto them there and 
one, died in the old world. In the year 1853 
the pai'ents crossed the Atlantic to the United 
States and joined their son William in the 
state of New York. One son, Samuel Scott, 
the eldest of the family, was a sailor on the 
high seas and met death by drowning. The 
mother died in New York and the father, with 
some of his children, afterward came to Iowa, 
whei'e he joined his son William. The family 
numbered seven sons and seven daughters. Six 
sons reached mature years, of whom three are 
yet living: William P. and Robert, of Dallas 
Center; and James Scott, who makes his home 
in Waukee. Four of the sisters yet survive, 
two being residents of New York and two of 
this county. Mrs. Julia Dinsmore, now a wid- 
ow, makes her home in Dallas Center; Mrs. 
Mary Jackson, a widow, is living in Orleans 
county. New York, as does her sister, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Fuller, who is also a widow; and Miss 
Jessie Scott resides in Beaver township, Dallas 
county, and also owns a residence in Dalla-^ 
Center. 

William P. Scott was reared to the age of 
eighteen years in his native country and re- 
ceived fair school advantages there. He emi- 
grated to the new world in 1848, taking ship 
at Liverpool. The vessel on which he embarked 
was propelled by sails and after a slow voyage 
he landed in New York. For some time he 
lived in Orleans county, that state, working as 
a farm hand, but after sixteen years spent in 
the east he journeyed westward to Wisconsin. 
I'or four years he was engaged in the lumber- 
ing business in Pierce and Polk counties, and 
in 1868 he came to Dallas county, Iow;i, where 
he purchased his first land, becoming owner of 
eighty acres on section 22, Sugar Grove town- 
ship. This he broke and fenced, built a good 
frame house and opened up an excellent farm. 
Me and iiis brother bought the land tugether 



352 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and were partners in its cultivation for seven 
years, when they divided their interests. 

On the 4th of March, 1875, William P. 
Scott was married to Miss Jennie R. Scott, who 
was born and reai'ed in Ohio. In that state 
she lost her father, John Scott, and her mother 
and the family afterward came to Iowa, where 
the wife of our subject engaged in teaching for 
a time in the schools of Dallas county. Follow- 
ing their marriage the young couple began 
their domestic life upon a farm which he had 
secured, but on the 2d of August, 1876, the wife 
was called to her final rest, the interment being 
made in the Dunkard cemetery at Dallas Cen- 
ter. Mr. Scott has one daughter, Josephine M., 
who acts as her father's housekeeper. 

After cultivating his original purchase for 
some time Mr. Scott purchased another tract 
of land of one hundred and ten acres on section 
3, Sugar Grove township, which he used for a 
pastiare for a few years. He then tiled and 
drained the land, broke the sod and fenced the 
fields. Later he rented this property. In con- 
nection with the work of raising the cereals 
best adapted to soil and climate he raised and 
fed stock and continued in active farming until 
1893, when he rented his land and removed 
to Dallas Center, where he has since made his 
home. He is practically living retired, yet 
gives his supervision to his farming interests, 
and although he started out in life a poor boy 
he is now a prosperous citizen with valuable 
property, from which he derives a good annual 
income. In all his dealings he has been strict- 
ly honorable and straightforward. 

In politics Mr. Scott is a republican but has 
never sought office, although he did serve for 
one term as township trustee. His wife was a 
member of the Presbyterian church and his 
daughter belongs to the same church, in the 
work of which she takes an active and helpful 
part. Great changes have come since Mr. Scott 
took up his abode in this county. Many of the 
now thriving towns and villages had not yet 
sprung into existence. The railroads had not 
been built and much of the land was still un- 
cultivated but the prairies have been converted 



into rich and productive farms and all of the 
evidences of a modern civilization have been 
added. This result has not been accomplished 
by one man or even by a few, but is the result 
of the combined effort of many enterprising 
and reliable citizens, to which class William P. 
Scott belongs. The hope that led him to seek 
a home in America has been realized, for he 
found that in this country labor was unham- 
pered by caste or class and that success was the 
reward of persistency of purpose and of dili- 
gence. 



EDWARD HARRISON. 

Edward Harrison, who has attained his 
sixty-fifth year and is still hale and hearty, was 
born in England, October 15, 1842. He was 
a son of Thomas and Anna Harrison, both na- 
tives of England, where the father died in 1894. 
The mother is still living and is now in her 
eighty-sixth year. They were the parents of 
thirteen children. The living are: Edward, 
Mary and Rebecca, who are still in England ; 
William, a resident of Perry, Iowa; Sarah, the 
wife of William French of Texas; Alice and 
Lucy, who live in England; and Thomas, of 
this county. Five have died. 

It was in the schools of his native land that 
Mr. Harrison acquired his early education and 
his practical training. When he had attained 
his twenty-fourth year he began to realize that 
it was in America that young men must look 
for larger opportunities in all lines of industry. 
Accordingly he set sail for the new world and 
located in New York, where he remained one 
year. He then removed to Muscatine, Iowa, 
where he worked on a farm for another year. 
In company with a party of three friends he 
came to Dallas county, Iowa, in 1866. and 
worked on a farm by the month. So well had 
he mastered the details of agriculture by this 
time that he bought eighty acres of land, where 
he now lives. It cost him but three dollars 
and seventy-five cents an acre. In the follow- 




MU. AM) Mi;s. KDWAUI) IIAKUISOX 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



355 



ing spring he returned to Muscatine, where he 
bought a team of mules, on time, and drove 
them through to Dallas county. With this 
small equipment (a team of mules and a small 
house), .supplemented by his knowledge of 
farming, his will and determination, he set out 
to break up his land and to improve the same. 
To be successful iu this world one must decide 
on a line of business and stick to it with good- 
natured inflexibility. Mr. Harrison has done 
this and in consequence has attained what he 
set out to attain. He has been successful in 
almost every undertaking and is now the owner 
of six hundred and forty acres of the finest 
farming land in Dallas county. In addition to 
this he has been able to help all of his children 
by giving them a good farm. He ha.-; well 
earned the retired life which he and his wife 
are now enjoying on the, old homestead. He 
rents all of his land and is able to spend his 
later days in peace and quiet, with the satisfac- 
tion of a life well spent and a success which is 
the result of his own labor and effort. 

In 1870 ]\Ir. Harrison married Miss Char- 
lotto ^^'icks. a native of England, where she 
was born September 24, 1850. She was a 
daughter of Samuel and Rachel Wicks, both 
natives of England, who came to America in 
1851, locating in New York, where they lived 
for ten years. They subsequently removed to 
Dallas county, Iowa, which was their home up 
to the time of their death. The mother passed 
away in 1869 and the father in 1898, at the 
age of ninety-three years. They were the par- 
ents of thirteen children, two daughters and 
eleven sons. To Mr. and Mrs. Harrison nine 
children have been born : George W. ; Mary 
E., deceased; John 0.: Frank: Samuel W., 
decea.«ed, who left a widow willi two children; 
Alice, deceased; Charles II.; Clarence; and 
Anna M., deceased. 

In politics Mr. Harrison is independent. For 
twelve years he ser\-ed as school director and 
has been justice of the peace four years and 
trustee of the township three years. He and 
his wife are influential members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. They are self-made 



lieople, who are now reaping the benefits of their 
years of hard labor and are counted among the 
representative agriculturists of this district. He 
was among the first settlers in Washington 
township. 



WILLIAM LACKIE. 



Well may America boast of her citizenship, 
for great have been the accomplishments of her 
sons in all lines of endeavor which contribute 
to the sum of the world's progress. In this 
land where every man is born equal before the 
law. where the road to public usefulness and 
public honor is open to all, it is a fact worthy 
of note when an individual by his merit and 
ability is enabled to pass others on the highway 
of life and reach the goal of prosperity. Occu- 
pying an enviable position in public regard by 
reason of what he has accomplished is "William 
Lackie, the president of the Citizens Savings 
Bank of Dallas Center and one of the leading 
farmers of the county, owning a neat and well 
improved tract of land of two hundred acres 
on section 3, Walnut township. Almost forty 
years have come and gone since he took up his 
abode in Dallas county and throughout this 
period he has borne an active and helpful part 
in the work of general improvement and up- 
building. 

He was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, 
on the 24th of September, 1837. His father, 
Andrew Lackie, was a native of the same coun- 
ty, born in 1786. There he was reared and mar- 
ried, the lady of his choice being Elizabeth 
Waddell, who was a native of the same locali- 
ty. Andrew Lackie began farming in Caledo- 
nia county, where he continued to make his 
home until called to his final rest in 1853. His 
wife survived him for several yeai-s. In their 
family were four sons and seven daughters, all 
of whom reached years of maturity. The living 
members of the family are: William Lackie, 
of this review; Robert Lackie, of Orange county, 
Vermont; Mrs. Eliza McClearren, of Caledonia 



356 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



county, Vermont; Mrs. Margaret Weeks, of 
Knox county, Missouri; and Mary, who resides 
with her sister Eliza. 

William Lackie was reared in the county of 
his nativity and was a pupil in the public 
schools in his boyhood. He came west in Feb- 
ruary, 1866, settling first in Osceola township, 
Stark county, Illinois, where he worked by the 
month for two years. In the spring of 1868 
he came to Iowa, driving a team across the 
country to Dallas county, and here he invested 
in fifty-two acres of land in Walnut township. 
This was the first farm that he ever owned. For 
several years he continued its cultivation and 
improvement, after which he sold the property 
and bought one hundred and sixty acres. He 
moved onto that place and with characteristic 
energy began its transformation and improve- 
ment. He carried on farming there for several 
years with excellent success but in 1900 rented 
the farm and came to Dallas Center. Here he 
purchased a residence and is now pleasantly 
located in this city. He afterward bought thirty 
acres adjoining his farm and today the place 
which he purchased at ten dollars per acre is 
now worth one hundred dollars per acre. 
Through the tilling of the soil and the feeding 
of stock of high grades he has been enabled to 
advance from a humble financial position to 
one of affluence. He started out in life without 
financial assistance and has made what he pos- 
sesses through his own labor and enterprise. 

In the spring of 1868, in Stark county, Illi- 
nois, Mr. Lackie was married to Miss Cynthia 
Wood, who was born in Ohio but was reared in 
Illinois. Her father, Benjamin Wood, a native 
of the Buckeye state, removed to Illinois in the 
'40s, settling in Peoria county and later in 
Stark county. At length he determined to make 
a home in Iowa and started for this state but 
died while en route. In 1888 Mr. Lackie lost 
his first wife, who passed away on the 22d of 
April of that year. They had no children of 
their own but reared an adopted daughter, Ida 
(Smith) Lackie, who is now the wife of Milton 
Crisbin, of Des Moines. Mr. Lackie was again 
married in 1897, in Dallas county, his second 



union being with Miss Lizzie Blood, who was 
born in Wisconsin. She was reared in Polk 
county, Iowa, and was a daughter of Squire 
Blood, who removed from Wisconsin to Dallas 
county and cast in his lot with the early settlers 
in 1865. Both he and his wife were natives of 
Maine. 

Mr. Lackie gives his political endorsement 
to the republican party and while on the farm 
he served as township trustee, road supervisor 
and justice of the peace, discharging his duties 
with promptness and fidelity. Since taking up 
his abode in Dallas Center he has been elected 
and served as alderman for six years and he 
exercises his official prerogatives in support of 
many progressive movements. At all times he 
stands for reform and improvement and his 
labors have been directly beneficial. In 1903 
he aided in the organization of the Citizens Sav- 
ings Bank, of which he is now president, and 
has made this a safe financial institution, which 
now receives liberal patronage. He and his wife 
are members of the Christian church, in which 
he is serving as one of the elders. He also be- 
longs to the Odd Fellows lodge, having joined 
the organization at Grimes, while his present 
affiliation is with Dallas Center lodge, in which 
he is now treasurer. He has made steady ad- 
vancement in his life, not only in its successful 
accomplishment but also in matters of citizen- 
ship, gaining at the same time the favorable re- 
gard of all who know him. He is a man of 
marked strength of character, genial disposition 
and genuine worth and has the unqualified re- 
spect and good-will of his fellowmen. 



L. W. CLAYTON. 



While it is imperative that men of worth 
should occupy the public offices and operate the 
machinery of government it is a well known 
fact that the real upbuilders and promoters of 
a community's greatness and prosperity are 
they who control its business interests, in which 
connection L. W. Clayton is deserving of promi- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



357 



nent mention as a leading and influential resi- 
dent of Van Meter, where he has been extensive- 
ly engaged in the grain trade. Moreover, he is 
one of the native sons of Dallas county. The 
fact that many of her native born citizens have 
continued their residence within her borders is 
indicative of the fact that she offers excellent 
opportunities to her citizens and affords them 
business advantages equal to those to be secured 
elsewhere. 

Mr. Clayton was born August 20, 1853, his 
parents being Simeon and Anna (White) 
Clayton, whose family numbered nine children. 
The year 1851 witnessed the arrival of the 
parents in Iowa but in 1854 they returned to 
Indiana, where they continued through the 
succeeding twelve years. On the expiration of 
that period the father purchased the farm in 
Dallas county, which later became the property 
of our subject and thereon he and his family 
took up their abode. He passed through the 
county on horseback from Indiana as early as 
1848. 

L. W. Clayton was reared in the usual man- 
ner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with 
the work of tilling the soil and caring for the 
crops. He started out in life on his own ac- 
count by renting and cultivating his father's 
farm and when his labors had brought him suf- 
ficient capital he made investment in property, 
purchasing two hundred and forty acres of the 
old home place in 1888. Here he has made 
.stock-farming a sjoecialty, raising grain for feed 
only. He became well known as one of the 
leading stockmen of the county, handling large 
numbers of cattle and other stock annually, so 
that the business became very profitable. j\Ir. 
Clayton has not confined his time and energies 
to one line of labor, however, but has become 
well known in mercantile and commercial 
circles. From 1881 until 1885 he was engaged 
in the hardware business in Van Meier in part- 
nership with Lee Thornton until 1882, when 
Mr. Thornton sold his interest to John D. Clay- 
ton and the firm thereby became Clayton Broth- 
ers. They conducted the store until 1885, when 
thev sold out and L. W. Clavton then concen- 



trated his energies largely upon his farm and 
cattle-raising interests until 1891, when he pur- 
chased the large grain elevator of L. Mott. He 
then dealt extensively in grain, being one of the 
leading representatives of this line of business 
in the county. He made large annual ship- 
ments until 1903, when he sold his elevator, 
though he still deals in grain to some extent, 
and in all of his business affairs has displayed 
an aptitude for successful management. 

On the 2d of July, 1876, Mr. Clayton was 
united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Patten, 
a native of Wisconsin, who when ten years of 
age was brought to Dallas county by her 
parents. By her marriage she has become the 
mother of four children : Walter L., born 
April 21, 1877; Leona Mabel, March 18, 1879; 
Eldora, January 28, 1881 ; and Ruth Ann, May 
26, 1883. 

Mr. Clayton was reared in the faith of the 
Society of Friends or Quakers but as there was 
no organization of that denomination in this lo- 
cality he joined the Methodist Episcopal 
church at Van Meter, of which he is still a 
member. He is, moreover, a valued representa- 
tive of various fraternal organizations, includ- 
ing Corn Valley lodge. No. 257, I. 0. 0. F., 
and Fortitude lodge. No. 256, A. F. & A. M. 
He has attained high rank in Masonry, being 
now a member of the chapter at Adel and 
Templar commandery, No. 4, of Des Moines, 
also Des Moines consistory, No. 3, of Scottish 
rite of Freemasoniy and El-Kahir temple of 
the Mystic Shrine at Cedar Rapids. He is in 
thorough sympathy with the teachings and 
tenets of the craft and his life exemplifies the 
beneficent spirit upon which the order is based. 
He was a charter member of Van Meter lodge. 
No. 18, K. P., and is now a member of Myrtle 
Capital, No. 9, at Des Moines. 

His political allegiance is given to the repub- 
lican party and he has been accorded a position 
of leadership in its local ranks. In 1889 he 
was elected to the office of county supervisor 
to fill out an unexpired term of three months 
and at the same election was elected for a full 
term. In 1893 he was re-elected, running far 



358 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ahead of his ticket on both occasions. During 
his entire career he has managed his pubUc 
and private interests as to merit the esteem of 
all classes and it is not fulsome praise to say 
that none stands higher in the regard of the 
citizens of Van Meter and this part of the coun- 
ty than L. W. Clayton. He possesses the men- 
tality to direct his endeavors toward the de- 
sired ends and the singleness and steadfastness 
of purpose which have given due value. to each 
consecutive detail of efifort in his life. He is 
distinctively a representative citizen of Dallas 
county and a native son whose life record is a 
credit to the communitv. 



B. C. DILENBECK. 



B. C. Dilenbeck. who at one time was the 
youngest bank cashier in the United States 
and is now filling that position in the Citizens 
State Bank at Perrj', has been so closely and 
intimately associated with varied business in- 
terests in Dallas county that no history of 
this portion of the state would be complete 
without the record of his career. He has 
pushed forward the wheels of progress and all 
of his undertakings have been characterized by 
a practical spirit that has produced far-reach- 
ing and beneficial results. 

Mr. Dilenbeck is a native of Henry county, 
Illinois, born January 25, 1876, and is the 
only, son of Sandusky S. and Geneva L. (Sea- 
ton) Dilenbeck, the former a native of New 
York and the latter of Illinois. The father 
was a farmer and followed that occupation 
until 1877. He also engaged in loaning money 
and in the year designated he turned his at- 
tention to the banking business, in which field 
of activity he has since continued, being at 
one time interested in some twenty banks. He 
i- indeed well known in financial circles and 
throughout his business career he has known 
no such word as fail. He and his son together 
also own two thousand acres of land in Iowa and 
B. C. Dilenbeck also owns eight thousand acres 



in North Dakota, having made judicious in- 
vestment in i^roperty. 

Brought to Iowa in his l^oyhood days, B. C. 
Dilenbeck acquired his education in the schools 
of Geneseo, Illinois, and of Ida Grove, Iowa, 
and at the age of thirteen years he began work- 
ing in his father's bank at- Danbury, Iowa, 
where he remained for a year. He then en- 
tered his father's bank at Arthur, in the capac- 
ity of bookkeeper, thus serving for three years, 
and at the age of seventeen he was promoted 
to the position of cashier in that bank, thu* 
becoming the youngest bank cashier in the 
United States. In March, 1898, this bank was 
sold and Mr. Dilenbeck and his father pur- 
chased the controlling interest in the Citizens 
State Bank at Perry, Iowa, of which he has 
since been cashier. This was organized Sep- 
tember 12, 1893, and under the management 
of the present ownership has been conducted 
along safe, substantial lines, becoming one of 
the reliable moneyed concerns of this part of 
the state. It is capitalized for fifty thousand 
dollars and has surplus and profits amounting 
to forty thousand dollars. S. S. Dilenbeck, the 
father, is president. In 1902, B. C. Dilenbeck 
organized the Dilenbeck Land Company of 
North Dakota. On the 15th of May, 1903, 
he opened a banking business at Bouton. Iowa, 
under the style of the Dilenbeck Banking Com- 
pany, of which he is now president, with W. S. 
Arthurs as cashier. In 1891 in association 
with his father, he organized the firm of S. S, 
Dilenbeck & Son at Perry for the conduct of a 
business in Iowa farm mortgages, and the re- 
sponsibility of the firm is four hundred thou- 
sand dollars. In the year 1904 B. C. Dilen- 
beck was one of the organizers of the Perry 
Plyer & Tool Company, of which he is treas- 
urer. In 1905 he was one of the organizers 
of the Perry Gas Company, of which he is a 
heavy stockholder. In 1906 he became one 
of the founders of the Globe Manufacturing 
Company at Perry, manufacturing the Quaker 
washing machine. On the 15th of January, 
1907, Mr. Dilenbeck bought the lumber busi- 
ness of H. P. Seeman of Bouton, Iowa, and 




('. DlLE.XllKC'K 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



361 



urganizcd the Dilenbeck Lumber Company, of 
wliich he is president. His business interests 
have thus been very extensive, varied and im- 
portant and have contributed in large measure 
to the general prosperity and progress of the 
community. 

On the 12th of October, 1898, Mr. Dilen- 
beck was married to Miss Coral F. Sanford, 
who was born in Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, 
October 7, 1878, a daughter of Jonathan F. 
and Caroline (Ilepner) Sanford, both of whom 
were natives of Indiana but are now living in 
Tipton, Iowa. The father was a contractor 
and builder but at the present time is retired. 
In his family were three daughters and one 
son who yet survive, Mrs. Dilenbeck being the 
youngest daughter. Both our subject and his 
wife have pronounced musical talent and are 
singers in the choir of the Congregational 
church. They are also members of that church 
and are most liberal in their contributions to 
its sujjport. Theirs is one of the finest homes 
in Perry, having been erected by Mr. Dilen- 
beck in 1901. 

Mr. Dilenbeck belongs to Atkins lodge. No. 
135, K. P. ; to Perry lodge, No. 407, B. P. 0. 
E. ; to Perry camp, No. 180, M. W. A. ; and to 
the Order of Red Men, while he and his wife 
arc members of Spring Valley council. No. 
401, Knights & Ladies of Security. Mr. Dilen- 
beck served three years as alderman and was 
principallj' instrumental in securing the new 
sewer system in Perry. After he succeeded in 
this he resigned although he had one more year 
to serve. Everything pertaining to the city's 
welfare and advancement receives his endorse- 
ment and his hearty co-operation. In his busi- 
ness life, too, he has so directed his efforts 
that his labors have been of practical benefit 
to the communities in which he has labored 
as well as a source of individual profit. He is 
quick of apprehension and intricate business 
affairs he comprehends in a moment. In mak- 
ing his plans he seems to recognize obstacles 
and disadvantages as well as opportunities and 
possibilities and thus places a correct value 
upon the situation. A man of enterprise. 



positive character, indomitable energy, strict 
integrity and liberal views, he has been fully 
identified with the growth and prosperity of the 
state of his adoption. His life is exemplary 
in many respects and he has the esteem of his 
friends and the confidence of those who have 
had business relations with him. 



H. C. VAN METER. 



The Van Meter family is so well known in 
Dallas county that the subject of this review 
needs no introduction to the readers of this 
volume. He is today one of the large land- 
owners of the county, his po.ssessions aggregat- 
ing six hundred and twenty acres, while he de- 
rives his income from seven hundred and sixty 
acres which he cultivates in Van Meter town- 
ship. He is also an extensive stock-feeder and 
in these connections is well known. 

Mr. Van Meter is a native son of the county, 
born on the 14th of August, 1872, his father 
being J. R. Van Meter, one of the prominent 
and influential residents of this part of the 
state, represented on another page of this work. 
He was reared to an agricultural life and les- 
sons of industry, integrity and economy were 
early impressed upon his mind. Having ar- 
rived at years of maturity, he sought a com- 
panion and helpmate for life's journey, being 
married November 20, 1894, to Miss Delia 
Smitli.son,who was born in this county, August 
2, 1875. Her parents were natives of Dallas 
county and were farming people^ whose family 
numbered nine children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Van Meter have been born three children: 
Hazel, born June 1, 1895; Harold, born Sep- 
tember 1, 1898; and Hugh, born March 29, 
1898. 

The family home is an attractive one, situ- 
ated on section 16, Van Meter township, and 
everything about the place is indicative of the 
careful supervision of the owner. As stated, 
he is now in possession of six hundred and 
twenty acres of rich and productive land, which 



362 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



responds readily to the care and labor bestowed 
upon it. He does not confine his attention en- 
tirely to his own farm, however, but operates 
altogether seven hundred and sixty acres in 
Van Meter township, being accounted one of 
the most extensive agriculturists of the com- 
munity. He is also largely engaged in feeding 
stock and makes extensive shipments, deriving 
therefrom a gratifying income. He is a cap- 
able manager, readily determining the outcome 
of a business transaction and solving with ease 
intricate and complex business problems. More- 
over, he has placed his dependence upon the 
substantial quahties of energy and persever- 
ance, which always insure success when guided 
by sound judgment. 

Mr. Van Meter and his wife support and at- 
tend the Christian church and are most widely 
and favorably known in the community where 
they live, enjoying in lai"ge degree the friend- 
ship and esteem of those with whom they have 
been brought in contact. 



E. W. DINGWELL. 



For many years the veterans of the Civil war 
alone received the gratitude of their country 
for militaiy prowess but in more recent years 
the honors have been divided with those who 
fought in the Spanish- American war. This 
number includes E. W. Dingwell, now an enter- 
prising and able la^A^^er of Adel, Iowa. A native 
of Charlottetown, Prince Edw^ard Island, he 
was born on the 17th of July, 1872, his parents 
being Elisha and Louisa G. (McKay) Ding- 
well. The father was born on Prince Edward 
Island, May 18, 1821, and died on the 12th of 
March, 1904. His wife was also born in the 
same locality. Februarj^ 1. 1825, and passed 
away June 16, 1905. They were married on the 
28th of Febi-uars% 1850. The father was a ship 
builder and was associated in business with his 
twin brother, William, for about twenty-five 
years. The brother lost his life at sea, going 



down on one of his own shij^s. In the fall of 
1872 Elisha Dingwell removed to Auburn, 
Illinois, and in 1873 became a resident of Lake- 
side, near Chicago, where his last days were 
passed. In the family were nine children, of 
whom the following are living: Jane C, the 
wife of H, R. Norris, a resident of Marshall- 
town, Iowa; Ellen, the wife of John Morton, of 
San Mateo, California; Louisa, the wife of W. 
G. Lemay, living in Chicago; "William H., who 
married Elizabeth Stupey ; James H., who mar- 
ried Martha Stagg ; and E. W. of this review. 

Brought to the United States in early child- 
hood, E. W. Dingwell was educated in the pub- 
lic and high schools at Marshalltown, Iowa, 
and at Western College at Toledo, Iowa. He 
then studied law and was admitted to the bar 
at Marshalltown in October, 1899. In the 
meantime, however, he had seen active service 
in the Spanish-Amercan war. His patriotic 
spirit being aroused, on the 26lh of April, 1898, 
he enlisted in Company H, Forty-ninth Iowa 
Volunteei's, and for two years, or during the 
war, and was mustered into the United States 
ai"my at Des Moines. The troops went to 
Jacksonville, Florida, thence to Savannah, 
Georgia, and from that point by steamer to 
Havana, Cuba, where the Sjianish flag was fly- 
ing. The regiment remained in Cuba from the 
21st of December, 1898, until the 19th of April, 
1899,^ and when they withdrew the stars and 
stripes were floating over the island. Oh the 
13th of May, 1899, he was discharged at Savan- 
nah, Georgia, and mustered out. 

Mr. Dingwell then returned to Marshalltown, 
Iowa, where he engaged in the practice of law, 
there remaining until his removal to Adel on 
the 17th of March, 1900. He became a mem- 
ber of the firm of Cardell, Giddings & Dingwell, 
with offices in Perry and in Adel, Mr. Ding- 
well having charge of the office in the latter 
place. In July, 1900, he bought out the Adel 
office and has since engaged in practice alone. 
He has gained a distinctiAely representative 
clientage and his ability to solve the intricate 
and complex problems of the law has been fre- 
quently demonstrated in the careful and able 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



303 



manner in which he has conducted his eases 
and applied the law thereto. 

Mr. Dingwell is a member of Adel lodge, 
No. 80, A. F. & A. M.; Tyrian chapter, No. 37, 
R. A. M. ; Friendship lodge, No. 96, 1. 0. 0. F. ; 
Adel encampment, No. 93 ; and Sunbeam lodge. 
No. 73, of the Order of Rebekah. His political 
allegiance is given to the republican party. He 
manifests at all times the same loyalty to his 
country that he displayed when he followed 
the old flag to Spanish soil and aided in over- 
throwing monarchical rule there. He stands 
for progress and improvement in, all things and 
his influence has been an element in the ad- 
vancement of his adopted city in the last few 
years. 



SIDNEY M. CAMPBELL. 

A farm of eighty acres on section 13, Wal- 
nut township, pays tribute to the care and labor 
of Sidney M. Campbell, who raises here both 
grain and stock. In connection with this prop- 
erty he owns a well improved and valuable 
farm of forty-four acres in Polk county within 
a mile of the home place. He owes his suc- 
cess not to any outside aid or influence, but to 
those forces which always win prosperity — 
keen discrimination, sound judgment and un- 
faltering diligence. 

Mr. Campbell is a native of Ontario, Canada, 
born December 21, 1845. His father, Peter 
Campbell, was a native of New Brunswick and 
when a young man removed to Canada, where 
ho wooed and won Elizabeth Wilkins, whose 
birth occurred in the state of New York, where 
her girlhood days were also passed. Peter 
Campbell followed farming in Canada for a 
ninnbcr of years and nine children were bom 
there unto him and his wife, including two 
pairs of twins. He made a trip to Australia 
and was engaged in mining there. Later he 
followed mining in New Zealand and subse- 
quently made a trip around the globe. He then 



returned to his Canadian home, after which he 
came to Michigan, settling at Port Austin in 
Huron county, establishing his home in the 
midst of the forest. He entered land which 
was heavily timbered but cleared away the trees 
and opened up a farm which he continued to 
cultivate for a number of years. Subsequently 
he came to Iowa, settling in Dallas county, 
where he remained for two years, after which 
he returned to Canada. There he conducted a 
store for two yeai's and on disposing of his mer- 
cantile enterprise returned to Grand Ledge, 
Michigan. There he built a brick hotel known 
as the Exchange Hotel and continued its con- 
duct for a number of years, while the Exchange 
Bank was conducted in one end of the building. 
At length he sold out there and removed to 
Crystal Falls, where he lived retired. In his 
travels he met with many interesting experi- 
ences and adventures and he gained compre- 
hensive knowledge of the world through his 
joiu'neyings. 

Sidney M. Campbell was one of a family 
of eleven children, all of whom reached mature 
yeai's and were married. Nine of the number 
are, now living. Mrs. Lucinda Cicero, the eld- 
est, died leaving four children. Randolph W., 
a veteran of the Civil war, makes his home in 
Bay City, Michigan. Charles G., also a soldier, 
now living in Crystal Falls, Michigan, owns 
several tracts of land there and is serving as 
township clerk. Sidney M. is the next in the 
family. Adolphus Campbell, his twin brother, 
was a soldier of the Civil war and died some 
years later. Peter M., a resident of South Oma- 
ha, is employed at the stockyards of the North- 
western Company. George E. is a farmer of 
Page, Nebraska. William W., of Crystal Falls, 
Michigan, owns several hundred acres of land 
near that place and was formerly railroad agent 
and operator there. Willard B., a twin of Wil- 
liam, is living in Jackson, Michigan, where he 
owns considerable city property and is a rail- 
road employe of the Jackson, Lansing & Sagi- 
naw Railroad. Sarali is the wife of Henry 
Baker, of Crystal Falls, who is now in the gov- 
ernment employ. Hattie is the wife of Frank 



364 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Vanderpool, a farmer and carpenter of Crystal 
Falls. 

Sidney M. Campbell was reared to manhood 
on his father's farm in Michigan, remaining at 
home until twenty-one years of age, when he 
began lumbering in that state, which offers such 
excellent facilities for the conduct of a business 
of that character. There he remained for three 
years, when, in 1865, he came to Dallascounty, 
Iowa. Here he worked on his father's farm 
for one year and then went to Michigan, where 
he devoted three years to lumbering. Again he 
came to Iowa, after which he rented land and 
carried on farming on his own account for two 
years, when he returned to Michigan and 
bought a farm near Lansing, which he cleared 
and improved, continuing its cultivation for 
three years. On the expiration of that period 
he sold out and during the succeeding two years 
operated rented land in Dallas county, Iowa, 
and in 1878 he bought eighty acres upon which 
he took up his abode. For several years he 
plowed his land and planted his crops here and 
in the autumn gathered good harvests, but once 
more he went to Michigan, where for a year he 
was connected with the lumber trade, after 
which he was out of business for a year. On 
the expiration of that period he returned to the 
farm, which he continued to improve, building 
a house and barn, and tiling tuid fencing the 
land. He thus added greatly to its productive- 
ness and he also planted a large orchard, con- 
taining a fine variety of fruit. His farm prop- 
erty is now very valuable and, moreover, forms 
one of the attractive features in the landscape. 
He has since purchased forty-four acres in Polk 
county and the entire place is cultivated under 
his supervision and direction. 

On the 12th of September, 1870, in Walnut 
township, Mr. Campbell was miited in marriage 
to Miss Lucina Houghtaling, who was born in 
Pennsylvania but was reared in Michigan and 
in Dallas county, Iowa. They now have two 
daughters: Lulu M., the wife of Wesley Fry, 
of Grimes, by whom she has two children, Sid- 
ney and Asel Fry ; and Blanche F., the wife of 
Stewart W. Aldrich, a resident farmer of Wal- 



nut township. They have two children, Deloss 
and Orlo Aldrich. 

Mr. Campbell is a member of Dallas Center 
lodge, No. 356, A. F. & A. M. He also belongs 
to Grimes lodge. No. 479, I. 0. 0. F., in which 
he has filled all of the offices and is a past 
grand. In politics a republican, he is deeply 
interested in the success and welfare of the 
party and has served as justice of the peace, as 
constable, as road supervisor and as school di- 
rector. He has been president of the school 
board and the cause of education finds in him 
an earnest and valuable friend. Although he 
has made many removals to and from Dallas 
county he has for a number of years resided 
here continuously and has made an excellent 
record in business circles, both for reliability 
and for the practical methods which he follows 
and which lead to success. 



SIDNEY C. GOFF, D. D. S. 

Dr. Sidney C. Goff, who during the greater 
part of his residence in Perry has been engaged 
in the real-estate business but is now living a 
retired life, was born in Howard, Steuben 
county. New York, December 21, 1829. His 
parents were Pliney C. and Lana (Voorhees) 
Goff, the former a native of Germany and the 
latter of the state of New York. Both, how- 
ever, are now deceased. The father was a 
stonemason by trade and after coming to the 
new world remained a resident of the Empire 
state. He was a musician and played the fife 
and drum during the training days at general 
musters. His political allegiance was given to 
the whig party. In the family were eight sons 
and one daughter, of whom seven are now liv- 
ing: Finley, Sidney C, Charles, Hiram, J. L., 
William and Luke R. Morvin died at about 
sixty-two years of age and Mary was about 
five years old at the time of her death. 

Sidney C. Goff went to live with his uncle, 
Nathan Grames, when quite young and was 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



36': 



with him until fifteen years of age, when he 
removed to Bath, New York, and there worked 
in a drug und dry-goods store for three or four 
years, first with Dr. G. A. Rogers and later in 
the service of the firm of Carter & Whiting, 
merchants, for two or three years. He was after- 
ward with H. H. Cook, a merchant carrying 
on busines.5 near Bath, with whom he con- 
tinued until 1851, when he took passage on a 
sailing vessel at New York city bound for Aus- 
tralia. He was about four months on the sea, 
landing at Capetown, South Africa. There he 
remained for some time, for on shipboard the 
supply of food and water had given out. Dr. 
Goff, who was ill, made complaint to the Ameri- 
can consul and they then received supplies and 
sailed for Australia, landing at Melbourne. 
From that point he made his way into the 
gold mines about one hundred miles from Mel- 
bourne, where he opened a miner's supply 
store, hauling his goods by team from Mel- 
bourne. He continued in business there for 
about four years or until 1855, when he re- 
turned home by way of Pernambuco, South 
America, remaining at that place for a brief 
period. As passenger on a sailing vessel he 
then continued on his way to New York city. 
In the fall of 1856 Dr. Goff came to the 
middle west, settling at Delavan, Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, where he studied dentistry. 
He was appointed deputy sheriff there and 
later removed to East Troy, Wisconsin, where 
he engaged in the practice of dentistry. Subse- 
quently he made his home at Elkhom, Wis- 
consin, until he joined the army for service 
in the Civil war, enlisting on the 18th of Aug- 
ust, 1864, as a member of Company E, First 
Wisconsin Regiment of Heavy Artillery, to 
serve for one year or during the war. He was 
enrolled at Janesville, Wisconsin, and went 
from there to Madison, where he was made first 
sergeant of the company. The troops then pro- 
ceeded to Alexandria, Virginia, and while there 
news was received of Lincoln's assasination. He 
was with his regiment in all of its engagements 
and was discharged at Fort O'Rourke on the 
26th of June, 1865. 



Relurning to the north. Dr. Gofi' again lo- 
cated in Walworth county, Wisconsin, and 
was there elected sheriff in 1876 for a term 
of two years. After filling that position he re- 
sumed the practice of dentistry, continuing an 
active member of the profession until June, 
1883, when he came to Perry, Iowa. Here he 
has since resided, covering a period of almost 
a quarter of a century. He opened a real- 
estate office and continued in business here 
until 1904, when he retired from active life. 
He has now passed the seventy-seventh mile- 
stone on life's journey and is enjoying well- 
earned rest, spending the evening of his days 
in ease and comfort. 

Dr. Goft' was married on the 29th of April, 
1858, to Miss Martha A. Barber, of East Troy, 
Wisconsin, who was born in Lester, Livingston 
county. New York, January 26. 1834, her par- 
ents being Captain Isaac and Lucy (Hough- 
ton) Barber, both of whom were natives of 
New York, the former born March 5, 1798, 
and the latter on the 16th of August, 1800. 
They Avere married October 19, 1822, and Mr. 
Barber died May 6, 1843, while his wife passed 
away May 6, 1838, so that he survived her 
exactly five years. In their family were six 
children but only two are living; Mary E., 
the widow of Charles Hillard, formerly of Wis- 
consin', and Mrs. Goff. The father was a farmer 
of Livingston county, New York, and was a 
prominent sheep and cattle raiser. He owned 
a splendid tract of land and built the finest 
stone hou.se in the county. He was well known 
throughout that part of the state as Captain 
Barber and was greatly esteemed by reason of 
his success and his genuine worth. In early 
manhood he voted with the whig party and was 
a strong opponent to the system of slavery as 
practiced in the south. His religious faith was 
that of the Presbyterian church. 

Unto Dr. and Mrs. Goff were born three 
children. Cora is the wife of Henry P. Lods, 
county auditor, and a resident of Adel. Mrs. 
Lods was formerly married to Dr. Dewitt C. 
West, now deceased, by whom there were two 
childron. S. Clnyton, living in Elkhorn, Wis- 



308 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



consin, married Jennie Britton and they have 
two children, a son and daughter. Lena M. 
is the wife of C. F. Case, living at Lake Geneva, 
Wisconsin, and they have one daughter. Dr. 
and Mrs. Gofif now have five grandchildren and 
two great-grandchildren. 

Dr. Goff was a member of the Odd Fellows 
lodge- while in "Wisconsin and he belongs to 
Redfield post, No. 26, G. A. R., thus main- 
taining pleasant relations with his old army 
comrades. His political support is given to 
the republican party and he has been a mem- 
ber of the city council of Perry. He belongs 
to the Congregational church and his life has 
been honorable and upiight, so that in the 
evening of his days he receives the respect and 
veneration which should ever be accorded to 
one of advanced years. In spirit and interests 
he seems yet in his prime and is widely and 
favorably known in Perry, being classed with 
the representative citizens of Dallas county. 



LON B. SMITH. 



Lon B. Smith is a leading grocer of Adel, 
who owns and conducts a well appointed estab- 
lishment of this character and is meeting with 
gratifying success because of his honorable 
business methods, his earnest desire to please 
his patrons and his close application. 

Mr. Smith is a native of Ohio, his biith hav- 
ing occurred in Williamsburg on the 10th of 
March, 1863. His parents were Joseph and 
Melinda (Madaris) Smith, both natives of 
Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1815 
and died in Ohio at the age of seventy-seven 
years after having devoted his entire business 
life to farming. His wife also died in that state 
at the age of seventy-six years. In their family 
were fifteen children, of whom ten j'et survive. 

Lon B. Smith, the only one living in Dallas 
county, remained upon the home farm until 
twenty years of age. He came to Adel in 1883 
and entered business circles here as a salesman 
in the grocery store of J. W. Bly. with whom 



he remained as a trusted employe for eight 
years. In partnership with his brother-in-law 
he then purchased Mr. Bly's interest and for 
four yeai-s the business was conducted under 
the firm style of Smith & Kain. Mr. Smith then 
became sole proprietor and in 1900 he built 
the brick block in which he is now located. He 
carries the most complete line of staple and 
fancy groceries and queensware in the city, 
having a store which would be a credit to a city 
of much larger size. The neat and tasteful ar- 
rangement of the store and the excellent line of 
goods which he sells have secured to him a 
gratifying patronage, which has increased aa 
the years have gone by. In addition to his mer- 
cantile interests he owns two residence proper- 
ties in Adel. 

In 1888 Mr. Smith was married to Miss 
Emma Farlow, a daughter of I. J. Farlow, one 
of Adel's earliest settlers. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith have been born two sons, Byron and 
Lowell. 

In his political views Mr. Smith is a demo- 
crat, interested in the growth and success of his 
party. He has served for six years on the city 
council but has held no other office, preferring 
to concentrate his time and energies upon his 
business affairs. Fraternally he is prominent, 
being connected with the American Yeomen, 
the Knights of Pythias and the ilodern Wood- 
men of America. A man of strong individual- 
ity and indubitable probity, he has attained a 
due measure of success in the affairs of life. 
Of social, genial nature, he is a man apprecia- 
tive of the amenities which go to make up the 
sum of human happiness and at all times he is 
a genial, courteous, honorable gentleman, much 
esteemed bv those who know him. 



LEA THORNTON. 



Lea Thornton is mayor of Adel and the 
prominence of his official position is indicative 
also of Ms place in public regard, for he stands 
prominent in the opinion of his fellowmen. In 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



369 



liis business life he has won most creditable and 
gratifying success. The elements which have 
contributed to this result are not so notable be- 
cause of their rarity as because of their har- 
monious linion. 

Mr. Thornton has spent his entire life in the 
Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred 
in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 1st of 
July, 1844. His great-grandparents, natives of 
Newfoundland, came to America at an early 
day, establishing their home in Vermont, in 
which state the grandparents of Mr. Thornton 
were both bom. It was that generation that 
established the family in the middle west and 
Isaac Thornton, the father, was born in Wayne 
county, Indiana. He followed farming and in 
early life also learned carpentering. He became 
a resident of A'ermilion county, Illinois, about 
1836, making his home there until 1846 when 
he came to Iowa and purchased a tract of wild 
land in Polk county. Five years later he re- 
moved to Dallas county, where he again pur- 
chased land on which not a furrow had been 
turned. With characteristic energj', how^ever, 
he began its development and in the course of 
years his labor succeeded in transforming the 
wild prairie into an excellent farm, whereon 
he made his home until his death. In 1876 
he visited the Centennial Exposition in Phila- 
delphia and while upon the return trip was 
killed in a railroad accident in Ohio. In early 
manhood he had married Anna Henderson, a 
native of Vermilion county, Illinois, who died 
when her son Lea was but two months old, 
leaving three sons. The eldest, Thomas, enlist- 
ed for service in the Civil war in 1861 as a 
member of the Second Iowa Battery and died 
at St. Louis in June, 1862. Nathaniel, who 
was a member of Company A, Twenty-third 
Iowa Infantry, which he joined in 1862, passed 
away in St. Louis in -June, 1863. 

In the maternal line Mr. Thornton is a repre- 
sentative of old families of Tennessee. His 
grandparents, Nathaniel and Mary Henderson, 
were both natives of that state, whence they re- 
moved to Illinois, casting in their lot with its 
pioneer settlers. There Nathaniel Henderson 



died at the age of seventy years, while his wife 
passed away at the age of sixty. 

Lea Thornton was reared to farm life, his 
time being devoted to the work of the school- 
room, the pleasures of the playground and the 
tasks that usually fall to the lot of the farm 
boy. Throughout his entire life he has been to 
a greater or less extent connected with agricul- 
tural interests. Following his marriage he es- 
tablished his home on a farm in ^^an Meter 
township and while conducting that place he 
also carried on business as a hardware mer- 
chant and lumber dealer in Van Meter. In 1884 
he disposed of his store and came to Adel, where 
he has since made his home. In 1890 he 
opened a clothing store, which he conducted for 
two years, and after selling out that business 
in 1892 he cari-ied on general merchandising 
until his retirement to private life. He still 
owns residence property here. 

Mr. Thornton was married March 27, 1867, 
to Miss Hester Dunn, who was born in Wiscon- 
sin and died in Iowa when about thirtj' years 
of age. In 1877 he wedded Miss Maggie Dunn, 
a sister of his first wife and also a native of 
Green county, Wisconsin. Her parents were 
early settlers of the Badger state and in 1865 
came to Iowa, locating in Dallas county where 
they lived until called to the home beyond, the 
father passing away at the age of seventy-one, 
while the mother had reached the age of sixty- 
six years at the time of her demise. In their 
family were seven children, four sons and three 
daughters. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thornton have 
been born eight children but they lost two 
daughters, Anna, at the age of two years, and 
Lettie B., at the age of twenty-two years. Those 
who still survive are: Clara M., Mabel A., 
Charles H., Herschel H., Hubert M., and Wal- 
ter N. 

The parents are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and are much interested in 
its work. Mr. Thornton also belongs to the 
County Agricultural Society, of which he has 
served as secretary, and in his fraternal rela- 
tions he is connected with the Masons, the 
Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of 



370 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



United Workmen. He also became a charter 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows when the lodge was organized at Van Meter 
and of all of these societies he has been a worthy 
representative, his life being in harmony with 
the beneficent larineiples upon which they are 
based. Age conferred upon him his right of 
franchise in 1865 and he has since been a stal- 
wart republican. He filled various local offices 
while living in Van Meter township and for 
six years was county clerk of Dallas county. At 
the present writing, in 1907, he is ser\'ing as 
mayor of Adel, being called to this position by 
the vote of his fellow townsmen, who recognize 
his ability and desire hLs service as chief execu- 
tive of the city. His is a career whose success 
is measured by its usefulness. He has ever been 
found on the side of right, truth, justice and 
advancement and in all things he has been ac- 
tuated by a fidelity to principle, so that his 
name is honored wherever he is known. He is 
numbered among Dallas county's successful 
citizens and the most envious cannot well 
grudge him his prosperity, so honorably has it 
been gained and so worthily used. 



JOSEPH STORM. 



The improvement of twelve farms may be 
set down to the credit of Joseph Storm, who has 
thus contributed in large and substantial meas- 
ure to the development and progress of Dallas 
county. He is today one of the large land- 
holders, owning three thousand acres, the prin- 
cipal part of w-hich is under a high state of cul- 
tivation. He has resided continuously in this 
count}^ for over half a century, coming here in 
1856, and he still holds the original deed to his 
first purchase of land, which is located in 
Beaver township. 

Mr. Storm is a representative of old families 
in Virginia and Indiana and was born in Tip- 
pecanoe county in the latter state on the 15th 
of July, 1829. His father, Daniel Storm, was 
born in Virginia in the year 1799 and when a 



young man removed to Indiana, being married 
in Tippecanoe county to Miss Beckey Wright, a 
native of that state. They were farming people 
and made a home there. In their family were 
nine children, eight of whom reached years of 
maturity. Mr. Storm lost his first wife when 
she was forty-five years of age and he was after- 
ward again married, his last days being spent in 
Indiana where he died in 1872 at the age of 
seventy-three yeai's. 

Joseph Storm was the eldest of his father's 
family and was reared upon the home farm, 
while his education was acquired in the com- 
mon schools. He remained at home until he 
was twenty-five years of age, after which he 
went to Wisconsin locating in Richland county. 
The journey was made on horseback for a dis- 
tance of four hundred miles, and after reaching 
his destination Mr. Stonn entered three hun- 
dred acres of land from the government and 
also bought one hundred and sixty acres there. 
He then returned to Indiana where he lived for 
a year, and in 1856 he came to Iowa, settling 
in Dallas county. He established his home in 
Beaver township, on Beaver creek, where he 
purchased two hundred and forty acres of land 
at four dollars per acre. He drove an ox team 
through from Wisconsin and in Iowa he sold 
his outfit after which he returned to Indiana. 
In the following fall, however, he came back 
to Dallas county, the journ'^y being made by 
stage from Iowa City to his farm on Beaver 
Creek. In 1859 he went to Colorado, where 
for three years he engaged in placer mining, 
and in 1867 he located at Watseka, Iroquois 
county, Illinois, where he bought and fattened 
cattle for two years. In 1865 he returned to 
Dallas county to make a permanent home and 
began to break prairie with oxen, buying four 
yoke of oxen and a twenty-four inch plow for 
five hundred dollars at Madrid. Later he built 
a house on his land on section 25, Beaver town- 
ship, comprising two hundred and forty acres 
of land. In 1866 he further extended his pos- 
sessions by the purchase of an additional tract 
of one hundred and twenty acres. In those 
early daj's ho broke prairie at five dollars per 




JOSEPH STOKM 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



373 



acre and followed that pursuit for about five 
years. He has since been farming and adding 
to his land until now he has about three thou- 
sand acres, all in Beaver and Des Moines town- 
ships. He is thus one of the most extensive 
landowners in the county and his large farming 
interests are bringing to him an excellent finan- 
cial return. He has been raising and selling 
cattle all his life and also has made a specialty 
of raising hogs, his shipments amounting to 
from ten to fifteen carloads annually. Alto- 
gether Mr. Storm has improved twelve farms, 
which are now in good shape, and he has been 
tilling for over thirty years. 

Mr. Storm purchased the Shannon-Stuber 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres on Section 
7, Des Moines township, adjoining the city of 
AVoodward, this becoming his property in 1906, 
and since Januarys, 1907, he has made his home 
there. No resident of the community is better 
informed concerning the best methods to follow 
in general agi'icultural pursuits. His lands 
have at all times been productive and that they 
have been profitable is evidenced by the fact 
that he has made extensive investments here. 

Mr. Storm not only belongs to that class of 
representative men who promote their own in- 
terests but has also been interested in advancing 
the public good in various lines, particularly 
in organizing the Interurban Railroad from 
Des Moines to Woodward. He gave the com- 
pany a free grant across his land for two miles 
in length for a right of way. He readily recog- 
nized the value which such a line would be to 
the community and he has never withheld his 
co-operation or support from any measure 
which he has deemed of benefit to the commu- 
nity at large. 

Mr. Storm has never married and with him 
reside Mr. Antrim and his family who have 
kept house for Mr. Storm for thirty-one years. 
Mr. Storm was reared in the faith of the de- 
mocracy but cast his firet presidential ballot for 
John C. Fremont and has voted for the national 
ticket of the republican party since that time, 
but in local elections is independent, casting 
his ballot for whoever he thinks will prove of 



most good to the community. He has never 
sought nor desired office but at the solicitation 
of friends and neighbors he served for several 
years as township trustee and was instrumental 
in laying out roads and in draining swamps in 
the early days in Des Moines and Beaver town- 
ships in order that roads might be constructed. 
He has been identified with the schools for forty 
years and the cause of education has constantly 
found in him a valuable fiiend and champion. 
Moreover, he is vice president and director of 
the AVoodward State Bank, was one of its 
organizers and is ranked as a captain of indus- 
try in this part of Iowa. He has capably man- 
aged his affairs throughout his entire life and 
although he came to this county empty-handed 
he is now one of its most prominent citizens. 
He is a pioneer of Beaver township and 
although he has lived here for many years, he 
is still an active and industrious man with 
many years of usefulness yet before him. He 
has a very wide acquaintance, scarcely equaled 
by that of any resident of Dallas county, and 
his friends are legion. 



FRANCIS G. McCALL. 

Francis G. McCall, one of the prominent and 
leading business men of Iowa, being secretary 
and general manager of the Fort Des Moines 
Canning Company, was born in Greensboro, 
Georgia, December 14, 1875. His father was a 
native of New York city, where his birth oc- 
curred in 1837. Early in the '50s he moved to 
Georgia. He engaged in merchandising in 
Greensboro, Georgia, until 1880, after which 
he went to Chattanooga and engaged in the 
brokerage business. He passed away in Janu- 
ary. 1907, mourned by a large circle of friends 
and business associates, for he had been a prom- 
inent man in the south. He was an active 
worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and 
fraternally was connected with the Masons. 
His wife was born in Green.sboro, Georgia, in 
1843, her ancestors having removed to that 



374 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



state from Virginia more than two centuries 
ago. Her father, William Weaver, was an ex- 
tensive planter and slaveholder of Greensboro. 
Mrs. McCall still survives her husband, making 
her home at present in Chattanooga. 

From an early age Francis G. McCall was 
identified with his father in the brokerage busi- 
ness. In 1893 he became connected with the 
canning business in Sibley, Illinois, and later 
removed to Gibson, that state, where he was en- 
gaged in the same business. In these positions 
he mastered the canning business in principle 
and detail, and in 1906 came to Dexter in the 
capacity of general manager for the Fort Des 
Moines Canning Company, in which office he 
has served since. He possesses untiring energy 
is quick of perception, forms his plans readily 
and is determined in their execution, and his 
close application to business and his excellent 
management have brought to him the high de- 
gree of prosperity which is today his. 

On June 3, 1907, Francis G. McCall was 
united in mai-riage to Miss Ethel McClure, of 
Gibson City, Illinois. In his fraternal rela- 
tions he is connected with Dexter camp, No. 
1662, M. W. A., and in his social and business 
life is recognized as a man of genuine personal 
worth, who has won the respect and esteem of 
all with whom he has come in contact. 



B. F. JONES. 



The agricultural interests of Dallas county 
find a worthy representative in B. F. Jones, 
of ^Vaukee, who is a prosperous and progressive 
business man, owning three farms. He has 
sixty-eight acres in the home place in Waukee, 
two hundred acres in another farm in Walnut 
and Van Meter townships, and sixty acres in a 
third tract in VaniNIeter township. His business 
enterprise and cai'eful management constitute 
the strong elements in his success and the fact 
that he is widely and favorably known through- 
out this county is proof that this record will be 
received with interest by many of our readers. 



Mr. Jones is a native son of New England. 
His birth occurred on the 1st of July, 1847, in 
Claremont, Sullivan county, New Hampshire. 
His father, Alfred Jones, a native of that state, 
was reared there, and as a companion and help- 
mate for life's journey chose Elizabeth Woodell, 
a native of England. They resided for some 
years in the old Granite state and in the spring 
of 1856 removed to Illinois, settling in Cham- 
paign county, where he opened up a farm. 
There he reared his children and spent his last 
years. His wife survived him and afterward 
came to Iowa, remaining in the home of her 
son, B. F. Jones, until her death. 

B. F. Jones was a youth of eight or nine 
years at the time of the removal of the family 
to Illinois and was reared in Champaign coun- 
ty, where he enjoyed the educational advan- 
tages afforded by the common schools. He was 
trixined to farm work, early becoming familiar 
with all the duties and labors that fall to the 
lot of the agriculturist. On the 20th of Octo- 
ber, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Ellen M. Baker, a native of Hartford, Connec- 
ticut, who was reared and educated there. 

After their marriage they settled upon a farm 
in Illinois, which Mr. Jones owned and culti- 
vated for seven years. He then sold out and on 
the expiration of that period he came to Dallas 
county, where he turned his attention to the 
milling business, following that pursuit in con- 
nection with his brother-in-law, Mr. Roberts, 
for two years. He then again resumed farm- 
ing, cultivating rented land for two years, after 
which he removed to the place he now owns at 
Waukee. He at first rented the farm but later 
he purchased it. For some time he was in the 
stock business ^ith 0. W. Mead, a large land- 
owner, banker and stockman, the partnership 
continuing for five years. Prospering in his 
business undertakings, Mr. Jones bought the 
two hundred-acre farm, living thereon for some 
years. On the expiration of that period he re- 
moved to his present place of residence in order 
to give his sons the opportunity of attending 
school. He is now a prosperous farmer, his 
business interests having proved profitable as 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



375 



the years have gone by. He is also a stockhold- 
er and director in the savings bank and has be- 
come owner of a drug store in Waukee. A man 
of resourceful business ability, he has capably 
directed his labors, and his keen discernment 
and enterprise constitute the basis of a most de- 
sirable success. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have become the parents 
of eight children: Maggie, the wife of E. A. 
Shannon; Mary, the wife of J. S. Shannon, a 
merchant of Sac City, Iowa ; Abbie, the wife of 
Harry Copeland, a farmer and stock-raiser near 
Yale, Iowa, who is making a specialty of the 
raising of horses; A. J., who is conducting a 
restaurant at Pocahontas, Iowa; Edward A., a 
farmer and stock-raiser who is connected with 
his father in business and lives on the farm of 
two hundred acres; George C, a pharmacist 
conducting the drug store at Waukee; A. M., 
who was graduated from the law department 
of the Drake Universitj' in June, 1907 ; and B. 
F., who is a jeweler. He learned his trade at 
Elgin and is also a gi'aduate optician. 

The parents and three of the children are 
members of the Christian church, in the work 
of which the family take an active and helpful 
interest, ilr. Jones serving as one of its elders. 
He has always been a liberal contributor to the 
church, gave generously toward the erection of 
the house of worship and has been an active 
worker and teacher in the Sunday school. He 
has been a delegate to the county and state con- 
ventions connected with the church and has 
done much to promote the interest of various 
church societies. He is a strict temperance 
man and in fact has always been an earnest ad- 
vocate of everything that would promote the 
moral advancement of his race. He became a 
teacher in the Sunday school when a young 
man of eighteen years and his influence has 
ever been given on the side of right, justice and 
tnith. Politically he is an earnest republican 
and sen-ed as township trustee for ten years. 
He was road commissioner, is at present vil- 
lage assessor and has also been a member of the 
town board. He served on the school board for 
vears and has done much to advance the inter- 



ests of education. His life has been so honor- 
able, his character development so admirable, 
and his worth so pronounced that wherever 
known B. F. Jones is respected and honored. 
He well merits the success which has come to 
him, for it has been gained through business 
methods which neither seek nor require dis- 
guise. 



S. L. WAED. 



S. L. Ward, who has led a life of activity and 
enterprise, resulting in the acquirement of a 
goodly measure of success, is now engaged in 
blacksmithing in Adel and is also the owner of 
a ^■aluable farming property near by. His life 
record began in Jersey township, Licking coun- 
ty, Ohio, on the 28th of August, 1839. His pa- 
rents were Samuel H. and Caroline (White- 
head) Ward, the former a native of New Jersey 
and the latter of New York. The father was a 
machinist and carpenter, who followed those 
pursuits throughout his entire life. He came 
to Iowa in the early '50s, living for a time in 
Warren countj', after which he removed to 
Adel. Subsequent to the death of his wife, 
which occurred in Adel when she was sixty-two 
years of age, he returned to Licking county, 
Ohio, where he departed this life at the age of 
sixty-four. In their family were six children, 
of whom one sister of our subject is now living 
in Ottumwa, Iowa, and another in Kansas. A 
brother, T. H. Ward, enlisted in the Forty-sixth 
Regiment of Ohio Volunteers at the time of the 
Civil war and later was made first lieutenant of 
the Fifty-fifth Regiment of United States Col- 
ored Infantrj', serving for nearly four years in 
defense of the Union. He became a physician 
and was post physician at Fort Berthold for 
two years, after which he removed to Kansas 
and subsequently to California, where his last 
days were passed. 

S. L. Ward was a youth of sixteen years when 
he came to Iowa with his parents. He acquired 
a good common-school education, and on the 



376 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Sd of September, 1861, just after he had passed 
his twenty-second birthday, he offered his serv- 
ices to the country in defense of the Union, 
joining the boys in blue of Company K, Third 
Iowa Cavalry, in Marion county. He then 
ser\'ed until mustered out by special order at 
Memphis, Tennessee, in October, 1864. After 
having been a member of the army for ten 
months he was commissioned first lieutenant 
and held that rank during the remainder of 
his military experience. He took part in the 
battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, did much 
skirmishing and bushwhacking under Curtis 
in Missouri, took part in the latter part of the 
siege of Vicksburg and then went upon the ex- 
pedition against Memphis. He was never 
wounded nor taken prisoner and save for a 
short period when he was ill with lung fever in 
June, 1863, he was always found at his post of 
duty, faithfully defending the old flag and the 
cause it represented. A short time ago he was 
granted a pension in recognition of the aid 
which he had rendered to his country. 

In 1865 Mr. Ward came to Adel and engaged 
in blacksmithing, following that pursuit until 
the fall of 1878, when the Milwaukee Railroad 
was extended from Waukee to Adel and Mr. 
Ward became the first engineer on that line. 
The next year the line was extended to Panora 
and Mr. AVard took the first passenger train 
into the ^latter place. After two years on the 
road he built a machine shop and foundry at 
Adel and at that time made castings for the 
railroad. A\'hen the railroad shops were built 
at Des jMoines he traded his shop for farm 
lands and again took up blacksmithing, in 
which he has since been engaged. He is a 
skilled blacksmith and mechanic, especially in 
the line of iron working, and he enjoys a very 
liberal and profitable patronage. He also owns 
a good farm of one hundred acres in Adel town- 
ship and a fine residence in the city of Adel, 
which stands as a monument to his thrift and 
enterprise. 

On the 22d of September, 1859, Mr. Ward 
was united in marriage to Miss Anna Margery 
Batten, a native of Ohio and a daughter of 



Joseph and Jane (Cochran), Batten, who were 
also natives of the Buckeye state, whence they 
came to Iowa in 1856. They were farming peo- 
ple of Marion county until 1865, when they 
came to Adel, where they have since resided. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ward have one son, George C, 
who mai-ried Carrie T. Gray, of Colfax town- 
ship, and is now living at Long Beach, Cali- 
fornia. 

Mr. and Mrs. AVard ai-e consistent members 
of the Presbyterian, church, in which Mr. Ward 
is serving as ruling elder and in the work of the 
church they have taken an active and helpful 
part, doing all in their power to promote its 
growth and extend its influence. Mr. Ward is 
a stalwart republican, deeply intere.sted in the 
success of his party, and for four years he 
served as mayor of Adel, giving to the city a 
public-spirited and beneficial administration 
characterized by reform and improvement. For 
twelve years he has been a member of the school 
board and for nine years of that time has been 
its president. He is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United AVorkmen and of the Grand 
Army post, of which he served for fifteen years 
as commander, while at the present time he is 
officer of the day. In those finer traits of char- 
acter which combine to form that which we 
term friendship, which endear and attach man 
to man in bonds which nothing but the stain 
of dishonor can sever, which triumph and ?hine 
brightest in the hour of adversity — in those 
qualities Mr. AA'ard is royally endowed. 



HARRY A^ RICKERSON. 

Harry Y. Rickerson occupies a leading posi- 
tion in mercantile circles in Adel, where for 
some years he has successfully conducted busi- 
ness as a dealer in clothing and men's furnish- 
ings. He is a native son of Adel, having been 
bom here on the 9th of January, 1867, while 
in the public schools he acquired his education. 
His paternal grandparents were Ransom and 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



377 



Mary (Loomis) Rickerson. The former was a 
farmer of the state of New York and came to 
Iowa in 1854, ca^tmg in hi^ lot with the pioneer 
settlers of Dallas county. He carried on gener- 
al agricultural pursuits in Adel township until 
isr)(). when he put aside the active work of the 
farm and lived retired during his remaining 
days in Adel, where he passed away in 1858, at 
(he age of fifty-seven. Li politics he was a 
whig and was deeply interested in matters of 
progressive citizenship. He took an active and 
helpful part in the early development of the 
county and desen^es mention among its hon- 
ored pioneers. His wife long survived him, pass- 
ing away in 1886, at the age of eighty-two 
years. 

Their son, C. G. D. Rickerson, the youngest 
in a family of three children, is the only one 
now living. He was born in Oswego county, 
New York, September 30, 1830, and came to 
Dallas county with his parents in 1854, when 
twenty-three years of age. He had learned the 
car]ienter's trade in New York and followed 
tliat jiursuit here until the lltli of August, 1862, 
when he enlisted at Adel for three yeai-s' serv- 
ice, or during the war, becoming a member of 
Company B, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer In- 
fantry. He participated in the battle of Park- 
ers Crossroads and on the 5th of October, 1864, 
took part in the battle at Allatooua. Georgia. 
The officers being out of line and Mr. Rickerson 
being first orderly sergeant, he took command 
of the company in that engagement. He was 
also in the battle at Mills Springs and partici- 
pated in the celebrated march under Sherman 
to the sea.. He was mustered out in Washing- 
ton, D. C, June 5, 1865, and received an honor- 
able discharge at Clinton, Iowa, on the 13th of 
June. He made a creditable military record as 
one who was always found at his jiost of duty 
whether on the firing line or on the lonely pick- 
et line. After the close of the war he resumed 
building operations in Adel and has followed 
his trade here to the present time. He filled the 
office of city marshal for twelve years, being 
elected for the fii-st term in 1868. For a num- 
ber of years he affiliated with the Independent 



Order of Odd Fellows, was also a Good Templar 
and is a member of Colonel Mills post, No. 54, 
G. A. R., in which he maintains pleasant re- 
lations with his old army comrades. In poli- 
tics he is a stanch republican. 

C. G. D. Rickerson has been twice married, 
his first union being with Miss A. Simons, by 
whom he had one son, William H. Having 
lost his first wife, Mr. Rickerson was married 
in Adams township, on the 28th of August, 
1862, to Miss Malinda A. Caldwell, who was 
born in Hendricks county, Indiana, August 11, 
1844. She was the daughter of John F. and 
Winnie A. (Churchman) Caldwell. Her fath- 
er was born in Tennessee, September 13, 1810, 
and died September 7, 1897, while his wife, 
who was born in Tennessee, May 26, 1818, died 
September 12, 1890. They were married in 
Tenne.s.see in July, 1838, and in their family 
were nine children, of whom six are now living, 
Mrs. Rickerson being the third of the family. 
Soon after his marriage Mr. Caldwell removed 
to Indiana, where, he followed farming until 
1854, when he came with his family to Adams 
township, Dallas county, Iowa, aiding in its 
pioneer development and material progress. 
Here he spent his remaining days, a re.spected 
and worthy citizen. He held membership in 
the Baptist church and his political support was 
given to the republican party. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey G. D. Ricker- 
son have been born three .sons: Harry V., Guy 
H. and Glenn C. The first named sj^nt his 
boyhood and youth not unlike-that of most lads 
of the period.,* He acquired his education in 
the public schools and in early manhood was 
employed by others, but in January, 1893, when 
twenty-six years of age, he began business on 
his own account as a dealer in clothing, men's 
furnishings, boots and shoes. He has now con- 
ducted the business for fourteen years with a 
constantly growing trade. He has a well ap- 
pointed store and receives a liberal patronage, 
which is indicative of the carefully selected line 
of goods which he carries and also of his 
straightforward dealing. He is a member of 
(he Iowa State Retail Merchants Association 



378 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and thus keeps in touch with business condi- 
tions throughout the state. 

On the 23d of February, 1893, Mr. Rickerson 
was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Jolley, 
who was born in Colfax township, Dallas coun- 
ty, Iowa, January 13, 1862, a daughter of Lewis 
and Elizabeth (Sowash) Jolley. Her paternal 
grandparents M^ere John and Hannah (Cook) 
Jolley, the former a prominent man in Ohio 
during anti-slaverjf days. He was a man of liter- 
ary tastes and attainments, possessed a liberal 
education for that time and in 1795 he wrote 
a treatise on mathematics, which is still in ex- 
istence in manuscript form. He taught school, 
did surveying and kept accounts for farmers 
and was regarded as the educated man of his 
settlement for miles around in Union county, 
Ohio. He died in 1860 at the age of seventy- 
eight years. Lewis Jolley, the father of Mrs. 
Rickerson, was born in Union county, Ohio, 
December 21, 1827, and was a carpenter by 
trade. He came to Adel in 1855 and in this 
city, on the 12th of February, 1857, he was 
married to Mrs. Elizabeth Young, whose maid- 
en name was Sowash and who was born in Alle- 
gheny county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1823. 
In 1859 they removed to the farm which he 
purchased two miles west of Adel, and there 
he carried on general agricultural pursuits until 
the fall of 1883, when he again took up his 
abode in the county seat, where he spent his 
last days in honorable retirement from labor. 
He was a prominent and influential farmer 
through many years and was respected by all 
who knew him as a man of sterling worth. He 
assisted in building the first Methodist Episco- 
pal church in Adel in 1861 and continued a 
member of that denomination until his death. 
His political allegiance was given to the repub- 
lican party. The death of Lewis Jolley oc- 
curred November 19, 1887, and his wife sur- 
vived until September 24, 1902. Only two 
members of their family are now living, Jasper 
L. and Mrs. Rickerson. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Rickerson are highly es- 
teemed in Adel, where they have many warm 
friends. His political allegiance is given to the 



republican party and he is a firm advocate of 
its principles but has never sought or desired 
public office, preferring to give his time and at- 
tention to his business affairs, which are capa- 
bly conducted, making him one of the leading 
and successful merchants of Adel. 



L. CALVIN WISE. 



In the history of Sugar Grove township men- 
tion should be made of L. Calvin Wise, who 
resides on section 14, where he is engaged in 
the raising and feeding of stock and also in 
the cultivation and improvement of a farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres. His individual 
business entei-prise and firm purpose have con- 
stituted the strong elements in his success. 
He has lived in the county since 1884 and is 
one of the worthy citizens that Pennsylvania 
has furnished to this state. His birth occurred 
in Franklin county, of the Keystone state, on 
the 5th of June, 1865. His father, Andrew 
J. Wise, was born in Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 7th of April, 1841. 
There he was reared and married, the lady of 
his choice being Miss Susan Shank, also a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania. Mr. Wise was a farmer 
and also a miller by trade, following the latter 
pursuit when a young man. Five children 
were born unto him and his wife in Pennsyl- 
vania and he afterward removed with his fam- 
ily to Illinois, settling in Carroll county upon 
a farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, 
which he owned and cultivated. There he 
made his home for nine years and three other 
children were added to the family during that 
period. In 1884 they came to Dallas county, 
Iowa, and Mr. Wise here purchased three hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land, constituting the 
west half of section 14, Sugar Grove township. 
This he began to till and later bought eighty 
acres east of Dallas Center. To that farm he 
then removed, spending his later years there 
and in the town, where he died in 1904. His 




MI!. AND MKS. 1.. ('. WISE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



381 



wife still survives him and yet makes her 
home in Dallas Center. 

L. C. Wise is the eldest of the sons and 
daughters, the others being: John S., who is a 
resident farmer of Sugar Grove township; 
Jacob A., who follows farming in Walnut town- 
ship near Waukee; Daniel W., also living in 
Walnut township; Martha, the wife of H. L. 
Rover, a farmer of this township ; Bertha, who 
is assistant principal of the high school at Dal- 
las Center; Lizzie, who married Frank Sehman 
and died on the 14th of February, 1905; and 
George Z., who died in January, 1904. 

L. Calvin Wise spent the days of his boy- 
hood and youth in Pennsylvania, Illinois and 
in Dallas county, according to the removal of 
his parents. His education was largely ac- 
quired in the common schools of Illinois and 
he assisted his father in developing the farm. 
He aided in building the barn and otherwise 
improving the place and worked in the fields 
until after he had attained his majority, when 
he started out in life for himself, choosing as ■ 
a life work the occupation to which he was 
reared. 

Mr. Wise was married in Guthrie county, 
on the 17th of November, 1889, to Miss Ida 
Slaybaugh, who was born and reared in Guth- 
rie county and was a daughter of Dr. Isaac 
Slaybaugh, an early settler, formerly of Penn- 
sylvania. Following their marriage they lo- 
cated on a farm in Sugar Grove township, liv- 
ing there until the summer of 1892, when they 
removed to Yale, where Mr. Wise engaged in 
merchandising for six months. He did not 
find that pursuit as congenial to him as farm- 
ing, however, and selling out, he spent eight 
months where he now resides. He then located 
on a farm in Guthrie county, where he car- 
ried on general agricultural pursuits until the 
spring of 1902. At that date he removed to 
Kansas, purchasing a farm in Franklin county, 
upon which he lived for one summer, when 
he sold out and went to California, purchasing 
a I'anch near Los Angeles. He devoted it to 
the raising of fruit and stock and continued 
upon the Pacific coast until February, 1904, 



when he returned to Iowa and again located 
upon the old homestead, purchasing the north 
half of this property. He has since remod- 
eled the house, adding all modern improve- 
ments, including furnace heat, hot and cold 
water on both floors, a bathroom and in fact 
all modern conveniences. He makes a spe- 
cialtj' of feeding and fattening cattle and hogs 
and he also deals in horses. He is a well 
known stock dealer and shipper and is seldom, 
if ever, at error in placing a valuation upon 
farm animals. He has thus been enabled to 
make judicious purchases and profitable sales 
and his stock-raising interests are an important 
branch of his business. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wise have been born two 
children: Moses A. and Bertha E., both at 
home. The former is a young man who aids 
in carrying on the farm and is of much as- 
sistance to his father. The parents are mem- 
bers of the German Baptist church and Mr. 
AVise is a democrat but has no desire for pub- 
lic office. He is a good financier and business 
man and as the years have gone by has grad- 
ually worked his way upward until he is now 
one of the prosperous citizens of Sugar Grove 
township. He is practical and systematic in all 
that he does and has gained that measure of 
prosperity which follows earnest, persistent and 
well-directed labor. 



CHARLES YOUNG. 



Charles Young, who follows general farming 
on section 24, Walnut township, operating two 
hundred and forty acres of land belonging to 
the Henry Young estate, of which he is one 
of the heirs, also owns independently two hun- 
dred and seventy-five acres elsewhere. The 
spirit of enterprise actuates him in all of his 
business life and has led him from small be- 
ginnings into large undertakings, wherein his 
labors are crowned with gratifying prosperity. 

Mr. Young was bom on the 7th of April, 
1858, in Dallas county. He is a son of Henry 



382 



PAST AJSTD PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Young, one of the early settlers of the county, 
who opened up the farm upon which Charles 
Young now resides. Removing westward to 
Iowa at an early period in the development of 
the state he first took up his abode in Polk 
county, where he met and married Miss Eliza- 
beth Betz, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. 
Mr. Young was born in Prussia, German}-, in 
1823. He brought his bride to the home farm 
on section 24, "Walnut township, and herereared 
his family and spent his remaining days. As 
the years passed he carefully conducted his 
fai-m and brought the place under a high state 
of cultivation, equipping it with many modern 
accessories and conveniences. He died on the 
11th of May, 1903, having for about nine years 
survived his wife, who died in 189-i. 

Charles Young is the only son in the family 
of three children. His older si-ster is Mrs. Mary 
M. Mensburger, a widow, who is living in Polk 
county and has five children. Carrie, the 
younger daughter, resides with her bi'other on 
the farm. He was reared here and had fair . 
.common-school advantages, pursuing his stud- 
ies during the winter months. He remained 
with his father until the latter's death and ha^ 
since managed the property. He is a practical 
agriculturist, who does well whatever he under- 
takes and his strong determination and laud- 
able ambition constitute the secret of his pros- 
perity. 

On the 13th of ^March, 1895, Mr. Young wa« 
united in marriage to Miss Katie Baumann, 
Avho was born and reared in Polk county, Iowa. 
They have two children, Anna Pauline and 
Marie. Mr. Young exercises his right of fran- 
chise in support of the men and measures of 
the republican party. He voted for President 
McKinley and is now an advocate of republi- 
can principles. He is interested in the cause 
of education and has been president of the 
school board for two years. He is an Odd Fel- 
low, belonging to Waukee lodge. No. 311, and 
he is also connected with the Modern Wood- 
men lodge, a fraternal insurance order. Mr. 
Young has spent his entire life in this county 
and has witnessed much of its growth and de- 



velopment, for great changes have occurred dur- 
ing the last four or five decades and the county, 
which in his boyhood was largely a frontier 
district, is now one of the leading, populous 
and thriving counties of this great common- 
wealth. He has contributed to its agricultural 
progress and in his business affaii-s is meeting 
with verv desirable success. 



.JOHN S. SHOEMAN. 



Iowa with its splendid agricultural possibili- 
ties offers excellent opportunity to him who 
wishes to earn his living in the tilling of the 
soil. Washington has said that "Agriculture 
is the most useful as well as most honorable 
occupation of man," and history gives evidence 
of the fact that it is the basis of all success. De- 
voting his time and energies in successful man- 
ner to the cultivation and improvement of a 
farm, John S. Shoeman has become well known 
as a prominent and progressive citizen of Wal- 
nut township, where he owns and operates three 
hundred and twenty acres of excellent land. 
He also has fifty acres in addition to this. He 
has been a resident of Iowa since 1876, and of 
Dallas county since 1877. He was born in 
Blair county, Pennsylvania, in 1858, and his 
father, Henry Shoeman, was also a native of 
that county, where he was reared. He was a 
shoemaker by trade and thus provided for his 
famih'. In the place of his nativity he mar- 
ried Louisa Smaltz, a native of Germany, who 
came with her parents to the new world, settling 
in Blair county, Pennsylvania. 

John S. Shoeman is the third in order of 
birth in a family of eleven children. His op- 
portunities for attending school were very 
meagre and he is largely a self-educated man. 
^^'hen eighteen years of age he came westward 
to Iowa and worked by the month at farm labor 
in Polk coimty for one year and then came to 
Dallas county, where he worked by the month 
for three vears. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



383 



In September, 1880, Mr. Shoeman was mar- 
ried to Jliss Amaiida Hawbaker, a native of 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter 
of Daniel Hawbaker, who came to Iowa from 
Pennsylvania in 1879. After his marriage he 
continued to work by the month for six months 
and then began farming on his own account 
on rented land. Sixteen yeai-s passed in this way 
and during that time he saved from his earn- 
ing-s a sum of money sufficient to enable him to 
purchase land. Since 1880 he has made his 
home upon the farm which is yet his place of 
residence and after renting it for seventeen 
yeai-3 he made purchase in 1897 of the tract of 
thi-ee hundred and twenty acres which he had 
long been cultivating. In the previous year, 
however, he purchased fifty acres at Waukee, 
which was the first land that he ever owned. 
He is now one of the substantial and jirosper- 
ous citizens of the county, with well developed 
lousiness powers and keen discernment. Every- 
thing about his place is neat and thrifty in ap- 
pearance, and in 1903 he built a good two- 
story frame residence, while upon the farm 
there are also two good barns, cribs and out- 
buildings. He has been feeding and raising 
cattle and hogs for thirty years and markets 
from eight to ten carloads of cattle and two 
carloads of hogs annually. He feeds all of his 
grain, and his stock-raising interests are very 
remunerative, bringing him an excellent return 
as the years have gone by. In all his business 
interests he is practical and enterprising, and 
his success is well merited. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shoeman have been born 
six children : Henry I., who is now operating 
the home farm ; Walter H., who operates a 
farm adjoining his father's place, and who mar- 
ried Effie Campbell, V)y whom he has one 
daughter, Florence; Mary, the wife of Earl 
Burki-tt, a resident of Waukee; Robert M., 
Eva and John D., all at home. 

Mr. Shoeman votes with the republican 
party where national issues are involved but 
casts an independent local ballot. He has never 
sought or held office, preferring to give undi- 
vided attention to his business affairs, and he 



has justly earned the proud American title of 
a self-made man. He started out in life empty- 
handed but he realized that labor is the basis 
of all success, and his close application and un- 
faltering diligence have given him rank with 
the leading farmers of his ' county. He was 
among the fii-st to tile the land and has thor- 
oughly drained his place, which is now among 
the best improved farms of Walnut township, 
and is the visible evidence of his life of thrift 
and industry. His record should serve as a 
source of inspiration and encouragement to 
othei-s, showing what may be accomplished 
when one has the will to dare and to do. 



HENRY CLAY CLAYTON. 

Henry Clay Clayton owns and cultivates a 
farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sec- 
tions 34 and 35, Van Meter township, and is 
one of the enterprising agriculturists of the lo- 
cality. In addition to the tilling of the soil 
he is engaged quite extensively in the raising 
of cattle, horses and hogs and in the conduct of 
a dairy business. His life is one of activity 
and enterprise and his intense and well directed 
energy has resulted in bringing him a goodly 
measure of prosperity. 

Mr. Clayton was born in Lawrence county, 
Indiana, on the 4th of May, 1846, and is im- 
bued with the spirit of progress which has dom- 
inated the middle west in its upbuilding and 
development. His parents were natives of 
North Carolina and in their family were nine 
children, of whom H. C. Clayton is the seventh 
in order of birth. They located in loAva during 
its territorial days and came to Dallas county 
in 1853 when it was still a frontier region. 
Here they spent their remaining days. 

At the usual age H. C. Clayton began attend- 
ing the public schools and .therein mastered 
the common branches of English learning. He 
aided in the arduous task of developing a new 
farm and continued to work upon the old 
homestead up to the time of his marriage. 



384 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



which important event in his life was celebrat- 
ed on the 21st of July, 1878. The lady of his 
choice bore the maiden name of Sarah J. Rob- 
erts and was born April 7, 1856. Her father 
was a native of New Hampshire, while her 
mother was bom in Massachusetts and of their 
seven children Mrs. Clayton was the second in 
order of birth. The Roberts family was also 
established in Iowa in early days, the parents of 
Mrs. Clayton remaining residents of Dallas 
county until 1900, when they removed to Dade 
county, Missouri, where they are still living. 
The home of our subject and his wife has been 
blessed with the following children: George 
Blaine, who was born March 30, 1879, and 
mai-ried Miss Emma M. Durkes; Bertha M., 
who was bom July 21, 1880, and is the wife 
of Guy E. Pitzer; Jerry C, who was born June 
17, 1885, and married Dolly J. Landers; Ben- 
jamin H., bom April 5, 1888; John H., born 
June 21, 1890; and Roy A., bom March 12, 
1898. 

Following his marriage Mr. Clayton began 
farming in order to provide for his family and 
has since continued in this pursuit, working 
his way steadily upward from a humble finan- 
cial position to one of affluence. He today de- 
rives his revenue from a valuable and richly 
cultivated farm of two hundred and eighty 
acres situated on sections 34 and 35, Van Meter 
township. It is supplied with all of the equip- 
ments of a model farm property of the twen- 
tieth century and in addition to cultivating 
the fields he makes a specialty of the dairy busi- 
ness, which yields him a good financial return 
annually. He also raises cattle, horses and 
hogs, selling a large amount of stock each year. 

In his political views Mr. Clayton is a repub- 
lican and has filled the offices of assessor and 
school director, acting in the latter capacity for 
several years. He has always been loyal and 
progressive in citizenship and at the time of 
the Civil war he manifested his fidelitj^ to his 
country by active service in the south, enlisting 
as a member of Company C, Forty-sixth Iowa 
Infantry. With that command he went to the 
front and never faltered in the performance of 



any duty, whether on the firing line or on the 
lonely picket line. He is today equally loyal 
to the stars and stripes and in community af- 
fairs is interested in all that pertains to the 
general progress and improvement of Dallas 
county. He is a member of the Iowa Detec- 
tive Association and he and his wife attend and 
support the United Brethren church, though he 
was reared a Quaker and still adheres to that 
belief. His life has been actuated by high prin- 
ciples and characterized by manly conduct and 
in the community where he has now lived for 
more than a half century he enjoys that warm 
personal friendship and kindly esteem which 
are always given in recognition of genuine 
worth in the individual. 



JOHN M. DAWSON. 



John M. Dawson is a successful farmer living 
on section 14, Colfax township. He displays 
excellent business qualities, is resolute and de- 
termined, active and energetic, and carries for- 
ward to successful completion whatever he 
undertakes. He is now the owner of two hun- 
dred and forty acres of rich and valuable land, 
constituting one of the fine farms of his part of 
the county, and so widely and favorably is he 
known that no history of this locality would be 
complete without mention of his life. 

Mr. Dawson is a native son of the middle 
west, his birth having occurred in Milo, Bureau 
county. Illinois, on the 20th of January, 1860. 
His father, Elias H. Dawson, was born June 
25, 1829, in the state of Pennsylvania. He 
married Sidonia Maple, who was born May 27, 
1832. They became early settlers of Illinois, 
where they resided until 1878, when they re- 
moved to Greene county, Iowa. The father se- 
cured two hundred acres of wild prairie land 
and at once began to till the soil and bring the 
fields under a high state of cultivation. He is 
still living upon that farm but the mother of 
our subject was not long permitted to enjoy 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



387 



her new home, for her death occurred in Janu- 
ary, 1879. 

There were four children of that marriage: 
Clark v., who is living in Kennedy, Iowa; 
John j\L, of this review; Adam B., who resides 
in Owensville, Indiana; and William H., whose 
home is in Greene county, Iowa. Since losing 
his first wife Mr. Dawson has been married 
again, his second union being with Jane 
Thaler. Two children have been born of this 
marriage, Marion and Mabel, both at home. 
Throughout his entire life the father has car- 
ried on general agricultural pursuits and yet 
gives supei-vision to his farm although he has 
pa-ssed the age of seventy-eight years. His life 
has been useful, active and honorable, and he 
commands the good-will and confidence of all 
with whom he has been associated. 

John M. Dawson was reared in the u.'^ual 
manner of farm lads. He worked in the fields 
when not busy with his text-books and early be- 
came familiar with the best methods of tilling 
the soil and caring for the crops. He continued 
with his father until twenty-one years of age, 
when he started out in life on his own account. 
He first earned his living by working as a farm 
hand by the month, but one year spent in that 
way was enough for him and he determined 
that his labors should more directly benefit 
himself, so he began cultivating rented land 
and thus carried on agricultural pursuits until 
he had earned a sum sufficient to enable him to 
purchase forty acres in partnership with his 
brother. Afterward he sold his Illinois pop- 
erty and came to Iowa in the spring of 1886. 
Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
of prairie land, on which not a furrow had been 
turned or an improvement made, save that a 
small house and a little barn had been built. 

In the meantime Mr. Dawson was married on 
Christmas day of 1884 to Miss Ellen Stever, 
who was born March 7, 1866, in ^lilo, Bureau 
county, Illinois. She has been to him a faith- 
ful companion and helpmate on life's journey 
and while he has carried on the work of the 
fields, she has carefully managed the household 
affairs. Her father, Henry Stever, was burn 



September 6, 1828, in Northampton county, 
Pennsylvania. Her mother, who bore the maid- 
en name of Mariette Libenguth, was born 
March 17, 1832, and was also a native of the 
Keystone state. They went to Illinois in 1863 
and Mr. Stever purchased one hundred and 
forty acres of land in Bureau county, which he 
at once began to cultivate and improve, placing 
the farm under a high state of development. He 
lived upon that property imtil 1883, when he 
sold his interest in Illinois and came to Iowa, 
casting in his lot with the settlers of Dallas 
county. Here he purchased land in Colfax 
township. He was quite successful and by 
hard work, capable management and judicious 
investment, he became the owner of large land 
holdings in Dallas county. In 1896 he gave 
up active work and removed to Adel, Iowa, 
where he and his wife are now living retired. 
His intense and well directed activity in former 
years brought to him a handsome competence, 
so that he is now enabled to enjoy the comforts 
and some of the luxuries of life without recourse 
to further labor. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stever 
were born seven children : Sarah, the wife of 
George Britton, now living in Oklahoma; Kath- 
erine, the wife of Orlando Dickson, who lives 
in Dallas Center, Iowa; Marietta, the wife of 
J. Lombard, who is located in Cripple Creek, 
Colorado ; Henry, Jr., who is married and lives 
in Lawrenceville, Iowa; Nathaniel, who mar- 
ried Minnie Bates, and died when twenty-seven 
years of age ; Mrs. Dawson ; Malinda, the wife 
of J. M. Kennedy, who is living in Colfax town- 
ship. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have been born 
five children and the family circle yet remains 
unbroken by the hand of death : Clarence mar- 
ried Edith Snyder, by whom he has one son, 
Harold, and they reside with his father. Iva is 
at home. Sylvia is the wife of Hammond De- 
ford, a resident of Dallas county, Iowa, and 
they have one daughter. Vera. Cora and Ruby, 
the younger members of the family, are at 
home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dawson had been married only 
aliout two years when they came to Dallas 



388 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



county and settled upon a quarter section of 
land in Colfax township, of which not an acre 
had been placed under the plow. There were 
many trials and hardships to be borne in devel- 
oping the farm and Mr. Dawson says, "there 
were many blue days," but he persevered, al- 
though in the early years he would gladly have 
sold out and returned to Illinois if he could 
have found a purchaser. By hard work, hon- 
esty and good business ability, he has trans- 
foi'med that wild land into a beautiful Iowa 
farm and as his financial resources have in- 
creased, he has added to the property until he 
now owns two hundred and forty acres on 
which he lives and three hundred and twenty 
acres in Oklalioma. He certainly deserves 
much credit for his success as he started out in 
life empty-handed. Earnest toil has been his 
lot but this has been guided by sound business 
judgment and supplemented by keen sagacity 
until he is now numbered among the substan- 
tial agriculturists of the community, and his 
life record proves what may be accomplished 
when one has the will to do and dare. 

Mr. Dawson has served as a school director 
for a number of years and the cause of educa- 
tion finds in him a warm friend. In politics he is 
a republican and although he has never sought 
nor desired office he has always been true and 
loyal in matters of citizenship. Of genial man- 
ner and social disposition, it is a pleasure to 
meet and know him, and his life record should 
serve as a source of encouragement and inspira- 
tion to others for it proves that succe.es is am- 
bition's answer. 



HON. COLE NOEL. 



Hon. Cole Noel w;is for many years one of 
the most prominent and valued residents of 
Dallas county. He lived within her borders for 
more than a half century and his life record 
reflected honor and credit upon those who hon- 
ored him. He passed away at the verj' vener- 
able age of eighty-seven years, nine months and 



twenty-two days, leaving behind an untar- 
nished name. His life was as the day, with its 
morning of hope and promise, its noontide of 
activity, its evening of successful and completed 
effort ending in the grateful rest and quiet of 
the night. No history of the county would be 
complete without his record, so closely was he 
associated with its business interests and its 
political annals. 

Mr. Noel was a native of Indiana, born in 
Monroe county on the 4th of October, 1818. 
His parents were Louis and Sallie (McCam- 
mon) Noel, the former a native of Virginia 
and the latter of North Carolina. Mrs. Noel's 
father served under General Francis Marion 
in the Revolutionary war. The marriage of 
Louis Noel and Sallie McCammon was celebrat- 
ed in Monroe county, Indiana, where they lived 
in pioneer times, aiding in the work of early 
development and improvement there. Mr. Noel 
devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits 
and passed away in 1851 in the faith of the 
Baptist church, of which he was a devoted 
member. His political allegiance was given to 
the democracy. In the family were eleven 
children but all have now departed this life. 

When a youth of six years Cole Noel accom- 
jianied his parents on their removal to Rock- 
ville, Indiana, where he lived until ^lay, 1852, 
when he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and in De- 
cember, 1853, he located in Adel, where he re- 
sided for more than a half century. The county 
was then largely an unbroken wilderness, but he 
lived to witness its wonderful development and 
improvement and took an active part in bring- 
ing about the transformation that has made it 
one of the leading and i^rosperous counties of 
this great commonwealth. He bore all the hard- 
shii>s, privations and trials of pioneer life and 
in his later years related many interesting in- 
cidents of the early days. 

Mr. Noel had been a resident of the county 
for less than three years when, in 1856, he was 
elected clerk of the courts, acting in that capac- 
ity for more than ten years. In 1863 he was 
appointed assessor of internal revenue by Presi- 
dent Lincoln, sening until 1869. He was elect- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



369 



ed a member of the thirteenth general assembly, 
which body made the appropriation for build- 
ing the present state eapitol. While in the 
house he gave careful consideration to each 
question which came up for settlement and was 
connected with considerable constructive legis- 
lation. Under the administration of President 
Harrison he was state statistician and at all 
times his patriotism and his fidelity to the gen- 
eral good were manifested. He was elected jus- 
tice of the peace in 1872 and held that position 
almost continuously from that time until his 
death, his decisions being strictly fair and im- 
partial, based upon the law and equity in the 
case. For many years he was very active and 
prominent in political circles, becoming an 
ardent republican upon the organization of the 
party and recognized in this section of Iowa 
as one of its leaders. In fact he did much 
toward shaping its policy in the eai'lier yeai-s of 
its history and he numbered among his wai-m- 
est friends many of the distinguished states- 
men and political leaders of Iowa. He was a 
warm personal friend of Hon. John A. Kasson, 
formerly a congressman of this district and also 
minister to Austria, and Mr. Kasson always 
made it a point on visiting Des Moines to come 
to Adel and spend a few hours with Mr. Noel. 
On the 30th of May, 1858, in Adel, was cele- 
brated the marriage of Cole Noel and Miss 
Elizabeth Cole, who was born in Decatur, Illi- 
nois, August 14, 1829, her parents being John 
and Su.san (Duke) Cole. Her father was born 
in North Carolina, August 1, 1796, and died 
July 26, 1831. His wife was born April 12, 
1799, in South Carolina, and died in Des 
Moines, December 30, 1868. They were mar- 
ried in Green county, Kentucky, August 1, 
1816. Mr. Cole engaged in the manufacture 
of pewtenvare and was also a minister of the 
Baptist church while living in Kentucky. He 
remained a resident of that state until 1824, 
when he removed to Indiana and later he 
took up his abode in Illinois, where he 
died. He ser\'ed as a drummer boy in the 
war of 1812 and he gave his political alle- 
giance to the democracy. Unto him mid his 



wife were born six children but Mrs. Noel 
is the only one now living. Four daugh- 
ters also survive the death of Mr. Noel: Mrs. 
J. C. Smart; Mrs. Lucy Dack; Mrs. C. F. Mc- 
Coy, of Adel; and Mrs. W. T. Buck, of New 
Rockford, North Dakota. There are also two 
sons : Mat Noel, who lives in Colorado ; and 
Walter, of Beatrice, Nebraska. 

Mr. Noel was made a Mason in Rockville, 
Indiana in 1850, and in 1852 joined Pioneer 
lodge. No. 8, A. F. & A. M., at Des Moines, 
Iowa. He was a charter member and the first 
secretary of Adel lodge. No. 80, and afterward 
served as its worthy master. He received the 
chapter degrees in Des Moines in 1858 and be- 
came a charter member of Tyrian chapter, No. 
37, R. A. M., at Adel, serving as the chief of- 
ficer of the organization for eight years. He 
was also for one year grand scribe of the grand 
chapter of Iowa. He was made a Sir Knight 
in Des Moines in 1865 and he became a charter 
member of Lady Washington chapter, No. 57, 
0. E. S., of Adel, in which he served for three 
years as worthy patron. 

Mr. Noel united with the Baptist church in 
1844 and after the disbandment of the society 
at this place he became a member of the 
Christian church, with which he was identified 
luitil his death. He passed away July 26, 1906, 
at the venerable age of eighty-seven years, nine 
months and twenty-two days. The funeral 
services were held at the Christian church and 
were attended by a large concourse of neigh- 
bors and friends, while the business houses and 
public offices of this city were closed out of 
respect for the deceased, who perhaps was the 
oldest resident of Adel. His mind bore the im- 
press of the early historic annals of the county 
and was a connecting link between the prim- 
itive past and the progressive present. He 
stood for all that was honorable in citizenship, 
in business and in private life. He possessed 
the genial nature and kindly spirit which has 
the faculty not only of winning but of retaining 
friends. He was a man of deep sincerity, firm 
in support of his convictions, was genial, com- 
]ianionable and entertaining. In all his deal- 



390 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ings Mr. Noel was a man of honor and honesty, 
a friend whose friendship was wori;h having. 
In his family relations he was kind and affec- 
tionate, and those of his family who are left 
behind him will always cherish his memory. 
He was a man of remarkable vigor and activity, 
both mental and physical, for one of his years, 
and finally went to his rest in peace and honor, 
and those who mourn his departure will also 
always remember his kindly regard, his integ- 
rity of character and his unswerving friend- 
ship. 



WILLIAM F. DAVENPORT. 

William F. Davenport has a beautiful and 
attractive home standing in the midst of a fine 
farm on section 23, Walnut township. The 
property is valuable and productive and com- 
prises two hundred acres. The dwelling is sup- 
plied with all city conveniences, including hot 
and cold water and furnace heat. It is lighted 
by acetylene gas and is tasteful in its furnish- 
ings. In the rear stand good barns and out- 
buildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and 
these in turn are surrounded by well tilled 
fields, the green of early spring promising 
golden han'ests for the autumn. 

Mr. Davenport is a native of Providence, 
Rhode Island, bom on the 8th of March, 1860. 
He was brought to Dallas county when a lad of 
ten years by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John 
Davenport. The father was also a native of 
Providence, where he was reared, and after at- 
taining his majority he there wedded Sarah 
Douglass, who was also born in that city. 
By trade he was a carpenter and was identi- 
fied with building interests in Providence 
until 1865, when he brought his fam- 
ily westward to Chicago. There he was 
connected with building operations for five 
years, on the expiration of which period he 
came to Dallas county, Iowa. Here he bought 
one hundred and twenty acres of land where 
his son now resides and on which he made his 



home, giving his time and energies to the fur- 
ther development and improvement of the 
property, which he brought under a high sta,te 
of cultivation. In the family were two sons, 
William and Frank. 

William Davenport was reared under the pa- 
rental roof and has never left the old home- 
stead since the family came to Dallas county 
in 1870. He was at that time a lad of ten 
yeare and he was trained to the work of the 
farm, which has been under his immediate 
care since 1890. The father spent his last 
years here and died in 1902, at the age of sixty- 
five yeare, while the mother passed away in 
1890, at the age of fifty-three years. 

William Davenport had been married on the 
5th of .July, 1888, to Miss Maud Coons, a na- 
tive of Adel and a daughter of Kane Coons. 
Following his marriage Mr. Davenport jjur- 
chased his brother's interest in the old home- 
stead and has since added eighty acres to the 
original tract, so that he now has an excellent 
farm of two hundred acres. The entire place 
is well fenced and drained. He has laid over 
eighteen hundred rods of tile and has brought 
the fai-m under the highest state of cultivation, 
so that the fields, now rich and arable, annually 
bring forth large crops. He has remodeled the 
house until he has a most comfortable and 
plea-^ant home and everything about the farm 
is indicative of the spirit of the progressive 
owner. He raises and feeds cattle and hogs, 
shipping several carloads each year. In all of 
his business affaii-s he is alert and enterprising, 
'meeting with the measure of success which al- 
ways rewards earnest, persistent and well direct- 
ed labor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davenport had one child wbom 
they lost in infancy. They are members of 
the Christian church of Grimes and are greatly 
esteemed by a large circle of warm friends. 
In politics Mr. Davenport is a republican and 
is serving as township trustee, and is also a 
member of the school board, of which he is now 
serving as treasurer. Educational and moral, 
as well as material interests, receive his en- 
dorsement and co-operation, and his labors in 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



391 



behalf of public progress have been far-reach- 
ing and effective. Well known in the county 
where he has resided from early boyhood days, 
he has a wide acquaintance here and has won 
uniform trust and good-will by reason of a life 
which in all of its phases has been straightfor- 
ward and honorable. 



IRVING U. IKENBERRY. 

Irving U. Ikenberry is conducting a photo- 
graphic studio in Adel and is the only photog- 
rapher in this part of the county. His ability 
ranks him with the leading members of the pro- 
fession in central Iowa and his patronage is 
most extensive. He is one of the native sons 
of the state, having been born in Butler coun- 
ty in 1863. Has parents -were John E. and 
Matilda Jane (Zook) Ikenberry, who reside on 
a farm in Calhoun county, Iowa, having lived 
in the state since 1858. 

Irving U. Ikenberry was reared to the occu- 
pation of farming, early becoming familiar 
with the duties and labors that fall to the lot 
of the agriculturist. He began the study of 
photography at the age of seventeen years and 
has been continuously in business since that 
time. He has kept abreast with the onward 
march made by the representatives of the art, 
familiarizing himself with the latest and most 
improved processes, and he continued success- 
fully in business at Newton, Iowa, until 1906, 
when he removed to Adel, where he now con- 
ducts a studio. He also has a gallery at Red- 
field, this comity, and at Panora and Yale, 
Guthrie county. His patronage is very exten- 
sive, owing to the excellent class of work which 
he turns out. He has fine appreciation of pose, 
lights and shade and produces the most "nat- 
ural" effects in transferring the likeness of the 
individual to the printed paper. 

In October, 1903, Mr. Ikenberry was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary B. Green, who was born at 
Kearney, Nebraska, a daughter of William L. 
Green, a native of Indiana, who went to Ne- 



braska at an early day and became a very prom- 
inent attorney and influential citizen there. 
At the time of liis death, which occurred nine 
years ago, he was a representative from his 
state to congress. He was a personal friend of 
William Jennings Bryan and made a campaign 
of the state in connection with Mr. Bryan. He 
was one of the organizers of the populist party 
and in stalwart manner championed its inter- 
ests. His daughter, Mrs. Ikenberry, is a grad- 
uate of the Illinois College of Photography. 
Although residents of Adel for only a brief 
period, both Mr. and Mrs. Ikenberry have won 
many friends here and are much esteemed for 
their social qualities as well as their artistic 
attainments in photographic lines. 



W. P. MOORE. 



W. P. Moore, manager for Brenton Brothers 
Lumber Company at Van Meter, was bom July 
1, 1868, at Rockville Park, Indiana, his parents 
being T. W. and Malinda (Swain) Moore, the 
former a native of Kentucky and the latter of 
Indiana. The father came to Iowa with his 
family in 1881 and located on a farm near 
]\Iinburn. Later he removed to the village, 
where he embarked in merchandising, carrying 
on the business with success until his life's 
labors were ended in death in 1892. His wife 
passed away in 1897. 

W. P. Moore was a youth of thirteen years 
when he came with his parents to Iowa. He 
acquired a common-school education in his na- 
tive state and in this state and remained at 
home with his father until he had attained his 
majority, when he started out in life on his own 
account. He then went to southwestern Ne- 
braska, where he homesteaded one hundred and 
sixty acres of land and there for five years lived 
the happy-go-lucky life of a frontiersman. 
After proving up his claim he returned to Iowa, 
settling at Waukee, where he engaged in mer- 
chandising, and in connection with the conduct 
of the store also acted as postmaster during the 



392 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



administration of President Cleveland. Later 
he turned his attention to the lumber business 
and was also a dealer in grain and all kinds of 
building materal. Subsequently he came to Van 
Meter and accepted the position of local man- 
ager of Brenton Brothers Lumber Company, 
dealers in grain, lumber and building material. 
He still carries on the business here and is a 
most trusted and trustworthj' representative of 
the firm. 

Mr. Moore belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
lodge at Waukee, in which he has passed 
through all the chairs, being now past chancel- 
lor. He has also been representative to the 
grand lodge and belongs to the Modern Wood- 
men camp at Van Meter. He owns a fine resi- 
dence in the village of Van Meter and is re- 
garded as one of the popular citizens as well as 
enterprising business men of the village, dis- 
playing those sterling traits of character which 
in every land and clime awaken respect and ad- 
miration. 



HENRY F. PEITZMAN. 

An excellent farm on section 25, Grant 
township, is the property of Henry F. Peitz- 
man and each fall one may see the large crops 
which are gathered as the result of the care 
and labor which he bestows upon the fields. 
He also raises stock, this proving a profitable 
branch of his business, while in the cultivation 
of his farm of two hundred and forty acres he 
shows hmself thoroughly familiar with the best 
and most modern methods of agriculture. He 
has lived in Dallas county since 1872 and upon 
his present farm since 1890. His birth oc- 
curred in Cass county, Illinois, on the 16th of 
May, 1862, and he is the eldest in a family 
of ten children whose father, Fred Peitzman, 
who was born in Germany, is now living re- 
tired in Grimes, Iowa. 

Henry F. Peitzman was a lad of ten years 
when in 1872 he came with his parents to Dal- 
las county. No event of special importance oc- 
curred to varv the routine of farm work for 



him in his boyhood. He had only common- 
school advantages but in the school of expe- 
rience he has learned many valuable lessons. 
Working in field and meadow when not busy 
^\-ith his text-books, he remained with his father 
until twenty-three years of age and then made 
preparation for having a home of his own by 
his marriage. 

It was on the 12th of February, 1885, that 
he wedded Miss Amanda J. Hammond, a na- 
tive of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and 
one of the seven children of Philip Hammond. 
Her father was born in Washington county, 
Maryland, but was married in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, to Catharine Nighswander. They 
came to Iowa in 1880, settling in Dallas county, 
where Mr. Hammond carried on general farm- 
ing until he retired from active business life 
in 1895. His death occurred at Dallas Center 
in 1905, when he had reached the venerable 
age of eighty-two years, while his wife passed 
away in 1898, at the age of sixty-nine years. 

Following his marriage Henry F. Peitz- 
man rented land and thus continued to carry 
on farming for five years. He afterward 
bought his present residence on section 25, 
Grant township, and has since erected here a 
good two-story dwelling equipped with modern 
conveniences, and other buildings. The place 
is lacking in none of the equipments of a 
model farm. A good orchard and small fruit 
have been set out and shade and ornamental 
trees add to the beauty and attractive appear- 
ance of the place, which is one of the most 
picturesque as well as one of the most highly 
improved farms of Dallas county. Mr. Peitz- 
man makes a specialty of raising and feeding 
shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and 
uses all of his grain in this way. He is practi- 
cal in his methods and his intense and well di- 
rected activity constitute the basis of the grati- 
fying success which has crowned his eft'orts as 
a farmer and stock-raiser. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peitzman have been born 
six children: Ella, a music teacher, who is 
now attending Parsons College at Fairfield, 




:.!i;s. II. F. I'KITZMAN 




II. F. ri;i'i'ZMAN 



PAST AND PKESKNT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



397 



Iowa; Charles M. and Clarence F., who assist 
in carrying ou the home farm; Anna and 
Amanda, twins, at home; and Ida, who com- 
pletes the family. 

In studying the questions und issues of the 
day Mr. Peitzman has come to the conclusion 
that the republican party contains the best ele- 
ments of good government and votes accordingly, 
but at local elections where no issue is involved 
he casts an independent ballot. He has ser\'cd 
his township as clerk for two years and was 
trustee for three yeare. At present he is secre- 
tary of the school board and for twenty years 
has been one of its membens, doing effective and 
beneficial work in behalf of the schools. He 
is a director of tlie Grimes Savings Bank of 
Grimes, Iowa. 

Mr. and Mrs. Peitzman with the entire fam- 
ily of children hold membership in the Presby- 
terian church at Grimes, in which he is serving 
as ruling elder and also as a Sunday school 
worker. His life has been actuated by his re- 
ligious belief and he is well known in Adel, 
Dallas Center and throughout the county as 
one who has labored for the betterment of pub- 
lic interests and withholds his co-operation 
from no progressive public movement. The 
name of Peitzman has long figured honorably 
in connection with the bu-sincss history and pub- 
lic interests of the county and Henry F. Peitz- 
man is one in whom his many friends have 
groat confidence. In all of his business deal- 
ings he has been thoroughly reliable and 
straightforward and his influence is at all times 
in favor of those movements, measures and be- 
liefs wliich uplift and benefit humanity. 



HAROLD E. BOYD. 

Harold E. Boyd, one of the public men of 
Dallas county, wlio for twelve years has accept- 
ably and capably filled the office of justice 
of the peace and is al.^o engaged in the 
real-estate and insurance Ijusiness in Min- 



burn, is u native of McLean county, Illi- 
nois, his birth having occurred at Lexing- 
ton, on the 1st of June, 1872. His parents 
are Thomas Boyd and Clara (Clauson) Boyd. 
His father was a native of Scotland and was 
eighteen years of age when he emigrated to 
Canada, making his home there until twenty- 
one, when he removed to McLean county, Illi- 
nois, where he followed the occupation of farm- 
ing. In the year 1892 he came to Dallas 
county, Iowa, purchased the hotel at Minburn 
and conducted it for several yeare but is now 
living retired in the enjoyment of a rest which 
he has truly earned and richly merits. His wife 
died here in 1900. In their family were four 
sons and two daugliters, all of whom are yet 
living. 

H. E. Boyd was reared upon the homo farm 
in McLean comity, Illinois, and acquired a 
good iOnglish education in the common and 
higher .schools. In his youth he went to work 
at the carpenter's trade with an uncle but dur- 
ing this time he gradually worked into the in- 
surance business. He was also elected justice 
of the peace and served for twelve years, his 
decisions being strictly fair and impartial, so 
that the public passed high encomiums upon 
him for his faithful service. During this time 
he made a study of law and was tlierefore able 
to render decisions which were based upon legal 
principles and precedent. He started the real- 
estate business in connection with insurance 
arid has secured a good clientele. He deals in 
Dalliis county land and also in Oklahoma, Tex- 
as, Kansas and Dakota lands and he owns and 
occupies a neat and thoroughly modern resi- 
dence at Minburn. Pie also opened a real-estate 
arid loan office at Perry and the growth of his 
business makes him a prosperous citizen, his 
success being due to his careful management, 
strong purpose and laudable ambition. 

Mr. Boyd was married in Bloomington, Illi- 
nois, on the 1st of January, 1898, to Miss 
Iva J. Manning, wIk) was born, reared and edu- 
cated in that state. Her father was Nelson 
Manning, one of the old settlers of McLean 
county, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boyd 



3US 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



have been born five children, Russell W., Glen 
C, Laura G., Lela and Dorothy. 

The parents are members of the Christian 
church. Mr. Boyd has been a delegate to the 
state, county and congressional conventions of 
the republican part}' axid is recognized as one 
of its local leaders, doing everything in his 
power to promote its growth and secure its suc- 
cess. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity at 
Minburn and also the consistory, and is a noble 
of the Mystic Shrine in the Za-Ga-Zig Temple 
of Des Moines, lie belongs to the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his 
wife are connected with the Order of the East- 
ern Star. For a number of years he served a^ 
public administrator and he has been in many 
ways closely associated with the public welfare 
and with business progress. He is much inter- 
ested in all that j^ertains to progressive public 
movements, and in citizenship and in private 
life has manifested the sterling traits of char- 
acter which everywhere command respect and 
regard. 



FRANCIS M. GOTT. 



Almost a third of a century has come and 
gone since Francis M. Gott allied his interests 
with those of Dallas county. He has lived in 
Woodward since 1883 and in Iowa since 1846, 
in which year he became a resident of Linn 
county. He was then a young lad of nine years, 
his birth having occurred in Montgomery coun- 
ty, Indiana, on the 4th of November, 1837. 
His father, William N. Gott, was a native of 
Kentucky, and when a young man removed to 
Crawfordsville. Indiana, where he opened up a 
farm and carried on agricultural pursuits. 
He was married to Jane Maddox and he died in 
Indiana in the year 1845. In the family were 
nine children who were carefully reared by the 
mother after the death of the husband and 
father. Prior to his demise William N. Gott 
had sent his oldest son, David F., to visit Linn 
county, Iowa, and he had entered land from 



the government. His death occurred, however, 
in the same year. The family had been mak- 
ing preparations to remove to Iowa, and follow- 
ing the death of the father, the mother came 
alone with her children, proved up her claim to 
one hundred and sixty acres of land and made 
a good home for her little ones. Upon the 
farm she continued to reside and with the as- 
sistance of her sons, converted the place into a 
rich and productive tract of land. 

Francis M. Gott, whose name introduces this 
record, was reared to farm life. His educa- 
tional privileges were limited, but reading, ex- 
perience and observation have greatly added 
to his knowledge. In August, 1862, when a 
young man of twenty-four years, he offered his 
services to the government, enlisting for the de- 
fense of the Union at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He 
joined Company A, of the Twentieth Iowa Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and his regiment joined the 
regular army in rendezvous at Clinton, Iowa. 
They then proceeded to St. Louis and were as- 
signed to the Army of the Frontier after which 
they went to Missouri and Arkansas, participat- 
ing in the engagement at Prairie Grove, Ar- 
kansas, where the Twentieth Iowa lost heavily. 
On the 11th of June, 1863, they landed in the 
rear of Vicksburg, pai'ticipating in the siege 
of that city and afterward taking part in the 
Banks expedition. They then proceeded by 
boat from New Orleans to the mouth of the Rio 
Grande river where Mr. Gott was on garrison 
duty for eight months, subsequent to which 
time he returned to Port Morgan, Alabama, 
with his command, which seized the fort. He 
also took part in the siege at Blakeley, Alabama, 
where many Confederates were captured. He 
afterward did provost duty at Mobile and was 
mustered out there on the 8th of July, 1865. 
Later the troops returned to Clinton, where Mr. 
Gott was honorably discharged, on the 27th of 
July. He had been a brave and faithful sol- 
dier, never faltering in the performance of any 
duty, always valiantly supporting the old flag 
and the cause it represented. Mr. Gott's oldest 
brother, David F., and youngest brother. Clay, 
and his cousin, M. S. Preble, and brother-in- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



401 



law, B. F. Brockman, all served in the same 
regiment, the first three in the same company 
and Mr. Brockman in Company H. 

When his country no longer needed his aid 
Mr. Gott returned home and remained with hi? 
mother until the 1st of March, 1866, on which 
day he was married, in Linn county, Iowa, the 
lady of his choice being Miss Hortense Mounce, 
a native of that county and a daughter of Joe 
Mounce, a native of Indiana who came to Linn 
county, Iowa, previous to 1846. Following his 
marriage Mr. Gott engaged in operating the 
home farm for eight years and met with good 
success in the work. On the expiration of that 
period he sold the property and went to Boone 
county, where he remained a year, after which 
he came to Dallas county, settling in Sugar 
Grove township. There he purchased an eighty- 
acre tract of land which he broke, trans- 
forming the wild sod into rich fields. Upon 
this place he built a hou,se and otherwise im- 
proved his farm, continuing its cultivation and 
making it his home for seven years. He then 
removed to Dallas Center where he remained 
until 1883, when he sold his farm and became 
a resident of Woodward, purchasing a residence 
in the town. He has one of the beautiful homes 
here, his lawn and flower gardens showing 
much care and attention and proving a most 
attractive beauty spot in the city. His time is 
now largely occupied in the care of his lawn 
and plants and he finds genuine pleasure in this 
work. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gott have been born 
three children, but they lost the eldest in in- 
fancy. The others are Carrie, the wife of A. B. 
Calonkey, who is mentioned elsewhere in this 
volume, and they have one child, Francis By- 
ron ; and Delbert, a resident of Portland, Ore- 
gon. He married May me Rhoads, a daughter 
of Lewis and Martha Rhoads, and they have 
one child, Leland M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gott 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and Mr. Gott belongs to .J, W. Guthrie post, 
G. A. R., of Woodward. He is senior vice 
commander and was officer of the day for six 
years. In politics he has been a lifelong re- 



publican, supporting Abraham Lincoln, and 
each nominee for the presidency since that 
time. He was appointed postmaster under 
President McKinley and filled the office for 
five years. His life has been an active, useful 
and honorable one and in the conduct of his 
private business aflairs he has won that success 
which comes as the reward of capability, efl[i- 
ciency and well directed labor. The rest which 
he is now enjoying is well merited, having been 
made possible by his energy and diligence in 
former years. 



W. H. A. PARKS. 



W. H. A. Parks, deceased, was well known 
in business circles in Woodward and in Perry, 
and the qualities of his manhood, aside from 
his marked characteristics as a business man, 
were such as to gain for him the respect and 
friendship of those with whom he came in con- 
tact. In his commercial career he won success 
and was honored by reason of the straightfor- 
ward methods which he ever followed. He was 
born in Newport, Kentucky, on the 6th of Jan- 
uary, 1851, and entered upon his eternal rest 
on the 30th of March, 1905, when fifty-three 
years of age. In his boyhood he accompanied 
his parents on their removal to Goshen, Ohio, 
where he was reared. He is both a self-edu- 
cated and a self-made man, depending largely 
upon his own efforts outside of school for the 
knowledge that he acquired as well as for the 
success which he attained in business. In early 
manhood he was engaged as a clerk in a store 
for a time and thus received a thorough practi- 
cal training. 

Mr. Parks was married in Martinsville, Ohio, 
on the 23d of March, 1875, to Miss Jennie 
Bright, a* native of England and a daughter 
of .John Bright, who, on coming to the new 
world, settled in Martin.sville, Ohio, where he 
reared his family. Soon after his marriage 
Mr. Parks came with his young wife to Iowa 
and made a permanent location in Dallas coun- 



402 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ty, beginning at old Xenia under the firm style 
of Parks & Learning. There he conducted the 
business for four years, on the expiration of 
which time he went to Perry, having sold the 
store at Xenia. He then established a general 
store at Perry, where he remained for two or 
three years, when he sold out there and came 
to Woodward. He was one of the first mer- 
chants of this place. He at first opened a cloth- 
ing business and later put in a stock of general 
merchandise. Suiisequently he formed a partner- 
ship under the style of Parks, McCracken & 
Skinner and at a later dat« Mr. Skinner sold 
out to his partners and the firm of Parks & Mc- 
Cracken then carried on the business for a 
nmnber of years, after which Mr. Parks turned 
over his interests to his son. Subsequently he 
gave his attention to the real-estate business in 
which he continued up to the time of his death. 
He erected a business house and several resi- 
dences and otherwise added to the improvement 
and substantial development of the town. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parks have been born four 
children : John Holmes, li\T.ng in Woodwai'd 
where he is married and has one child, Phyllis ; 
Eva Marie, at home; Edwin B., of Oregon, who 
is married and has one child, Law-rence; and 
Oscai", who died in infancy. Mr. Parks served 
on the school board and in other local positions. 
He was ever loyal to the best interests of his 
community and did everything in his power 
to promote public progress' and improvement. 
His political allegiance was givem to the dem- 
ocracy but he never sought or desired office. 
He was prominent in the Masonic fraternity, 
belonging to Woodward lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; 
Perry chapter, No. 32, R. A. M., and to the 
Knights Templar, while in Des Moines consis- 
tory he attained the thirty-second degree of the 
Scottish rite. He filled all of the offices in the 
local lodge and was a past master. Both he 
and his wife were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and contributed generously 
to its support. Mr. Parks was a well known 
business man in Dallas county, closely identi- 
fied with the development of Woodward. He 
was familiarly called Harry by his many 



friends and he enjoyed in large measure their 
love, confidence and esteem. His good quali- 
ties were numerous, and if he ever did offend 
anyone, it was a matter of misundei-standing 
not of intention on his part. He was quick to 
recognize the rights of othere and he looked at 
life from a rational standpoint that brought 
him a clear undei*standing of the conditions of 
the world, its possibilities and the obligation 
that rested upon him in his relation to his fel- 
lowmen and in citizenship. Mrs. Pai-ks makes 
her home in Woodward, and, like her husband, 
is well known in social circles. 



HARRY GUTSHALL. 



Valuable farming property annually pays 
tribute to Hai'ry Gutshall, who owns and super- 
vises the cultivation of six hundred acres of 
valuable farming land, his home being in Van 
Meter township. Indolence finds no place in 
his vocabularj' and on the contrary a life of 
activity has resulted in winning for him the 
favoi-able place which he now occupies in ag- 
ricultural circles. He was born in Ohio, Oc- 
tober 7, 1853, and is a son of Jacob Gut-shall, 
a venerable and honored citizen of Van Meter 
township, who is mentioned elsewhere in this 
volume. He was reared to farm life and was 
educated in the common schools of Dallas coun- 
ty, having been brought thither by his parents 
when less than two years of age. When he had 
acquainted himself with the common branches 
of English learning he entered the Western Col- 
lege of Linn county, Iowa. 

Having arrived at years of maturity, Harry 
Gutshall was married to iliss Minnie Baldwin, 
who was born in New Hampshu-e, January- 1, 
18G5, her parents being also natives of that 
state. On coming to the west they located in 
Iowa in 1869. Their family numbered five 
children, of whom Minnie was the second in 
order of birth. Her girlhood days were spent 
under the parental roof, where she was early 
trained to the duties of the household, so that 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



403 



she was well qualified to take care of a home of 
her own when, on the 12th of February, 1880, 
she gave her hand in marriage to Harry Gut- 
shall. Unto them have been born four ehil- 
dren : Gertrude, born April 15, 1881, and now 
the wife of S. M. Hague; Clara, born April 
2-2, 1885; Jacob M., born October 27, 1896; 
and Vivian, born June 2 ,1898. 

The family home is pleasantly situated in 
the midst of a fine farm, where are found all 
of the comforts and conveniences of modern 
agricultural life. The latest improved machin- 
ery is used in carrying on the work of the fields 
and good buildings have been provided for the 
shelter of grain and stock. Mr. Gutshall is en- 
gaged quite extensively in feeding stock and de- 
rives therefrom a gratifying annual income. 
His landed holdings embrace .six hundred acres 
and the soil is rich and fertile, and brings forth 
large crops in return for the care and labor Ije- 
stowed upon the fields. He votes with the re- 
publican part}', which he has supported since 
age conferred upon him the right of franchise. 
For several terms he has held the office of 
school director and is much intereisted in the 
cause of public education. He and his wife 
attend the United Brethren church. Both are 
representatives of old families of the county 
and are much esteemed here. 



VICTOR T. 8WEELEY. 

Victor T. Sweeley, city clerk of A del and 
proprietor of a job printing plant, was born in 
this city, November 4, 1870. His father, Sam- 
uel Sweeley, was a native of Pennsylvania and 
became a tailor by trade. The year 1856 wit- 
nessed his arrival in what was then the little 
village of Adel and for many years he was en- 
gaged in the grocery business, becoming one of 
the pioneer merchants of the city. He con- 
tributed to commercial progress and develop- 
ment here and at the .same time promoted his 
individual success. His political views were in 
accord with the principles of the republican 



party and he was a member of the Methodist 
church, guiding his life by its teachings and 
principles. He married Savila Phillips, who 
was born in Ohio and who died in Adel in 
1894, at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. Sweeley 
survived for about ten years and passed away 
in 1904, at the venerable age of eighty-four 
years. In his death the community mourned 
the loss of one of its representative and valued 
citizens, whose name was long honored in com- 
mercial circles and whose example in every re- 
lation of life was worthy of emulation. In the 
family were six children, of whom two died 
in childhood, the others being: Edward P., 
who is employed as an estimator for the M. A. 
Disbrow finishing house of Omaha; M. J., an 
attorney living at Twin Falls, Idaho, who for 
several years was a prominent lawyer of Sioux 
City. Iowa; Frank L., who is in the employ 
of the United States war department, stationed 
at St. Paul, Minnesota; and Victor T., of this 
review. 

The last named was educated in the public 
schools of Adel and his boyhood days were 
passed without event of special importance. At 
an early age he entered a printing office to 
learn the trade and after mastering the business 
and thoroughly acquainting himself with the 
■'art preservative of arts" he conducted a news- 
paper at Ida Grove, Iowa, for a year. He has 
been engaged in newspaper work during the 
greater part of his life and in 1903 he estab- 
lished a job printing office at Adel, where he 
has since enjoyed a good trade. He has a well 
equipped office for turning out firet-class work 
of this character and has been accorded a lib- 
eral patronage. 

In 1889 Mr. Sweeley was united in marriage 
to Miss Maytie Gilbreath, who was born in Des 
Moines, Iowa. They now have three children : 
A'erlin Leslie, Margaret Savila and Mildred 
Blanche. The home is justly celebrated for its 
warm-hearted hospitality and the parents occu- 
py an enviable position in social circles. Mr. 
Sweeley is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
fraternity, in which he is now chancellor com- 
mander, and of the Modern Woodmen camp. 



404 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



He belongs to the Christian church and is a 
republican in politico. He was elected city 
clerk of Adel and is now serving for the second 
year, dischai-ging his duties in a prompt and 
capable manner, which has won him uniform 
commendation and approval. All interests 
which tend to promote the public welfare re- 
ceive his endorsement and support and he 
st-ands as one of the progressive residents of 
the county seat. 



GEOEGE D. CLEMENTS. 

Since George D. Clements came into posses- 
sion of his present farm of two hundred and 
five acres, he has greatly improved it by re- 
modeling the house, building good barns and 
outbuildings, tiling and fencing the land and 
thus making it one of the valuable farm prop- 
erties of this section of the state. In addition 
to carrying on general agricultural pursuits he 
is also engaged to quite an extent in raising 
and breeding shorthorn cattle, Chester AVhite 
hogs and barred Plymouth Rock chickens. Mr. 
Clements was bom near Burlingame, Osage 
county, Kansas, March 29, 1876, a son of John 
and Rebecca (Johnstone) Clements. The fath- 
er was born in Ireland and in 1851, when a 
young man, emigrated to America. Spending 
some time in the eastern states he finally made 
his way to Iowa county, Iowa, where he lived 
for five years and then went to Osage county, 
Kansas, locating on a farm, which he operated 
for some years. He later removed to Burlin- 
game, where he engaged in the lumber business, 
which he conducted until 1880, when he dis- 
posed of his lumber interests in the Sunflower 
state and returned once more to Iowa, this time 
locating in Perrj', Dallas county, where he es- 
tablished a lumber yard, conducting the same 
for twelve years. He is now living retired in 
Perry, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, 
while his wife also sun'ives, at the age of sixty- 
four. Their marriage was celebrated in Maren- 
go, this state, and they have become the parents 



of four children, of whom two daughters and 
the son reached years of maturity, George D. 
being the eldest. Emma and Violet Clements 
live in Perry. 

George D. Clements accompanied his pa- 
rents on their various removals and was a little 
lad of four years when the family settled in 
Perry. He acquired his education in the public 
schools of Perry and assisted his father in the 
operation of his lumber business until 1895. 
After his father disposed of that business the 
son worked on a farm hx the month for three 
years, and then desiring that his labors might 
more directly benefit himself, he purchased his 
present farm, comprising two hundred and five 
acres of land. After taking up his abode 
here he began the improvement of the place. 
He remodeled the residence, built a good barn 
and substantial outbuildings, tiled and fenced 
the land and altogether has made it a model 
fann property, modem and up-to-date in every 
particular. 

In 1899 Mr. Clements further established a 
home of his own by his marriage, on the 22d 
of February of that year, to Miss Grace Over- 
holser, a native of Linden, Dallas county, but 
a resident of Sterling, Illinois. Her father, 
Martin Overholser, was born in Ohio and was 
reared in Sterling, Illinois, and it was also 
there that he was married to Miss Elizabeth 
Bressler, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Over- 
holser established his home in this state in 
1874, two years before his marriage here fol- 
lowing farming. For sixteen yeai-s he lived in 
Dallas county and later spent two years in Kan- 
sas. He now makes his home in Sterling, Illi- 
nois. Their family numbers four daughters: 
Mrs. Ida McCaskill, who is married and lives 
in Parsons, Kansas; Mrs. May Siebert, of Co- 
lumbus, Kansas; Grace, now Mrs. Clements; 
and Lola, who lives at her parents' home in 
Sterling. Mrs. Clements is the mother of two 
children, Gladys, born October 1, 1900, and 
Russell, November 1, 1903. 

Mr. Clements gives his political support to 
the republican party where national interests 
are involved but at local elections casts an in- 




-MU. AND MRS. (;. I). CLEMENTS 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



407 



dependent ballot, voting for men and measures 
rather than for party. Fraternally he is 
identified with the Modern Woodmen camp at 
Perry and he and his wife attend the Congrega- 
tional church at that place. Although still a 
young man Mr. Clements is justly numbered 
among the prominent and prosperous agricul- 
turists of Dallas county and as a breeder and 
raiser of high gi"ade stock he is also widely and 
favorably known. Although he has never 
sought or desired public office, he is public- 
spirited in a marked degree and gives loyal sup- 
port to every movement which tends to advance 
the best interests of his county and home lo- 
cality. 



WILLIAM T. SHARP. 

AVilliam T. Sharp, a prominent attorney of 
Dallas county, now practicing his profession 
in Dexter, was born in Dane county, Wiscoasin, 
on Mai-ch 19, 1856, a son of John W. and 
Harriet M. (Place) Sharp. John W. Sharp 
was born in Westerville, Ohio, about 1826, be- 
ing there reared to manhood and married. 
Soon afterward he removed to Dane county, 
Wisconsin, where he was identified with mer- 
chandising for many years in the town of Door 
Creek, twelve miles east of Madison. In 1871 
he came to Iowa, locating at Masonville, where 
he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He 
came to Dexter in 1890, living retired here 
imtil the time of his death in 1903. For many 
years he was one of the leading factors in the 
republican party and in the early days was a 
radical abolitionist, being later chosen to repre- 
sent his di.strict in Wisconsin in both the lower 
house and in the senate. He was not an aspir- 
ant for public office after coming to Iowa, 
though he served for some years as a member 
of the board of supervisors in northeastern 
Iowa and always took an active part in his 
party's councils. The Methodist Episcopal 
church long found in him a stanch supporter 
and when he was called from this life the coun- 



ty mourned the loss of one of its influential and 
leading citizens. Mi-s. Sharp is still living and 
now makes her home with her sons. There 
were three children in the family, two of whom 
survive : Dr. Preston H., a medical practitioner 
of Madison, Wisconsin ; and William T., the 
subject of this I'eview. 

William T. Shai-p was reared under the pa- 
rental roof and supplemented his early educa- 
tion by a coui"se in Lennox College at Hopkin- 
ton, Iowa. He then entered the law depart- 
ment of the State University of Iowa, and on 
the completion of his coui-se, in 1884, he locat- 
ed for practice at Independence, Iowa. After 
a year at that place he removed to Cherryvale, 
Kansas, whei'e he remained about two j^eai's, 
returning at the end of that period to Inde- 
pendence. He again practiced his profes.*ion 
here for about a year and then came to Dexter, 
where he has since been located. The zeal with 
which he has devoted his energies to his pro- 
fession, the careful regard evinced for the inter- 
ests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelax-. 
ing attention to all the details of his cases, have 
brought him a large business and made him 
very successful in its conduct. 

In 1873 William T. Sharp was united in 
marriage to Miss Libby A. Palmer, of Stough- 
ton, Wisconsin, and to this imion have been 
born three children. Edward Floyd is a grad- 
uate of the law department of the State Uni- 
versity of Iowa and practiced with his father 
for a time, but later became identified with the 
banking business, and is now acting as cashier 
of the Marston Savings Bank of Marston, Mis- 
souri. Hattie L. is the wife of W. C. Harvey, 
a railroad agent at Walcott, Iowa, and has one 
child, Leola. Verne Sharp, the other member 
of the family, has passed away. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Sharp is a 
stanch republican and that he is prominent in 
the local ranks of his party is indicated by the 
fact that he served for one term as mayor of 
Dexter and for three terms as town treasurer. 
Fraternally he is connected with Dexter lodge, 
No. 215, I. 0. 0. F., and ^vith Dexter camp. 
No. 1662, M. W. A. Mr. Sharp is widely rec- 



408 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ognized as one of the representative citizens of 
Dexter and has attained a place of prominence 
in legal circles in Dallas county. 



HENEY S. MEEICAL. 

Pioneer life in its various phases is familiar 
to Henry S. Merical of Dallas Center, who has 
lived in this county since 1852. He came here 
when a youth of six years and has since been 
an interested witness of the changes which have 
occurred as the county has taken on all of the 
evidences of a modem civilization known to 
the older east. There were still many proofs 
of Indian occujiancy here at that early day and 
many kinds of wild game were yet to be found. 
One could ride for miles over the prairie with- 
out coming to a habitation or fence to impede 
his progress. The timber land was uncut and 
it was only here and there that a settlement had 
been made to show that the seeds of modern 
development had been planted upon the fron- 
tier of the west. 

Mr. Merical, a native of Warren county, In- 
diana, was born January 29, 1846. His father, 
Benjamin M. Merical, was a native of Ulster 
county. New York, and when a young man re- 
moved to Eoss county, Ohio, where he followed 
farming. He was married there to Miss Mag- 
dalen Smith, who was born in Montgomery 
county, Virginia. After living in Indiana for 
some time they made the trip by wagon to 
Iowa, being five weeks en route. He entered 
land from the government, securing two hun- 
dred and seventy-five acres in Adel township. 
His death occurred in Adel towaship in 1898, 
when he had reached the venerable age of 
eighty-six years, wliile his wife passed away in 
1893. In the family were nine children, of 
whom Henrj'^ was the fourth born. He was 
only six years of age at the time of the arrival 
of the family in this county, where he has 
since resided. He was reared in the usual man- 
ner of farm lads and had but common-school 
advantages. He remained under the parental 



roof until his twenty-first year, when he started 
out in life on his own account. The occupa- 
tion with which he had become familiar in 
his boyhood he has made his life work. He 
rented his father's place for fifteen years and 
then rented and fanned in the northern part 
of Adel township, where he lived for several 
years. 

On the 27th of March, 1867, Henry S. Meri- 
cal was married to Miss Johanna Mary Becker, 
a native of La Salle county, Illinois, and a 
daughter of George P. Becker, who was bom 
in Germany but became a pioneer of Iowa. In 
1890 Mr. Merical came to Walnut township 
and bought eighty-six acres, which he began 
to further improve and develoj). In the midst 
of this farm he erected a good two-.-:tory resi- 
dence and also a substantial barn and out- 
buildings. Since that time he has bought fifty- 
three acres and he now has one hundred and 
thirty-nine acres of valuable and well improved 
land equipped with all modern accessories and 
conveniences. He has laid many rods of tile 
and thus has drained the place, making the 
soil very productive. He has also fenced the 
fields and he uses the latest improved machin- 
ery to facilitate his crop raising. He also has 
good graded stock upon his farm and his stock- 
raising interests constitute an element in his 
success. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Merical have been born 
eight children: Maggie, the wife of Charles 
Lanning, of Waukee, and the mother of six 
children, Jennie, Earl, Ada, Flossie, Carl and 
Theodore; Ada, the wife of Ed Hooper, a resi- 
dent farmer of Adel township, by whom she 
has two children, Mary Elizabeth and Charles 
Henry; Carrie, the wife of John K. Hawbaker, 
a farmer of Boone county, Iowa, by whom she 
has three children, Lennie and Leona, twins, 
and Ray B. ; Ella, the wife of Levi Hawbaker, 
a resident farmer of Van Meter township, by 
whom she has four children, Boyd Henry, 
Bryan Lee, Verae C. and Mary; Nellie, the 
wife of John Johnson, a farmer of Washington 
township, by whom she has one son, John Hen- 
ry: AVeaver H., who operates his father's farm, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



409 



and who married Susan A. Kellar, a native of 
Pennsylvania, but she died April 26, 1907; 
Grover C, who follows the barber's trade; and 
Benjamin H., who assists in the improvement 
of the home farm. 

]Mr. Merical has served as road supervisor for 
two terms and as school director for several 
years. He has never sought or desired office, 
however, preferring to leave that to others, while 
he has given his attention to his business affairs 
with the result that his labors are proving very 
profitable. He belongs to the Odd Fellows society 
at Dallas Center, and both he and his wife are 
iiieml)er.* of the Christian church and are much 
esteemed in the community, receiving the 
warm regard of many friends by reason of 
their genuine personal worth and devotion to 
high and lofty principles. Mr. Merical has en- 
gaged in breaking prairie and thus aiding in 
the development of the county, and has noted 
the advance in land values, while the farms 
have been improved from a raw state to a high 
grade of development. 



T. J. CALDWELL, M. D. 

Dr. T. J. Caldwell, for many years one of 
the most prominent physicians of Adel, passed 
away in 1906 and his death was the occasion 
of deep and widespread regret. There is no 
man who comes into closer contact witn the in- 
terests of the community and the individual 
than does the family physician, and a great 
warm heart, kindly purpose and ready sym- 
pathy endeared Dr. Caldwell to all who knew 
him. He was born in Indiana in 1837 and 
had attained the age of sixty-eight years, ten 
months and twenty-five days at the time of his 
demise. His boyhood days were devoted to 
farm work and to the acquirement of an educa- 
tion in the public schools. He came to Iowa 
in 1853, settling near Redfield in this county, 
but believing that he would find other pursuits 
more congenial than that of agriculture he de- 
termined upon a professional career and made 



arrangements for the study of medicine. By 
farm labor he eai-ned the money to make his 
way through college and in 1861 he was grad- 
uated from a medical college of Keokuk. The 
same year he was appointed surgeon of the 
Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, which position he 
filled until the close of the war, doing effective 
and valuable aid for hLs country in his minis- 
trations to the ill and wounded. 

When the war was over and the country no 
longer needed him Dr. Caldwell returned to 
Iowa and from that time until his death, was a 
successful practitioner of Dallas county. His 
ability and skill were widely recognized and 
brought to him a lucrative practice. He nxaiii- 
fested strict conformity to a high standard of 
professional ethics and constantly broadened 
his knowledge by reading, experiment and close 
investigation. He also figured prominently in 
financial circles and was for many years the 
president of the Adel State Bank. He made 
extensive and judicious investments in property 
and in this way accumulated a comfortable for- 
tune. He was president of the railroad built 
from Waukee to Adel and continued in that 
office after the extension of the line to Jeffer- 
son. Probably no citizen contributed more 
largely of time, money and influence for the 
upbuilding and improvement of Adel than did 
Dr. Caldwell. 

On the 30th of September, 1869, Dr. Cald- 
well was married to Miss Mali-ssa V. Maulsby, 
of Redfield, who died some years later. He 
afterward wedded Miss Ella Garoutte, from 
whom he obtained a legal separation, and in 
1905 he married Mrs. Florence Pritchard, a 
half-sister of his first wife. 

While his professional sen'ice and his busi- 
ness career would alone entitle Dr. Caldwell to 
distinction as one of the foremost residents of 
Dallas county, he also won notable political 
honors and for many years was mayor of the 
city. In 1881 he was elected to the legislature 
and subsequently was chosen to represent his 
district in the state senate for two terms, serv- 
ing in the twentieth, twenty-fii-st, twenty-second 
and twenty-third general assemblies. He made 



410 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



an enviable record as a legislator, leaving the 
impress of his individualitj' upon many of the 
important laws and measures enacted during 
that period. He was one of the charter mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church at Adel and in 
fact his name is inseparably interwoven with 
all lines of pi'ogress, material, intellectual, so- 
cial, political and moral, connected with the de- 
velopment and growth of Adel and Dallas 
county. In his later years, because of impaired 
health, he spent considerable time in Califor- 
nia but returned to Adel seemingly much im- 
proved. His death came suddenly and was the 
occasion of most deep and widespread regret 
throughout the community where he had lived 
for so many years and where all who knew him 
honored and respected him. 



REV. DANIEL W. WISE. 

Rev. Daniel W. Wise, whose home in on 
section 6, Walnut township, is one of the pub- 
lic-spirited citizens and progressive farmers of 
his locality and has a stiU wider acquaintance 
by reason of his service as a minister of the 
German Baptist church. He has lived in Dal- 
las county since 1884 and his home is upon a 
farm of one hundred acres, which, by its splen- 
did appearance, is proof of the life of actiA-ity 
and energy which he is leading. 

Born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on 
the 17th of April, 1874, Rev. Wise is a son of 
Andrew J. and Susan (Shank) Wise. The 
father's birth occurred in Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania, where he was reared to farm life, 
while later he removed to Franklin county, 
where he was married. In 1875 he again 
changed his place of abode, settling in Carroll 
county, Illinois, where he followed farming for 
nine years. On the expiration of that period 
he came to Dallas county, Iowa, arriving in 
1884. He settled in Sugar Grove township, 
where he bought a half section of land and thus 
became closely associated with agricultural in- 
terests in this part of the state. 



The Rev. Daniel W. Wise was the fifth in a 
family of eight children, all of whom reached 
years of maturity. He was reared upon the 
home farm and took advantage of the school 
privileges afforded him in the neighborhood. 
Later he attended the Dallas Center high school, 
and was thus well equipped by a liberal educa- 
tion for the i^ractical and responsible duties of 
life. Mr. Wise taught school for three years in 
early manhood and then settled down to farm 
life. He was married on the 10th of February, 
1895, to Miss Flora Stech, who was also born in 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and was a 
daughter of Samuel Stech, who settled in this 
county in 1889. Following his marriage Mr. 
Wise rented land and thus carried on farming 
for four years. On the expiration of that period 
he bought sixty acres upon which he is now 
living. He has since erected a good two-storj- 
residence here and in the rear stand good out- 
buildings for the shelter of grain and stock, 
including a substantial barn. He has set out 
an orchard and much small fruit and has other- 
wise improved his property until it now consti- 
tutes one of the attractive features of the land- 
scape. He has since added forty acres to hi? 
first purchase and the entire farm is well tiled, 
while the place has been divided into fields of 
convenient size by well kept fences. He raises 
stock of all kinds but makes a specialty of Po- 
land China hogs. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wise have been born six 
children but they lost their firstborn in in- 
fancy. Those still living are: Charles S., 
Harry A., Jacob A., Irene Elizabeth and 
Flora May. The family are much respected 
in the community and their influence is ever on 
the side of upbuilding, progress and improve- 
ment. The parents are members of the German 
Baptist church of Sugar Grove and Mr. Wise 
is ser\'ing a? a trustee of the local organization. 
He is an ordained minister of the denomination 
and regularly preaches to the Sugar Grove and 
Dallas Center congregations. He also fills ap- 
pointments at Beaver and other parts of the 
state and has labored with untiring zeal and 
devotion for the upbuilding of the cause of 




MR. AND Mli.S. 1). \V. WISE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



413 



Christianity. On national affairs he gives his 
support to the democracy but locally votes an 
independent ticket. For nine years he has 
served on the school board and for seven years 
has been its president. He is secretary of the 
Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Dallas 
county, which was organized in 1895, during 
the past three years having filled that office. He 
is deeply concerned in the material, intellectual 
and moral development of his community and 
at all times his own life has been actuated by 
high and honorable principles and character- 
ized by kindly actions and consideration for 
others. He realizes fully the obligations which 
devolve upon him and finds it a privilege and 
pleasure to bring to his fellowmen a knowledge 
of the ti-uth and an understanding of those 
principles of life which lead men into more har- 
monious relations with the divine law. 



GEORGE M. JOHNSON. 

The Burr Oak stock farm is one of the val- 
uable farming properties of Van Meter town- 
ship, devoted largely to the raising of thorough- 
bred and high grade Hereford cattle. Here 
Mr. Johnson has a fine home, situated in the 
midst of a beautiful grove of trees, and the 
farm is thoroughly equipped in all of its ap- 
pointments for the careful and successful con- 
duct of a business which is now bringing to 
him a gratifying success. He owns three hun- 
dred and five acres of land on section 31, Van 
Meter toAvnship. 

Mr. Johnson is a native of Washington, Il- 
linois, born April 8, 1849. His father, John 
Johnson, was a native of Ohio, born in 180'6, 
and the mother, who bore the maiden name 
of ^Lartha McCorkle, first opened her eyes to 
the light of day in Tennessee in 1812. In the 
year 1815, when a lad of nine years, the father 
became a resident of Illinois. This wa.s three 
years before that state was admitted to the 
Union and in many districts were seen all of 
the evidences of frontier life. Throughout the 



jieriod of his manhood Mr. Johnson carried on 
farming and for fifty-five years lived upon one 
farm. He was one of the most respected and 
worthy residents of the community in which 
he made his home, and his death, which oc- 
curred in 1886, was the occasion of deep and 
widesj^read regret among friends and neigh- 
bors, who had learned to respeci and honor 
him. His wife sui-vived for several years, pass- 
ing away in 1892. 

George M. Johnson, the youngest of their 
family of seven children, was reared under the 
parental roof and was eai'ly instructed, not only 
in the work of the farm but in habits of econ- 
omy and integrity as well, and thus laid the 
foundation for his success in later years. The 
occupation to which he was reared he has al- 
ways followed and is now classed with the sub- 
stantial, practical and progressive farmers of 
Dallas county. 

In 1885 Mr. Johnson was married in Illinois 
to Miss Belle Small, who was born in New 
Hampshire in 1859. Her parents, John and 
Theresa Small, were natives of New England 
and took up their abode in Illinois in 1870, 
there rearing their family of nine children. 
The mother is still living and at the present 
A\Titing makes her home in California. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born eight 
children : Carrie E., who was born ilarch 28, 
1886, is a graduate of the De Soto high school 
and has been successfully engaged in teaching 
for two years; Myrtle B., born May 4, 1888, 
is also teaching school; John M., born October 
24. 1890, Clarence E.. born April 23, 1893, 
George Herbert, bom October 28, 1895, Mary 
E., born December 28, 1898, Buell M., born 
August 2, 1901, and Mildred E., born Novem- 
ber 7, 1905, are all at home. . 

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John- 
son began their domestic life upon a farm in 
Illinois, where they lived until 1888, when they 
carried out their plan of coming to Iowa. Set- 
tling in Dallas county, they were connected 
with farming interests here until 1903, when 
they removed to Colorado, where they lived for 
one year. On the expiration of that period they 



414 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



returned to Iowa and took up their abode upon 
the fami which is now their home. It is known 
as the Burr Oak stock farm and is one of the 
valuable and well equipped farming properties 
of this iwrtion of the state, well adapted to 
the purposes for which it is used. Mr. .John- 
sou is now raising thoroughbred cattle and the 
male at the head of his herd is a son of Bodo- 
nald. The Xiows of his herd are of such sires 
as Sir Comwell, Imperial Majestic, Kenswick 
and Guj' Wilton, while one is a granddaughter 
of Peerless Wilton, the' grandsire of the Sweep- 
stakes steer at the International Stock Show 
held in 1906. It will thus be seen that his 
stock is of very high grade and he is one of 
the best known stockmen of the locality, his 
herd of Herefords being notably fine. The 
farm comprises three hundred and five acres 
of rich and productive land on section 31, Van 
Meter township, in the midst of which stands 
an attractive and commodious residence and 
upon the farm are good barns, sheds and other 
outbuildings that furnish ample shelter for the 
stock. He ha.s planted all of the trees that are 
upon the farm and the home is now well shad- 
ed. The trees have attained magnificent pro- 
portions and the Burr Oak farm is one of the 
finest of the county. 

In politics Mr. Johnson is a republican and 
has been an interested witness of the issues 
which have evolved and which have divided 
the two great parties. He has been school di- 
rector for several years and is a stalwart cham- 
pion of puWic education, believing in the em- 
ployment of competent teachers and in the 
maintenance of high grade schools. His own 
education was completed in Oskaloosa College 
and he realizes the value of superior mental 
discipline as a preparation for life's practical 
and responsible duties. He and his wife at- 
tend the Christian church and contribute' to 
its support. Their united efforts have resulted 
in the attainment of a handsome fortune, for 
Mrs. Johnson has ably encoui'aged and assisted 
her husband as he has carried on the active 
work of the farm and furthered his stock-rais- 
ing interests. He possesses keen discernment 



and in the years of his residence in Dallas 
county has gained a handsome measure of suc- 
cess, placing him with the prosperous farmers 
of this portion of the state. 



WATSON P. DILLS. 



The ranks of the veterans of the Civil war 
are fast being disseminated and all honor 
should be paid to the surviving heroes of that 
long and sanguinary struggle which saved the 
Union intact and laid the foundation for the 
greatest republic on the face of the globe. 
Among the "boys in blue," now living in Iowa 
is numbered Watson P. Dills, who at the time 
of his enlistment made his home in Indiana. 
Immediately after the close of the war, how- 
ever, he came to Dallas county and is identi- 
fied with its farming interests as the owner of 
an excellent tract of land of two hundred and 
forty acres in Beaver township. 

His birth occurred in Shelby county, Ohio, 
on the 6t.h of November, 1836. His father, 
John Dills, was a native of Kentucky, where 
he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, 
sub.sequentlj' removing to Shelby county, Ohio, 
where he followed farming. Securing a tract 
of unimproved land there, he cleared it and 
developed a farm, which he converted into an 
excellent property. He was married in that 
county to Miss Agnes Moreland, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of 
six children while still residing in the Buckeye 
state. Later they removed to Indiana and es- 
tablished a home in Putnam county, v.-here Mr. 
Dills again secured and opened up a new farm, 
continuing to make it his home until he was 
called to his final rest. His wife sur\-ived him 
for some years. 

Watson P. Dills was reared in Putnam coun- 
ty, Indiana, and eai'ly took up the task of im- 
proving the home farm. He continued to aid 
his father in the cultivation and de\elopnient 
of the fields until he had attained his majority, 
and during that period he was a student in 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



415 



the public schools of the neighborhood. After 
the outbreak of the Civil war he offered his 
services to the government, first going to the 
front with the Forty-third Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry as a teamster. He was in the south 
for six months, largely in Kentucky vnth Gen- 
eral Buell's division. Later he returned home 
and in 1863 re-enlisted, becoming a member of 
Company A, Seventy-eighth Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry for sixty days. He went south 
to Kentucky, was taken prisoner at Union- 
town and subsequently was paroled, after which 
he returned home. 

It was in February, 1865, that Mr. Dills was 
unit<?d in marriage to Miss Jane .Johnston, a 
native of Parke county, Indiana, and a daugh- 
ter of Samuel H. Johnston, one of the early 
settlers of Parke county. iNIr. Dills came 
through with teams to Iowa in the same year 
and located on land which he had previously 
purchased in Dallas county. The farni is situ- 
ated on section 32, Beaver township, and was 
at that time all wild and unimproved, but he 
built a plank house and with characteristic en- 
ergy began to turn the furrows. Soon the sod 
was broken and the first crops were planted. 
He commenced here with one hundred and six- 
ty acres of land but later bought an adjoining 
tract of forty acres. He made a change in his 
original farm, however, by selling off eighty 
• acres and buying one hundred and sixty acres 
more. Subsequently he bought an- improved 
place of seventy acres, upon which he lived 
until 1901, when he removed to the town of 
Minburn and since that time he has disposed 
of his seventy-acre farm. His son has built 
a good house on the old home place, also a 
substantial barn, granary and cribi?. Mr. Dills 
has likewise tiled and fenced his land and has a 
fine farm, which is indicative of his progres- 
sive spirit and the energy that he ever displayed 
in his active farming interests. He bought a 
lot and built a good residence in Minburn, 
which he now occupies, and although he start- 
ed out in life empty-handed he is today a sub- 
stantial citizen of the county with excellent 
property holdings. 



Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dills has been born one 
son, who is yet living, Edward P., who oper- 
ates the home farm. He wedded Nora Morti- 
mer, a daughter of William Mortimer, and 
they have two children, Leslie and Vera. 

Mr. Dills is a democrat, having supported the 
party since he cast his presidential ballot for 
Stephen A. Douglas. While living on the fai'm 
he was township trustee for several years and 
has been a member of the school board for 
several years. His wife belongs to the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. They can relate many 
uiteresting incidents of the early days when 
Dallas county wa^ a pioneer district, for they 
have lived here for forty years. They have 
seen much of the land reclaimed for the uses 
of civilization, the wild prairie being converted 
into productive fields, while churches and 
schools have been built and towns and villages 
have sprung up, containing all of the business 
interests and evidences of a modern civilization. 



W. P. NOLTE. 



W. P. Nolte, whose farm of eighty acres on 
section 32, Union township, Dallas county, is 
largely devoted to fruit-raising, was born in 
Indiana; November 2, 1858, a son of H. H. 
and Sarah (Padgett) Nolte. The father was 
born in Germany in 1818, while his wife's 
birth occurred in Ohio in 1827. He emigrated 
to the United States in 1839, locating in Penn- 
sylvania. He later removed to Indiana and 
went from there to Muscatine, Iowa. In 1891 
he located in Dexter, Dallas county, and there 
passed away in the year 1900, his wife having 
preceded him to the home beyond in 1896. 
In the family of this worthy couple were thir- 
teen children : J. F., who is now living near 
Piedfield; Sarah, the wife of James Boiler, of 
Pottawattamie county, Iowa; M. C, a resident 
of Nebraska; Julia, the wife of E. L. Nellis, of 
Madison county, Iowa ; Mary, the wife of James 
Boot, living in Dexter, Iowa; Herman, who 



416 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



resides in Dallas county; Elizabeth, deceased; 
W. P., of this review ; T. C, of Dallas county ; 
Ollie, the wife of W. H. George, also of Dallas 
county; Charles, who lives in Madison county, 
Iowa; Rev. Edward, a minister of the gospel 
in Colorado; and Ella, who is deceased. 

W. P. Nolte received hi^ education in the 
common schools and was reared to agricultural 
pursuits, which he has made his life work. 
His farm of eighty acres on section 32, Union 
township, is largely devoted to fruit culture, 
forty-five acres being planted in apple trees, 
while a portion of the remainder gives him a 
goodly orchard of plum, peach, pear and other 
fruit trees. His trees are thrifty and are now 
in bearing, so that the orchard forms a very 
attractive feature in the landscape. To a 
traveler on the Rock Island train, passing Mr. 
Nolte's farm, this large and beautiful orchard 
appears as an oasis in the heart of the desert. 

In 1881 Mr. Nolte was united in marriage 
to Miss Emma J. Stong, a native of Canada, 
where she was born December 5, 1860. She 
was a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Boot) 
Stong, who came to Iowa in 1866, locating 
in Muscatine county. They were the parents 
of eleven children : William, of Clayton, Kan- 
sas; Hannah, deceased, who was the wife of 
Frank Avery; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank 
Foster, of Iowa county, Iowa; Abram, who re- 
sides in this state; Emma J., the wife of our 
subject; Brigham, who is living in Humboldt 
county, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Heman East- 
man, also of this state; George, of Colorado; 
Sarah, the wife of Wiley Thompson, who is 
living in Iowa; Daniel, also of Colorado; and 
John, who is deceased. Samuel Stong is still 
living in Humboldt county, Iowa, his wife, how- 
ever, having passed away in 1886. Unto Mr. 
and Mrs. W. P. Nolte were born seven chil- 
dren: Howard M. Nolte, who married Miss 
Martha Sheely, of Osceola, Iowa, and resides 
now at Fort Morgan, Colorado, with his wife 
and one son, Lorence Witte; Roxy H., who 
is a graduate of the Dexter high school and 
is now a teacher in the same institution, hold- 
ing both a county and state certificate; Sarah 



E., a graduate of the Dexter high school, who is 
at home; Joseph M., also at home; Maurice E., 
who has passed away ; Netta L. ; and Grace R. 
In his political views Mr. Nolte is a republi- 
can and has always taken an active interest in 
educational matters, being a member of the 
board of directors of the Dexter high school. 
He has given his children an excellent educa- 
tion, realizing the value of such training in the 
responsible duties of life. He is serving as 
secretarj' of the Patrons Mutual Fire Insur- 
ance Company of Dexter. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Nolte are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and are highly esteemed residents of 
the community, having won the warm regard 
of all with whom thev have come in contact. 



J. H. ANDERS. 



Almost thirty years have come and gone 
since J. H. Anders arrived in Dallas county 
and for a considerable period he followed farm- 
ing in Sugar Grove township, where he still 
owns two hundred and forty acres of land in 
the old home place. He also has a tract of 
two acres in Minburn, where he makes his 
home and is one of the respected, worthy and 
venerable citizens of the village, now in his 
eightieth year. He was born in Highland 
county, Ohio, on the 8th of December, 1827, 
and was a son of George Anders, a native of 
Virginia, in which state he was reared and 
married. Subsequently he removed to Ohio, 
where he cleared and cultivated a tract of land, 
opening ui^ a new farm. The family shared 
in the experiences and hardships of pioneer 
life but in due time these gave way before the 
comforts of an advancing civilization. 

J. H. Anders was reared in Highland county 
upon a farm, which owed its improvement and 
development in no small degree to his labors. 
His educational privileges were extremely lim- 
ited but in the school of experience he learned 
manv valuable lessons. He remained with his 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



417 



father until the mother's death and in the 
year 1850 came to Iowa, traveling over the 
central pai't of the state. He saw Des Moines 
when it was but a small village and looked 
upon great tracts of land which were yet but 
the open prairie with no evidences of improve- 
ment or of occupancy. Mr. Anders drove a 
team across the country from Ohio, for the 
railroads east of the Mississippi were few in 
number. He made this trip in order to drive 
the team for a neighbor who wa^ leaving High- 
land county, Ohio, for the west. In the fall 
of that year Mr. Anders returned to the Buck- 
eye state ajid remained there for several years. 

It was on the 12th of September, 1857, in 
Highland county, Ohio, that the marriage of 
J. H. Anders and Almira C. Perry was cele- 
brated. She was born in Greenfield, Ohio, and 
after their marriage the young couple settled 
upon a farm in Fayette county, which Mr. 
Anders owned and which he made his home 
for several years. In 1878 he removed to Dal- 
las county, Iowa. After trading his original 
place for land in 1877 he became owner of two 
hundred and forty acres. He then bought two 
acres in Minburn village on which he built a 
house and barn and has resided in this place 
since that time. Throughout the years he has 
been farming and further improving his prop- 
erty, and in connection with the cultivation of 
the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he 
also engaged in raising stock. He helped to 
improve and make the county what it is today 
and his own farm bears many evidences of his 
careful management, progressive spirit and 
skill in farm labor. He has set out fruit and 
shade trees where he now resides and has a 
good home here. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anders have been born 
five children, four of whom are still living, 
namely: H. F., who is married and resides 
in Iowa Falls, where he conducts general busi- 
ness interests and is also county surveyor; Iva 
v., the wife of Joseph La Valley, of Oklahoma; 
Fred, who is at home; and Myrtie E., who is 
engaged in teaching school. She has followed 
that profession for thirteen years and is now 



a teacher in the high school at Adel. Mary 
Ellen died in 1863, at the age of nine months. 
Politically Mr. Anders is independent, vot- 
ing for men rather than party and never seek- 
ing otRce for himself. His life has been a busy, 
useful and active one and at all times has been 
characterized by a spirit of advancement and 
progress which has made him a valued citizen. 
He is now one of the venerable residents of 
Minburn though in spirit and interests seems 
yet in his prime. He still gives general super- 
vision to his farm although he leaves the active 
work of the fields to others. 



ABRAM GOLDEN. 



Abram Golden owns and controls two hun- 
dred acres of rich and valuable land on section 
32, Van Meter township. He was born in 
Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 21st of De- 
cember, 1831, and was the fourth in order of 
birth in the family of ten children whose 
parents were Jacob and Alcy Golden, natives 
of Tennessee. The year 1830 witnessed their 
arrival in Illinois, where the father followed 
farming for about nineteen years, when death 
ended his labors in 1849. His wife survived 
him for a long period and passed away in 1874. 

In his youth Mr. Golden acquired a common- 
school education and was trained to the work 
of the home farm, gaining a knowledge of and 
precision in agricultural methods that have 
made him very successful in his later years as he 
has carried on farm work on his own account. 
In 1853 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Rachel J. Baldwin, who was born in Ohio, 
March 14, 1835. She accompanied her parents 
on their removal to Vermilion county, Illinois, 
where her father and mother died, the former 
passing away in 1838 and the latter in 1868. 
They cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers 
of Vermilion county, but the father was not 
long permitted to enjoy his new home, owing 
to his early demise. The family numbered 
twelve children, of whom Mrs. Golden was the 



418 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



eleventh in order of birth. After her marriage 
she went with her husband to a farm in Illi- 
nois, on which they lived for three years. 

In 1856 they came to Iowa, choosing Dallas 
county as the place of their future residence, 
and here they have lived continuously since. 
During the first year after his arrival Mr. 
Golden cultivated the land upon which the 
village of Van Meter now stands. He after- 
ward purchased other property and is today the 
owner of two hundi'ed acres of rich and fertile 
land on section 32, Van Meter township. A 
glance at the place will indicate to the passerby 
the cai'eful supervision and practical methods 
of tlie owner, who carefully tills his fields and 
raises his stock. He cultivates the cereals best 
adapted to soil and climate and finds a ready 
market for his products. In his business 
methods he is systematic and in all of his deal- 
ings is thoroughly reliable and enei'getic. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Golden were born four 
daughters and a son: Emily C, whose birth 
occurred February 1, 1855, and who is now 
married and lives in Nebraska; Mary A., who 
was born August 7, 1857, and is married and 
lives in Madison county, Iowa; Rachel A., who 
was born November 13, 1859, and is the wife 
of George A. Stuart, she and her husband 
being missionaries in China, while one of her 
daughters is a student in a college in Warren 
county, Iowa; William M.. who was born 
January 20, 1863, and is located in Colorado; 
and Alcy J., who was born June 14, 1866, and 
is the wife of L. E. Mover, a resident of Okla- 
homa. 

The parents ai"e members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Van ]Meter and are much 
interested in its work and growth. Mr. Golden 
votes with the republican party and has served 
as school director for eleven years but other- 
wise has not held office, preferring to con- 
centrate his time and energies upon his busi- 
ness affairs, and he is now reaping the rewards 
of his close application and earnest labor, for 
as the years have gone by he has accumulated 
a goodl}' competency, so that he is now very 
comfortably situated in life. He has passed 



the Psalmist's sjiau of three score years and ten, 
and in fact has reached the seventy-fifth mile- 
stone on life's journey. He is still, however, 
actively concerned in carrying on the farm 
work and has led a life in which indolence and 
idleness have had no place, while in his 
vocabulaiy there is no such work as fail. His 
success has not come through speculation or 
through any fortunate combination of cir- 
cumstances but has resulted from his per- 
severance, his wise investments and his habit 
of carrying forward to successful completion 
whatever he undertakes. 



JACOB STUMP. 



Jacob Stump is a retired farmer living in 
\an Meter, who from pioneer days has made 
his home in this county, where for many years 
he was closely associated with agricultural in- 
terests, and he now derives his income from a 
valuable farming property of four hundred and 
fifty acres. He is today one of the venerable 
citizens of Van Meter, having passed the eighty- 
third milestone on life's journey. His intei*ests, 
however, do not lie only in the past, as with 
many men of his years, for he gives his atten- 
tion to the questions of general moment and 
keeps well informed concerning affairs of pub- 
lic interest. 

Mr. Stump was born in Wayne county, In- 
diana, January 31, 1824, his parents Joseph 
and Mary Stump being natives of Kentucky 
and of Ohio respectively. Removing to Indi- 
ana at a pioneer epoch in its history, they con- 
tinued to make their home in that state until 
called to their final rest. They were the parents 
of nine children : Lemuel and Phoebe, de- 
ceased ; Jacob, of this review ; Joseph, Susanna, 
Malinda and Margaret, all four of whom have 
passed away; P. J., who is living in Indiana; 
and John, who has also departed this life. 

The conditions which surrounded Jacob 
Stump in his boyhood days are such as are 
largelv known onlv through historv to the citi- 




JACOB STUMP 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



421 



zens of the present. He was reared on the fron- 
tier amid pioneer surroundings at an age when 
there were no railroads in his part of the coun- 
try and when invention had not brought to 
man the many labor saving devices which have 
since revolutionized trade and commerce. He 
attended the early schools where the methods of 
instruction were exceedingly ])rimitive. He 
worked in the fields with a scythe and bound 
grain by hand. He remained a resident of 
Indiana until 1853 and in that year came to 
Dallas county, settling on a farm. He firet 
purchased land from the government, to which 
he kept adding from time to time until he now 
owns four hundred and fifty acres. His orig- 
inal purchase was entirely wild and unim- 
proved and he broke 'the sod, harrowed the 
ground, planted the seed and in due course of 
time gathered good harvests. He worked earn- 
estly and persistently to make a start here and 
as the years passed by prosperity came to him 
as the reward of his untiring diligence. He 
continued to engage in farming until 1901, 
when he took up his abode in the village of 
"\'^an Meter, where he owns and occupies a fine 
residence. 

Mr. Stump was married in 1850 to Miss Mary 
Troxel, who was born in Ohio, June 5, 1827, 
her parents bemg also natives of that state. 
Ten children were born unto them, as follows: 
Mary J., who was born October 20, 1852, and 
died m 1897 ; Cynthia, who passed away April 
15, 1866; John F., who was born March 12, 
1855, and died March 25, 1862; Samuel A., 
who was born March 15, 1857, and is a 
farmer living in Van Meter township; 
Margaret, born July 9, 1862; Nettie M., 
born October 1, 1865; Walter M., Novem- 
ber 12, 1868; Francis A., March 27, 1871; 
Nellie C, April 9, 1874; and Arthur J., Janu- 
ary 24, 1878. The parents are now pleasantly 
and comfortably situated in Van Meter, their 
present financial condition being in marked 
contrast to that in which they were found at 
the time of their removal to Iowa. They were 
in extremely limited circumstances when they 
came to Dallas county but they possessed strong 



hearts, willing hands and a courageous spirit 
and while Mr. Stump carefully carried on the 
work of the fields his wife frugally managed 
the household and their united efforts have 
resulted in gaining them the handsome com- 
petence which they are now enjoying. 

In his political views Mr. Stump has been a 
republican since the organization of the party 
and he has three times filled the oflice of super- 
visor, was also school director and for fifteen 
years was school treasurer. The cause of edu- 
cation ever finds in him a warm friend and in 
fact>he is interested in all that pertains to the 
welfare and upbuilding of the county in vari- 
ous ways. He contributes to the support of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and gives his en- 
dorsement to many movements for the general 
good. He was born during the presidential 
administration of James Monroe, the fifth chief 
executive of the nation. He has lived through 
a remarkable era in the country's progress and 
development, has seen the nation emerge tri- 
umphantly from three wars and has witnessed 
a most remarkable transformation in the modes 
of life and methods of business. He has seen 
the old stage coach and the slow steamboat 
superseded by the railroad train, has seen the 
introduction of the telegraph and the telephone 
and has witnessed the most remarkable changes 
in methods of farming. All of the machinery 
now in use, the thresher, the harvester and the 
binder, were unknown factors in his early 
manhood. Then the work was done by hand 
and the farmer followed the plow in the fur- 
rows, walking back and forth across the fields. 
He has lived to see, too, great changes in the 
household accommodations and arrangements; 
the old tallow candle replaced by the kerosene 
lamp, then by gas and still later by electricity. 
Fireplaces have given way before modern cook 
stoves and the home-made furniture has been 
superseded by that which comes from the fac- 
tory. However, those were happy old days, in 
which hospitality was a feature of every house- 
hold and many pleasures were enjoyed that are 
unknown at the present time. Mr. Stump, 
however, rejoices in the progress that has been 



422 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



accomplished and while on the farm kept in 
touch with modern agricultural development. 
He has lived in this county for more than half 
a century and as one of ita honored pioneers 
and venerable citizens well deserves mention 
in this volume. 



W. O. BLAKE. 



W. 0. Blake, proprietor of the Valley Grove 
Stock Farm, has become one of the leading 
representatives of stock-raising interests. His 
place is located on section 18, Walnut township, 
and he is a business man whose excellent record 
reflects credit upon Dallas county. He is one 
of Iowa's native sons, having been born in 
Adel township, this county, on the 14th of 
September, 18'66. 

His father, Sydney Blake, was a well known 
stockman, who is now living retired in Dallas 
Center. He was born in New Jersey and on 
his removal to the middle west settled in Rush 
county, Indiana, with his parents, being at that 
time a youth of eight years. There he was 
reared, early becoming familiar with agricul- 
tural interests, and after he attained his ma- 
jority he embarked in business on his own ac- 
count as a farmer and stock-buyer. He was 
married in Indiana to Miss Mary Ross, and 
thinking to enjoy better business opportunities 
in Iowa, he came to this state in 1865 and set- 
tled in Dallas county. Here he purchased one 
hundred acres of land in Adel township. It 
was raw prairie but he at once began to farm it 
and make a home. As the yeais p:issed the 
wild land was brought under a high state of 
cultivation and many modern accessories were 
added to the farm. There he resided until 
1902, when he removed to Dallas Center, where 
he is now living retired, in his sixty-ninth 
year, while his wife is in her sixtieth year. 
They have a family of six children, four sons 
;md two daughters, all of whom have reached 
years of maturity. 

William Blake, the eldest of the family, was 
reared upon the old homestead and spent his 



early years in school. After acquiring his ele- 
raentai-y education he entered the Dallas Cen- 
ter high school, of which he is a graduate, and 
he was thas well equipped for life's practical 
and responsible duties. When he had put 
aside his text-books he began earning his own 
living as a farm hand and worked by the month 
for eight years, thus gaining a start in life. He 
has always carried on general agricultural pur- 
suits and after his marriage he operated rented 
land for one year in Adel township. In 1889 
he bought eighty acres, where he now resides. 
There he erected a dwelling and began to cul- 
ti\'ate and improve the farm and as his finan- 
cial resources have permitted he has extended 
its boundaries until it now comprises two hun- 
dred and twenty-five acres. His buildings and 
improvements are of the best, his house being 
a two-story modern dwelling, well arranged 
and supplied with all modern conveniences. 
He has good barns, cribs and outbuildings, with 
a windpump and stock scales and all of the 
latest improved machinery. He is a stock- 
raiser of some note and feeds largely for the 
market, having from seven to eight carloads of 
cattle a year and using all his own corn in this 
wa}-. 

On the 27th of February, 1889, ]\Ir. Blake 
wa* mai'ried to Miss Emma Schlosser, a native 
of Dallas county and a daughter of John and 
Nancy Schlosser, who came to Iowa in 1854. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Blake has been born one 
son, Dell S., who is a young man with his 
father on the farm. 

In politics Mr. Blake is an earnest republican 
where state and national i-ssues are involved but 
at local elections he casts an independent ballot. 
He has never sought oflSce as a reward for party 
fealty but has served as a member of the school 
board for several years and was president for 
three years. He belongs to Ne Plus Ultra lodge, 
No. 401, K. P., at Waukee, also to the Modern 
Woodman camp at Dallas Center. Having 
spent his entire life in this locality, he is well 
known and the fact that many of his stanchest 
friends are those who have known him from 
his bovhood is an indication that his career is 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



423 



worthy of respect and confidence. The Valley 
Grove Stock Farm which he now owns and 
operates is the visible evidence of his life of 
thrift and business enterprise and discernment, 
for through his earnest and persistent labor he 
has come into possession of this property, which 
is valuable and returns to him a good income. 



R. K. PRICE. 



R. K. Price, a representative agriculturist 
of Dallas county, was born in Harrison county, 
Ohio, April 3, 1839, a son of Reynolds K. and 
Mary Price. The father was born at Baltimore, 
Maryland, in 1802, while the mother's birth 
occurred in Pennsylvania. Mr. Price came to 
Iowa in the spring of 1861, settling in Union 
township, Dallas county, and removing later to 
Adams township, where he lived for two years. 
He then returned to Union township, his death 
there occurring in 1887 and that of his wife in 
1882. Twelve children were borji to this 
worthy couple, five of whom are still living: 
Rebecca, the wife of Noah Hall, now living in 
Fulton county, Illinois; R. K., the subject of 
this review; Mary, still living in this county; 
Richard, a resident of California; and Carrie, 
the wife of Dr. Dawson, who now resides in 
California. 

R. K. Price was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits and acquired a common-school education. 
He has always followed the occupation of farm- 
ing, and in 1860 came to Iowa. In 1863 he 
purchased a farm in Union township, which 
he still owns, being numbered among the en- 
terprising agriculturists of the county. 

In 1864 Mr. Price was united in marriage 
to Miss Sarah E. Stribling, who was born in 
Missouri in 1845, while her parents were 
natives of Kentucky. She was one of four 
children and by her marriage has become the 
mother of seven children, five of whom are still 
living; Ralph, who is a bridge builder and con- 
tractor; Arthur, who still resides in Dallas 
county; Florence, the wife of Charles Katzung, 



now living in Los Angeles, California; Charles, 
who is engaged in the hardware business in this 
county; Nettie, the wife of Joseph Bilderback, 
who lives in this county and taught school for 
twelve years prior to her marriage; Anna, de- 
ceased, was a graduate of the Dexter Normal 
and taught school for several years, also acting 
as principal of both the Waukee and Minburn 
schools. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Price is a re- 
publican, served for six years as supervisor, and 
in fact has served in all of the township posi- 
tions. He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church of Dexter and in 
their home community are highly esteemed by 
reason of their genuine personal worth and 
sterling traits of character. Mr. Price resided 
on the farm of thirty-two years, removing to 
Dexter early in 1896. He purchased his pres- 
ent residence property, which he has remodeled, 
and is now located in an attractive home. 



EDWIN L. HILL. 



Among the residents of Minburn who derive 
their income from farming and stock-raising 
interests is numbered Edwin L. Hill, who is 
accorded a foremost rank among the leading 
agriculturists of this locality. His farm prop- 
erty of four hundred and twenty acres is 
situated on sections 7 and 8 in Sugar Grove 
township, and he also controls and operates 
the old home farm of one hundred and ninety 
acres. Forty years have come and gone since 
he arrived in this state. He was then a little 
child of less than two years, his birth having 
occurred in Saratoga county. New York, on 
the 21st of November, 1865. 

His father, J. B. Hill, was a native of Green- 
wich, Washington county, New York, and was 
boi'n in the year 1822. There he was reared 
and married, the lady of his choice being Miss 
Rhoda Slocum, whose birth occurred in Sara- 
toga county. J. B. Hill followed the occupa- 
tion of farming as a life work and in the year 



424 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



1867 came to Iowa, t^ettling in Dallas county, 
■where he purchased a tract of land. He reso- 
lutely set to work to farm and improve this 
and upon the old homestead he reared his 
family, making thLs place his residence until 
he was called to his final re.st in December, 
1885. His wife still sui-vives him and resides 
on the old home farm at the age of eighty-one 
years. She is still a remarkably well preserved 
woman, enjoying good health for one of her 
age. Edwin L. is the youngest of her seven 
children. The others now living are: Mrs. 
Elizabeth Gill, of California; Slocum, of Kan- 
sas; and Jennie, who lives with her mother. 

Edwin L. Hill early became familiar with 
the duties and labors that fall to the lot of 
agriculturists. At an early age he began work 
in the fields and assisted in the task of plowing, 
planting and harvesting. When he had at- 
tained sufficient years to give him strength and 
discretion he took charge of the farm and still 
carries on the place. 

In May, 1900, Mr. Hill won a companion 
and helpmate for the journey of life through 
his marriage to Miss Jessie L. Cook, who was 
born and reared in this county. She is a 
daughter of W. A. and Electa Cook. Her 
father was a native of Missouri and was reared 
in Iowa. He was well educated, being a grad- 
uate of Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and 
for some years successfully engaged in teach- 
ing. Ere leaving the Keystone state after his 
graduation he was married, and on removing 
westward to Iowa became one of the early set- 
tlers of Clinton county. Later he took up his 
abode in Dallas county and followed farming 
in Sugar Grove township. 

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hill 
located in Minburn and he continued farm- 
ing. He is now raising and feeding stock, 
feeding and fattening between three and four 
hundred head of cattle annually and also from 
three to five carloads of hogs. For ten years 
he has been engaged in buying and shipping 
stock. 

Unto Mr. and ^Irs. Hill has been born one 
son, Clarence. Mrs. Hill is a member of the 



Methodist church, to which Mr. Hills mother 
and sister also belong. Politically Mr. Hill is 
an earnest republican but has no desire for of- 
fice. He is well known in Adel, in Dallas Cen- 
ter, and in fact throughout the county, and is 
one of the substantial and public-spirited men 
here. From eaxly boyhood days he has lived 
here and his life record is therefore largely 
familiar to the great majority of our readers. 
He has never sought to figure prominently in 
any public light but in business has proven 
capable and reliable and his intense and well 
directed activity is now bringing him a grati- 
fying measure of prosperity. 



F. J. SLANINGER. 



A most enterprising farmer and stock-raiser 
of Dallas, his native county, was born May 24, 
1867. He is the son of Joseph and Anna 
(Kubitsheck) Slaninger, both natives of Aus- 
tria, who early made their way to the shores 
of the new world, where they first located in 
Johnson county, Iowa. Subsequently they re- 
moved to Dallas county about the year 1867. 
It was here that the husband and father passed 
away on March 12, 1875, his widow still sur- 
viving him. To their union were born six 
children: F. J., of this review; Josephine M., 
of Des Moines; Anna M., who lives near Wau- 
kee, Iowa;' Anthony J., Pauline and Jennie, 
all of this county. 

In the hours that could be spared from work 
Mr. Slaninger picked up what education he 
could in the district schools. Having been 
reared on a farm, he naturally turned to 
agricultural pursuits for his life work. For 
three years he farmed in Nebraska and then 
returned to Iowa, where he has since lived. 
Starting with a small farm, he is now the owner 
of three hundred and seventy-two acres of land 
on sections 16, 21 and 22. His place is known 
as the Center Stock Fanu, which is a most ap- 
propriate name, for its owner is an extensive 
stock-raiser and feeder. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



425 



On October 16, 1898, occurred the marriage 
of Mr. Slaninger and Christine Biedernian, who 
was born in Austria, February 2, 1868. Her 
mother passed away in 1902 but her father is 
still living in Richland township, Guthrie 
county. There were four children in this 
family: Elizabeth, Anna, Chri.<tine and Jo- 
seph. To Mr. and Mrs. Slaninger were born 
four children: Edward A., August 26, 1899; 
Joseph F., November 19, 1900; Frances F., 
May 30, 1905; and Paul V., March 19, 1907. 

Politically Mr. Slaninger holds the views of 
the republican party and has served as town- 
ship trustee for seven years and as constable. 
For seven years he was a most efficient school 
secretary. He is a member of the Woodmen 
lodge, No. 2807, at Minburn, Iowa. He and 
his wife are both members and loyal supporters 
of the Catholic church at Perry. They have 
enjoyed - an unusual portion of success and 
though they have met many ditficulti&s they 
have overcome them and gone ahead with a 
persistency that has characterized all of their 
undertakings. They are people of strong con- 
victions, lovers of what is right and are most 
valued citizens in this community, where they 
have won a large circle of friend.^. 



WILLlAil B. KINNICK. 

William B. Kinuick, one of the most exten- 
sive landowners of Dallas county and vice-presi- 
dent of the Adel State Bank, has manifested in 
his business career the spirit of enterpri.se and 
progress which has gained him a distinctive 
position in business circles. He was born in 
Johnson county, Indiana, March 20, 1849, his 
parents being W'illiam and Sarah (Clark) Kin- 
nick. The father was born in North Carolina, 
March 20, 1793, and the mother in Kentucky, 
February 6, 1804. They were married in Indi- 
ana, in which state Mr. Kinnick followed the 
occupation of farming until 1854, when he 
came to Iowa, settling in Adel township among 
the pioneer residents of Dallas county. He 
first built a log house and broke the wild ])rairie 



with ox teams, bringing the land under a high 
state of cultivation, so that he annually gath- 
ered rich harvests as the result of the care and 
labor which he bestowed upon his fields. At 
the time of his death he owned five eighty-acre 
tracts of land and his prosjjerity was due to his 
own labors and careful management. His polit- 
ical support was given to the democracy until 
after the election of Franklin Pierce as presi- 
dent, and upon the organization of the .new 
republican pai'ty he became one of its stalwart 
advocates. He belonged to the Christian church 
and his life was a most honorable and upright 
one. He died in April, 1863, while his wife 
passed away at the advanced age of eighty-six 
years. In their family were tw^elve children 
but only four are now living: Ann, J. T., R. R. 
and AVilliam B. 

In taking up the personal history of William 
B. Kinnick we note that he was but live years 
of age when he came with his parents to Iowa, 
so that his education was acquired in the dis- 
trict schools and he was reared amid the wild 
scenes and environments of pioneer life. He 
early became familiar with the duties and labors 
that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and when 
about twenty years of age he began farming on 
his own account. He has since followed the 
business and has attained a position as one of 
the most prominent and successful agricul- 
turists of this part of the state. When he 
started out on his own account he had but forty 
acres of land of his own but he rented the re- 
mainder of the old homestead, thus having 
charge of one hundred and sixty acres in all. 
He carefully managed his finances, made the 
best use possible of his opportunities and as 
the years passed by was enabled to purchase 
more land from time to time until he now owns 
twelve liundred and forty-five acres. He has 
not only successfully tilled the fields but has 
also raised many hogs and has been an exten- 
sive buyer and feeder of cattle and hogs. He 
has also bought and sold about five thousand 
acres of Canada lands in the past few years. 
In 1902 he was elected vice president of the 
.\del State Bank, which office he is still filling. 



426 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



On the 3d of March, 1875, Mr. Kinnick was 
married to Miss Marj' Jane Stump, who was 
born in Indiana, August 6, 1851, and who died 
on the 15th of April, 1896. She was the daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Mary (Dunn) Stump, both 
natives of Indiana. Her father was a farmer 
of that state and removed to Iowa in the early 
'50s, settling in the eastern part of Dallas 
county. He aided in reclaiming the region for 
the purposes of civilization, breaking the wild 
prairie and otherwise aiding in the early de- 
velopment of this pai't of the state. He also 
kept a station on the old stage line between 
Des Moines and Council Bluffs. At one time 
he owned between five and six hundred acres 
of land but later he sold his first home and 
bought near Van Meter. In 1902 he took up 
his abode in that town, where he is now living 
in the enjoyment of well earned and honorable 
retirement from labor. He has acted as a 
member of the county board of supervisors and 
has been active in township affairs, serving at 
one time as township trustee. He exercises his 
right of franchise in support of the men and 
measures of the republican party. In his 
family were nine children, three sons and six 
daughters, of whom seven are now living. The 
home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinnick has been blessed 
with eight children, of whom five survive, 
namely: Frank B., Mary B., Ruth, Nile C. 
and Marguerite. 

Mr. Kinnick votes with the republican party 
and has been called to some local offices. He 
has filled the position of township trustee and 
at the present time is one of the county com- 
missioners. He has also been a member of the 
city council of Adel and he exercises his official 
prerogatives in support of many movements 
and measures for the public good. He belongs 
to Adel lodge. No. 80, A. F. &. A. M., and 
also to the Knights of Pji^hias fraternity. In 
business life he has made an excellent record 
for success and for honorable methods which 
he has followed. He may truly be called a 
self-made man, for he had little assistance when 
he started out in life on his own account. Grad- 
ually, however, he has worked his way upward 



until he occupies a foremost position among the 
leading agriculturists of this section of the 
state, his life proving conclusively that suc- 
cess may be attained by determination and 
honorable methods. 



WINFIELD S. CROUSE. 

One of the attractive features in the land- 
scape of Colfax township is the fine farm of 
Winfield S. Grouse, who has one hundred and 
sixty acres of land divided into fields of con- 
venient size which have been brought under a 
high state of cultivation. They give promise 
of golden harvests and the place in all of its 
appointments is modern and up-to-date. 

Mr. Grouse is a native of Pennsylvania, hav- 
ing been born in Chester county, that state, on 
the 19th of July, 1852, one of the ten children 
of Jacob and Phoebe D. (Wallerton) Grouse, 
who were likewise natives of the Keystone state, 
the former born July 23, 1815, and the latter 
on the 4th of December, 1814. They were 
reared in Pennsylvania and in his youth the 
father learned the blacksmith's trade, which he 
followed in the east until 1856. That year wit- 
nessed his arrival in the Mississippi valley. He 
took up his abode in Carroll county, Illinois, 
and abandoning his trade turned his attention 
to farming, which he followed until 1870. In 
that year he removed to Iowa, settling on a 
tract of land of one hundred and sixtj' acres in 
Colfax township, Dallas county. Only a small 
part of this had been placed under the plow. 
A little house and barn had been built but the 
farm was largely unimproved, so that there was 
much arduous labor to be done but Mr. Grouse 
resolutely took up the w^ork of the farm and 
transformed the raw prairie into fertile fields, 
from which he annually gathered good crops. 
He made that place his home until about four 
years prior to his death, when he sold the farm 
and spent his remaining days with his daugh- 
ter, his wife having previously passed away. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



429 



Her death occurred in May, 1888, while Mr. 
Grouse survived for almost fifteen years, depart- 
ing this life on the 17th of January, 1903. His 
life was largely a period of unremitting ac- 
tivity and the comfortable competence which 
he had gained came to him as the reward of 
earnest and honest labor. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Grouse were born 
eleven children, of whom two died in infancy, 
while Quincy A. died at the age of seventeen 
years. Tlie others are: Levi H., who is living 
in Golfax township; John J., a resident of 
Stephenson county, Illinois ; G. S., who is living 
in Adams county, Iowa; Jacob W., who makes 
his home in Sherman county, Kansas; Winfield 
S. ; Laura C., who is living in Golfax township ; 
and Mrs. Phoebe J. Badger and Louisa' G., also 
of Golfax township. The two who died in in- 
fancy were Esther and Mary Ann. 

Winfield S. Grouse was only four years of 
age when he was taken by his parents from 
his native state to Illinois and his early life was 
spent on the home farm where he worked in 
the fields and meadows. In the winter months, 
when the crops were harvested and the labor 
of the farm was practically over for the year, 
he attended the common schools and thus ac- 
quired a good English education, to which he 
has added by reading and observation until he 
is now a well informed man. He continued 
upon the old homestead with his parents until 
twenty-seven years of age, accompanying them 
on their removal to Iowa when he was a youth 
of eighteen years. He thus aided in the ardu- 
ous task of developing the new farm here and 
shared in the hardships and privations of pio- 
neer life which were yet to be met with here 
at that time. He made purchase of a farm 
for himself in 1887, when he became owner of 
one hundred and sixty acres in Golfax town- 
ship. This had been fenced but otherwise there 
were no improvements upon it and its splendid 
condition is due to the labor, enterprise and 
progressive spirit of Mr. Grouse. In the midst 
of the farm stands a comfortable residence and 
nearby are commodious barns and outbuildings 
for the shelter of grain and stock. He uses 



the latest improved machinery to facilitate the 
work of the fields and has good farm animals 
upon the place. The methods which he follows 
are practical and at the same time are in keep- 
ing with ideas of progressive agriculture. 

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. 
Grouse was married to Miss Laura Row, who 
was born in Washington county, Maryland, 
June 23, 1856, her parents being Benjamin and 
Ann (Yeakles) Row, also natives of Maryland, 
who are yet living and are now residents of 
Dallas Genter, Iowa. On leaving the south 
they removed to Ogle county, Illinois, in 1857, 
and they resided there for about fourteen years, 
Mr. Row cultivating a rented farm until 1871, 
when he came to Dallas county, Iowa. Here 
he invested his earnings in two hundred and 
forty acres of land and carried on general farm- 
ing until 1892, when he sold out and went to 
Galifornia with the intention of making that 
state his home but found that he preferred 
Iowa as a place of residence and after one year 
returned to the middle west, settling at Dallas 
Genter, where he now owns and conducts a 
lumberyard. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Row were 
born eight children, five of whom are yet liv- 
ing: Mrs. Mary Folk, who is living in Wood- 
ford, Iowa; Mrs. Winfield S. Grouse; Mrs. 
Emma Ward, whose home is in Dallas Center; 
John F., who is also living in that place; and 
Mrs. Annie Rhodes, likewise a resident of Dal- 
las Genter. Those of the family now deceased 
are: Mrs. Jennie Hoff, who died at the age 
of twenty-nine years; Frank, who died when 
twenty-four years of age; and Gusta M., who 
passed awaj' when nineteen years of age. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Grouse have been born 
four children: Charles C, Samuel B., Phoebe 
D. and Clara A. The two last named are at 
home. The older son, Charles G., married Miss 
Edith Fish, and they have one daughter, 
Dorothy. Samuel B. wedded Miss Minnie 
Shade, lives in Minnesota and has three child- 
ren : Alberta, George R. and Ray. 

Mr. and Mrs. Winfield S. Grouse are pleas- 
antly located in a comfortable home and in ad- 
dition to this farm Mr. Grouse also owns ten 



430 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



acres of timber land. He and his wife are 
faithful and consistent members of the German 
Baptist church and his poUtical support is given 
the republican party, of which he is a stalwart 
advocate. He believes firmly in its principles 
as conducive to the best interests of the country 
but he has never been a politician in the sense 
of office seeking. On the contrary he is dis- 
tinctively a business man, alert and enterpris- 
ing, has made good use of his opportunities and 
has builded the ladder upon which he has 
mounted to success. 



NEWTON J. BROWN. 

A life of intense and well directed activity 
has made Newton J. Brown the owner of an 
excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
in Sugar Grove township, Dallas county. He 
now resides in Minburn and has made his home 
in Iowa since the 18th of April, 1838. He is 
therefore one of the oldest settlei-s of the state. 
His birth occurred in Union county, Indiana, 
on the 6th of June, 1837, his father being 
Matthew Brown, a native of North Carolina, 
while the grandfather was Colonel Brown, a 
soldier of the Revolutionaiy war, who held a 
commission and served throughout the period 
of hostilities in defense of the colonial cause. 
Some years after the establishment of Ameri- 
can independence he removed to Indiana, cast- 
ing in his lot with the early settlers of Union 
county. He was a man of good education and 
was a government surveyor. He and his son 
ilatthew were afterwards sent to Iowa to make 
the surveys for a number of cities; in the east- 
ern part of the state. 

Matthew Brown was reared in the Hoosier 
state and attended the primitive schools there at 
an early day but was lai-gely self-educated. 
Having reached adult age he was married in 
Union county to Miss Julia Brumage, a native 
of Virginia, who in early life became a resident 
of Indiana. Matthew Brown followed general 
agricultural pureuits in Union county, that 



state, and he and his wife continued to reside 
there until after the birth of five of their chil- 
dren. During the infancy of their son Newton 
they removed to Iowa, settling in Muscatine 
county on the 18th of April. There the father 
entered land and opened up a farm. The 
Indians still roamed at will over the greater 
part of the state and white men had hardly 
penetrated into some districts of Iowa. The 
broad, unbroken prairies stretched away for 
miles and the forests were uncut and the rivers 
unbridged. Indeed thei'e were few indications 
of civilization in the entire state save along the 
river, but a few brave and courageous spirits 
had dared to venture into the state and had 
made settlements, thus planting the seeds of 
civilization upon the western frontier. Mat- 
thew Brown continued to engage in farming 
and in the development of a good home for his 
family until 1842, when, at the comparatively 
early age of thirty-six years, he was called to 
his final rest. His wife survived him, reared 
a family and died in 1893. 

Newton J. Brown, whose name introduces 
this review, was not quite a year old when 
brought by his parents to Iowa, and amid the 
wild scenes of the frontier he was i-eared, shar- 
ing in the hardships and privations which 
usually come to those who establish homes 
amid pioneer conditions. He worked on the 
farm as soon as old enough to handle the plow 
and remained with his mother until his mar- 
riage. In Muscatine county, on the 16th of 
October, 1862, he wedded Miss Vesta C. Ferry, 
who was born in Burlington, Iowa, but was 
reared in Muscatine county and subsequently 
engaged in teaching prior to her marriage. 
Her parents were Captain Silas and Flavia 
(French) Ferry, who were married in Hor- 
nellsville, New York. Her mother, who was 
born in Massachusetts in 1806, died in Burling- 
ton, Iowa, in 1850, while her father, whose 
birth occurred in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1800, passed away in Muscatine county, Iowa, 
in 1863. In 1835 he removed to Burlington, 
where as a contractor he engaged in grading 
the streets, and in 1855 became a resident of 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



431 



Muscatine county, the remainder of his life 
being devoted to farming. His father, John 
Ferry, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and 
his grandfather fought under General La Fay- 
ette for American independence in the Rev- 
olutionary war. He came to the United 
States with two brothers and after peace was 
restored they were granted a large tract of land 
in Pennsylvania for their services. 

After his marriage, Mr. Brown rented a fai'm 
in Muscatine county for fifteen years, and then 
removed to Dallas county. He bought land in 
the winter of 1875 and moved on to this in 
1878. He broke the prairie, built a good house 
and opened up his farm, bringing the fields 
under a high state of cultivation as he raised 
various cereals. He also put up a good barn, 
granary and cribs and built a pen for his hogs. 
The drainage was greatlj^ improved bj^ the use 
of tiling, and he divided the place into fields 
of convenient size by well kept fences. He has 
today one of the best improved farms in Sugar 
Grove township and although Iowa was once 
largely bare of all trees, it being a great broad 
prairie, he now has about his home a fine 
growth of maple, evergreen, ash and other trees. 
The land is well kept and the place is most 
pleasing in appearance, being known as Green- 
wood Home. In connection with the tilling 
of the soil Mr. Brown raised and fed stock, and 
continued his active farming operations until 
1904, when he purchased his residence in Min- 
burn and rented his land. On land adjoining 
Mr. Brown's is a cemetery organized by him 
and his neighbor.?, which is known as Green- 
wood Cemetery, and around Sugar Grove 
school No. 1 is a grove of trees planted by him 
and his family which will always remain a 
monument to them. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born 
thirteen children, of whom five sons and five 
daughters are yet living, namely: Harvey W., 
who follows farming on the old homestead and 
is married and has ten children ; Professor H. 
C. Brown, president of the Northern Iowa Nor- 
mal Business College, who is married and has 
five sons; M. A., who resides in Adel; Bertha 



L., the wife of C. E. Basart, a pharmacist at 
Minburn ; George E., who is engaged in the 
lumber business in Minneapolis; Flavia M., the 
wife of H. F. Everett, a business man of loWa 
Falls ; Elsie S., who is a graduate of the Colum- 
bia College of Expression at Chicago, and is 
now a teacher of oratory and expression in that 
city ; Professor Clyde F. Brown, who is princi- 
pal of the schools at Cromwell; Hattie B., the 
wife of Rush Shortley, a banker of Spokane, 
Washington; and Elma E., a teacher in the 
schools of Spokane. The two daughters who 
have passed away are Emeline, who died June 
6, 18i)7, at the age of sixteen months; and 
Laura E., who died in infancy on the 17th of 
February. 1888; A. W., who followed teach- 
ing in Wisconsin, Dakota and Iowa, died April 
27, 1907. 

Mr. Brown ls a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, being affiliated with Minburn lodge, 
and he and his wife are connected with the 
Order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Brown being 
chaplain and treasurer of the local chapter. 
Mr. Brown votes with the democracy and 
proudly cast his first presidential ballot in 
1860, .supporting Stephen A. Douglas. He has 
never failed to vote at a prasidential election 
since that time but he would never accept 
political office. He has served, however, as 
school director and clerk of the district for 
some j'ears. He is well known as an active 
business man and progreasive citizen and until 
a recent date continued to personally supervise 
and operate his farm but has now retired to 
enjoy a well earned r&st, having valuable 
property which has come to him through his 
earnest and diligent eff'orts. 



EDWARD SHAW. 



Edward Shaw, who owns and operates a farm 
of one hundred and thirty-five acres on .sec- 
tion 31, Union township, was born in Wood- 
ford county, Illinois, April 9, 1858, a son of 
Joseph and Margaret (Ashenhurst) Shaw. 



432 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The parents were both natives of Brown county, 
Ohio, the father having been born in 1832 and 
the mother in 1828. Joseph Shaw came to Illi- 
nois in 1855, remaining there until 1881, when 
he removed to Pierce county, Nebraska, his 
death there occurring in October, 1901, his wife 
also passing to the home beyond from the same 
place, ill January, 1901. This worthy couple 
were the parents of ten children, five of whom 
are still living: Edward, the subject of this re- 
view; Emma, the wife of A. C. Simpson, who 
lives in Illinois; Eldavelda, who married F. C. 
McWhorter and resides in Pierce, Nebraska; 
John A., a resident of this county; and Jona- 
than Henry, living in South Dakota. 

Edward Shaw received a common-school 
education and has followed farming as his life 
occupation. He first located a homestead in 
Nebraska, where he remained for eleven j^ears, 
after which he removed to Mercer county,' Illi- 
nois, here conducting a rented farm for twelve 
years. In 1901 Mr. Shaw came to Dallas 
county, Iowa, and purchased a farm of one 
hundred and thirty-five acres on section 31, 
Union township. He makes a specialty of 
dairying and also of the raising of hogs, his 
farming and stock-raising interests bringing to 
him a gratifying measure of success because 
of the progressive methods he follows in their 
conduct. 

On December 29, 1881, Edward Shaw was 
united in marriage to Miss Emma Postlewait, 
who was born in Mercer county, Illinois, June 
27, 1859, a daughter of J. C. and Rebecca 
(Pightal) Postlewait, both of whom were na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 1820 
and the latter in 1828. They removed to Illi- 
nois in the year 1854, both parents passing 
away in that state, in the years 1895 and 1863 
respectively. They have become the parents of 
seven children, five of whom are still living: 
B. W., who now residas in Holt county, Ne- 
braska; W. J., a resident of Warren county, 
Illinois ; Ada, the wife of Charles Barrick, liv- 
ing in St. Joseph, Missouri ; Elizabeth, who 
became the wife of Wilkinson Moore and now 
resides in Adair county, Iowa; and Mrs. Shaw. 



Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are the parents of two chil- 
dren: Philip L., who was born July 1, 1891, 
and is a graduate of the Dexter high school; 
and Arthur C, whose birth occurred March 14, 
1897. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Shaw is a 
republican and served as road commissioner in 
Illinois for five yeai-s. He is now a member 
of the board of directors of the Dexter high 
school, and fraternally is connected with Dex- 
ter camp, No. 1662, M. W. A. Both he and 
his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
church at Dexter, and are highly esteemed 
people of the community because of the ster- 
ling characteristics they have displayed in their 
daily lives. Mr. Shaw is numbered among the 
progressive and enterprising agi'iculturists of 
this county and as a citizen whose support can 
always be counted upon to further any move- 
ment or measure instituted to promote the 
general welfare. 



LEVI P. AVILCOX. 



It is given to but comparatively few to cele- 
brate their fiftieth wedding anniversary but the 
privilege came to Levi P. Wilcox on the 27th 
of April, 1906. Moreover, almost his entire 
married life has been passed in Dallas county, 
and as one of the honored pioneer settlers of 
this section of the state it is imperative that 
mention be made of him in this volume lest 
the record would be considered incomplete. Mr, 
Wilcox is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, 
born on the 15th of January, 1835. His pa- 
rents were James and Martha (Bennett) Wil- 
cox, the former born in Virginia, in 1810, and 
the latter in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1817. Following his removal to Ohio 
James Wilcox there spent his days in black- 
smithing and carpentering, having previously 
learned the trades. In 1844 he made the over- 
land trip with horse teams to Boone county, 
Indiana, where he purchased and cultivated a 
farm, later, however, removing to Tippecanoe 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



435 



county, that state. , In 1851 he became a resi- 
dent of Will county, Illinois, now a part of 
Kankakee county, and in the early days there 
he carried the mail between Middleport and 
Blue Island, Illinois, after which it was taken 
to Chicago. He conducted a stage line for three 
yeai"s and also engaged in fai'ming. In 1855 
he again started westward, and on the 7th of 
May of that year arrived in what is now Spring 
Vallej- township. There he took up a claim, 
becoming one of the pioneer settlei's of that lo- 
cality and aiding in the reclamation of a hither- 
to wild region for the purposes and uses of civ- 
ilization. Year by year he carried on the work 
of the farm, bringing it under a high state of 
cultivation. There he made his home until 
1880, when he took up his abode in Perry, 
where he lived retired until his death, which 
occurred on the 19th of January, 1890. He 
held various township offices, to which he was 
called by the vote of his fellow citizens who 
recognized his worth and fidelity. His early 
political allegiance was given to the democracy 
but in 1860 he espoused the cause of the repub- 
lican party, supported Abraliam Lincoln and 
was ever afterward a stanch advocate of the 
party principles. He also belonged to the 
Methodist Episcopal church and lived an up- 
right, honorable life, which won for him the 
uniform confidence and good-will of all who 
knew him. His wife survived him for about 
si.xteen years and passed away on the 13th of 
April, 1908. They were married in Ohio and 
became the parents of ten children, of whom 
six yet survive, namely: Levi P., Albert L., 
John B., William E., Jerry and Jennie. 

Levi P. Wilcox was a lad of only nine years 
when he accompanied his parents on their re- 
moval from Montgomery county, Ohio, to Indi- 
ana in February, 1844. The journey was made 
in a covered wagon after the primitive manner 
of travel in those days and again he went with 
the family to Illinois and subsequently to Iowa, 
arriving in Dallas county in 1855. The family 
home was established in what is now Spring 
Valley township but was previously Dallas 
township, and even the latter township was ii:it 



organized until the spring of 1856. That was 
a momentous year in the history of Mr. Wilcox. 
It was in that year that he attained his major- 
ity, that he was married and that he was first 
called to public office, being elected the first 
clerk of the township. 

On the 27th of April, 1856, he wedded Miss 
Matilda Council, the marriage being celebrat- 
ed at the home of her parents in what is now 
Spring Valley but was then Dallas township. 
She was born in Logan county, Illinois, April 5, 
1836, and was a daughter of Charles and Mary 
(Culberson) Council, the former born in North 
Carolina and the latter in Illinois. Her father 
died at the age of seventy-five years, and the 
mother passed away in Dallas county at the 
same age. They were members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church and Mr. Council was a 
democrat in his political views. Of the family 
of eleven children seven still survive: Willis, 
Rebecca, Mathilde, Thomas, Mary Ann, John 
and Melvina. 

Mrs. Wilcox received from her father one 
hundred and twenty acres of land and upon 
this tract the young couple began their do- 
mestic life. Mr. Wilcox hauled logs to the saw- 
mill and had them converted into lumber. He 
made his own shingles, splitting them out of 
the block, and with the proceeds of the sale of 
a calf, for which he received seven dollars and a 
half, he went to Des Moines and purchased the 
glass and nails for his home. This was all the 
nionej^ he had but the young couple possessed 
stout hearts and willing hands and resolutely 
took up the work of life, happy in each other's 
society. They lived upon their original farm 
until 1860 but times were very hard in Iowa 
and thinking that they might do better in Illi- 
nois they crossed the river and took up their 
abode in Logan county, that state. They were 
at that time parents of two children. They left 
Iowa on the 7th of February and after travel- 
ing for about twenty days reached their desti- 
nation, having in the meantime crossed the 
Mississippi on the ice at Burlington. 

Mr. Wilcox was busily employed in Logan 
ciMiuty in providing a living for his family un- 



436 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



til the 9th of August, 1862, when, feeling that 
his duty was to his country, he offered his 
sei"vices in defense of the Union, enlisting as a 
member of Company F, One Hundred and 
Sixth Illinois Infantry, for three years' sendee, 
or during the war. He was first at Camp Lath- 
am near Lincoln, afterward went to Columbus, 
Kentucky, and subsequently to .Jackson, Ten- 
nessee, proceeding later to Memphis and to 
Vicksburg. He participated in the siege at the 
last named place and in the battles of Little 
Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. For some time 
he was on detached duty in the post quarter- 
master's office and was mustered out at Pine 
Bluff, being honorably discharged at Spring- 
field, Illinois, on the 12th day of July, 186.5. 
His brothers, Albert L. and J. B. Wilcox, were 
soldiers of the Union Army and his brother-in- 
law, James L. Ewing, was in the One Hundred 
and Sixth Illinois Infantry. 

Mr. Wilcox rejoined his family in Logan 
county, Illinois, where he continued for three 
years, and in September, 1868, he again came 
to Iowa with his wife and four sons. Each time 
the family crossed the Mississippi they made 
the trip in a covered wagon. They are num- 
bered among the worthy pioneers of the county, 
being closely identified with all the early inter- 
ests of this part of the state. With character- 
istic energy Mr. Wilcox began the development 
of the farm, tilling the soil and cultivating his 
fields, and as the years passed his labors resulted 
in making an excellent property, equipped 
with all modern conveniences and accessories. 
He energetically and successfully carried on 
general agricultural pursuits until ]\Iarch, 1902, 
when he retired from active business life and 
took up his abode in Perry, where he now 
makes his home. 

In the meantime Mr. Wilcox was called to 
many public offices. As stated, he was the first 
township clerk of Dallas and Spring Valley 
townships, which in 1856 were thrown together 
on account of their not being men enough to 
hold all the offices necessary for two townships. 
He still ha? in his possession a certificate which 
was issued him upon his election to this posi- 



tion. Later he served as treasurer, trustee, con- 
stable, justice of the peace, school director, 
school treasurer and in other township offices. 
He resigned his position as justice of the peace 
in 1882 to become county supervisor, which po- 
sition he held for six years, or until 1888. Over 
the record of his public career and private life 
there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of 
evil. He was ever a faithful official who recog- 
nized the obligations that devolved upon him 
and faithfully executed them. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have been born 
ten children, of whom six sons and one daugh- 
ter are now living. These are: William W.,' 
who resides five miles south of Perry; George 
W., who is living three miles west of the town; 
James L. and Edgar G., who have been in 
Washington for thirteen years; Alfred W., at 
Dumont; Mattie M., who is with her parents; 
and Roscoe C, who is in Los Angeles, Califor- 
nia. In his political views Mr. Wilcox has been 
a stanch republican since age conferred upon 
him the right of franchise, standing loyally by 
the l)arty which was the defense of the Union 
in the Civil war and which has alwaj'S been the 
champion of reform, progress and improve- 
ment. He is a member of Redfield post, No. 
26, G. A. R., at Perry, of which he was adjutant 
for over two years. In September, 1856, he 
and his wife joined the Methodist Episcopal 
church at a meeting held in the home of Wil- 
liam Elder, Abraham Lauback being the minis- 
ter. They have always been interested in the 
work of the church, contribute generously to its 
support and do all in their power to advance 
its interests. For a number of years Mr. Wil- 
cox served as Sunday school superintendent. On 
the 27th of April, 1906, occurred one of the 
most pleasant and memorable events in their 
life history — the . celebration of their fiftieth 
wedding anniversary. Their living children all 
were present, together with three of their 
daughters-in-law and ten grandchildren. It 
was a day spent in pleasant reminiscences as 
they gathered together around the old hearth- 
stone, and one of the most pleasing features to 
the children was the excellent health of the 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



437 



parents, whom it is to be hoped will live to 
enjoj^ many more anniversaries. Theirs has 
always been a most happy home and they have 
given to the world a family of children who are 
a credit and honor to their name. They are 
also numbered among the valued pioneer citi- 
zens of Dallas county, where they have now 
lived, save for a brief interval, since 1855, so 
that almost the entire history of the county is 
familiar to them. 



WILLIAM W. RUDROW. 

William W. Rudrow, a resident of Adel, is 
extensively engaged in general farming and in 
feeding and raising cattle and hogs. He is 
owner of four hundred and ninety-seven acres 
of valuable land near the county seat and his 
possessions are the visible evidence of his life 
of industry and thrift. 

Mr. Rudrow was born in Randolph county, 
Indiana, May 4, 1849. His parents were Wil- 
liam S. and Mary G. (Vandergriff) Rudrow, 
both natives of Camden, New Jersey, the 
former born October 24, 1826, and the latter 
in 1825. They were married in Indiana. The 
father was a farmer in New Jersey and also 
followed the same pursuit in the Hoosier state. 
In 1856 he came west to Iowa, settling in 
Marion county, near Knoxville. He was one 
of the pioneer residents of that locality and 
aided in its early improvement but in 1858 he 
sold his land there and removed to Madison 
county, establishing his home near where the 
town of Earl now stands. There he carried on 
farming until 1864, when he sold that property 
and bought a farm two miles north of Adel. 
His time and energies were given to the fur- 
ther development and improvement of that 
land until 1893, when he sold out and carhe to 
Adel, where he spent his remaining days in 
honorable retirement from labor. He was a 
lover of fine horses and engaged in breeding 
them quite extensively. He believed in living 
an honest, upright life and largely followed the 



golden lule. In politics he was a republican 
and cast his first presidential vote for Abraliam 
Lincoln. He died in Adel, May 24, 1903, while 
his wife passed away in February, 1891. They 
were the parents of two sons and two daughters : 
Ezra v., who married Lucy A. Slaughter and 
for his second wife chose Mary Field; William 
W., of this review; Mary, the wife of Joseph 
M. Parker, living near Dexter, Iowa; and 
Hannah A., wife of Albert G. Parker, whose 
home is near Adel. 

William W. Rudrow was educated in the 
common schools and was reared to the occupa- 
tion of farming accompanying his parents to 
Iowa at an early date. He began farming on 
his own account in 1871 in Adel township, 
where he rented fifty acres of land. He care- 
fully cultivated that tract, saved his earnings 
and later on bought forty acres of land, to 
which he has added from time to time until he 
is now the owner of four hundred and ninety- 
seven acres, constituting a well improved and 
valuable property. He is a feeder of cattle and 
hogs and in 1906 fed two hundred and ten 
head of cattle and two hundred head of hogs, 
which he shipped to the Chicago market. He 
operates very extensively in these lines and has 
met with a gratifying measure of success. 

Mr. Rudrow has a fine home in Adel, where 
he and his family are now living. On the 25th 
of March, 1874, he married Miss Eva Barn- 
grover, who was born in this county, October 
27, 1854, daughter of John S. and Sarah A. 
(Kinnick) Barngrover. The father was born 
near Cincinnati, Ohio, September 26. 1822, 
while the mother's birth occurred January 23, 
1830. They were married in Indiana, April 
13, 1848. The father was the son of a farmer 
and when a young man left home, settling in 
Indiana, where he lived until 1854, when he 
came to Dallas county, Iowa, and aided in the 
reclamation of the heretofore wild region for 
the purpo.ses of civilization. He made his 
home in Adel town.ship netu' the present city 
of Adol and engaged in the breeding of Dur- 
ham shorthorn cattle. His life was honorable 
and u]iright, in conformity with his belief as 



438 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
He was a member of Adel lodge, No. 80, A. F. 
& A. M., and in politics was a Jacksonian demo- 
crat. He served his 'country in the Mexican 
war and lived to an advanced age, passing away 
February 21, 1900. His wife still sui-vives and 
makes her home with Mrs. Rudrow. In their 
family were ten children: Nancy A. and 
George W., both deceased ; Sarah A. ; Mary E., 
wife of William W. Rudrow; John W., who 
has departed this life ; James A. ; Charles E. ; 
Harvey M. ; Nettie B. ; and Frank L. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Rudrow has been 
blessed with one son, Edwin B., who was born 
January 16, 1875. The family are prominent 
in the community, the hospitality of the best 
homes being cordially extended them, while 
their circle of friends is very large. Mr. Rud- 
row belongs to Ellsworth lodge, No. 154, 
K. P. In politics he is a republican and 
is now serving as a member of the city 
council. He is interested in all that pertains 
to the welfare and upbuilding of the com- 
munit}'' and his laboi-s have brought him a 
measure of success which is gratifying, for his 
prosperity is due not only to his diligence, but 
also to his business probity. 



JOHN F. WIPPERMAN. 

John F. Wipperman, living on a farm on 
section 27, Grant township, is well known 
among his friends — and they are many — as 
Fred Wipperman. He is a public-spirited 
citizen of the county and one who has long re- 
sided within its borders, dating his residence 
here since 1874. He has lived in Iowa since 
1866, arriving in this state when a young man 
of twenty-three years. His birth occurred in 
Prussia on Christmas day of 1843, his father 
being John F. Wipperman, who was also bom 
in that country, where he devoted his time and 
energies to farming. Having arrived at years 
of maturity, he wedded Mary Sleeter and they 
became the parents of nine children, of whom 



John F. was the second in order of birth and 
the eldest son. 

In the usual manner of farm lads of that 
time and locality John F. Wipperman was 
reared. He had common-school advantages 
and was afterward apprenticed to learn the 
mason's trade. Subsequently he was employed 
as a mason and plasterer and continued 
in business until 1866, when he came to Amer- 
ica and at once continued his journey across 
the country to Iowa. He first located at Bur- 
lington, where he worked at his trade for a 
year, after which he removed to Iowa county, 
where he again engaged in business as a mason 
and pla.sterer. Seven years were there passed 
and on the expiration of that period he came 
to Dalla.s county in 1874. Here he purchased 
forty acres of prairie land, upon which he has 
since resided, but his fine farm today bears 
little resemblance to the tract which came into 
his possession about a third of a century ago. 
Abandoning his trade, he turned his attention 
to the development of the fields and has since 
been numbered among the agriculturists of the 
community. 

On the 12th of August, 1875, Mr Wipper- 
man was united in marriage to Miss Emily 
Kuehl, a native of Prussia and a daughter of 
Gotfried Kuehl, who came from Germany to 
Dallas county in 1873. As time has passed 
Mr. Wipperman has extended the boundaries 
of his farm on different occasions until he now 
owns two hundred and eighty acres of valuable 
and productive land in his home place, to- 
gether with eighty-seven and one-half acres on 
sections 19 and 30, Sugar Grove township. 
The farm is well improved with modern equip- 
ments, including a good story and a half resi- 
dence, while substantial shelter for grain and 
stock is furnished in commodious barns and 
outbuildings. He also has a wind pump and 
other modern accessories and was among the 
first to tile the land, largely advancing its value 
through the modern drainage system. The 
farm is now thoroughly tiled and everjiihing 
about the place is indicative of the business 
management and keen discernment of the 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



439 



owner, who is accounted one of the leading 
agriculturists of the community. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wipperman was 
blessed with eleven children, ten of whom 
reached years of maturity: Lizette, who is now 
the wife of August Knoll, a farmer of Grant 
township; Ida, the wife of Robert Knoll, a 
resident farmer of the same township; Clara, 
who married Herman Bartels, and lives in the 
same township; Edward F., and Arthur, who 
are operating the home farm; Mary; John F. ; 
Herman; August; and Emelie. William, the 
oldest, died in infancy. 

ilr. and Mrs. Wipperman are members of 
the Lutheran church. In the spring of 1908 
they intend to move to Grimes, where they 
have purchased a nice home at a cost of three 
thousand dollars. Mr. Wipperman's political 
views are in accord with the principles of the 
republican party and he supports its candidates 
for state and national offices, but locally he 
casts an independent ballot when there is no 
party issue before the people. He served as 
township trustee for one term and has been a 
delegate to several county conventions. Mr. 
Wipi^erman is known not alone because of his 
success and enterprise in agricultural lines, for 
he is a man of resourceful business ability, 
who has become connected with several other 
enterprises. He is now a director of the 
Grimes Savings Bank at Grimes, Iowa, 
and of the Grimes Canning & Preserv- 
ing Company; was one of the promoters 
and is a director of the Grimes Telephone Com- 
-pany; and is likewise a director of the Farmers 
Mutual Insurance Company of Dallas county, 
with which he has thus been identified since 
it was founded in 1895. One of the strong 
elements in his success is his ability to recog- 
nize opportunities. He has utilized his ad- 
vantages in the best possible way and as the 
years have gone by he has advanced to a posi- 
tion among the more successful of Dallas 
county's citizens. He certainly deserves much 
credit for this because he started out empty- 
handed, but he possessed a courageous spirit 
and that stronsr determination which will brook 



no obstacles that can be overcome by earnest 
and indefatigable labor. He has lived to see 
this district take its place in the front rank 
among the best counties of the state and during 
the years of his residence here he has gained 
many friends by reason of a social, genial 
nature which everywhere commands regard 
and confidence. 



LEMUEL WARFORD. 

Lemuel Warford, an agriculturist and stock- 
raiser living on section 25, Washington town- 
ship, Dallas county, was born in Guilford 
county. North Carolina, December 24, 1833, 
and is a son of Isaac and Sarah Warford, both 
natives of North Cai'olina. In 1852 they came 
to Iowa, locating in Dallas county. Here they 
made their home up to the time of their death, 
the father passing away in 1885, while his 
widow survived until 1893. They were the 
I'arents of eleven children, of whom five sur- 
vive, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. 
Martha S., born in 1836, and Ruth, born in 
1847, are both residents of Dallas comity. 
Jessie, born in 1850, is living in Des Moines. 
Mary E., born in August, 1853, is single. At 
the time of Mr. Warford's youth educational 
advantages were limited but boys were supposed 
to look out for themselves at a very early age. 
This Mr. Warford was abundantly able to do, 
for he possessed a stock of courage and energy. 
When the war broke out these same qualities 
would not allow him to stand back. He 
plunged into war as he had plunged 
into farming and proved a valuable soldier, 
being a member of Company C, of the 
Thirtj^-ninth Iowa Infantry, in which he 
served for three years. He was engaged in the 
battles at Crossroads, Snake Creek Gap and 
Allatoona, Georgia. It was at the last place that 
he was wounded, the shot passing through his 
face and tearing out the roof of his mouth. 
This necessitated his being transferred to the 
hospital at Chattanooga. He was with John 



440 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Brown through Kansas in 1859 and there en- 
gaged in a battle with the border ruffians of 
Missouri and captured five prisoners, disarmed 
them of their guns and horses and then turned 
them loose. At the close of the war he took 
up farming in Iowa where he had left it and is 
now the owner of three hundred and sixty 
acres of land on sections 24 and 25 in Wash- 
ington township. The place is known as Wal- 
nut Grove Stock Farm. Its owner has at pres- 
ent forty-six head of shorthorn cattle, which 
bring him .substantial financial returns because 
of their superior quality. He also owns a fine 
residence in Des Moines. 

The marriage of our subject with ^liss Sarah 
E. Clark was celebrated on October 2, 1860. 
Mrs. Warford was born in Putnam county, 
Indiana, February 21, 1842, and was the 
daughter of William T. and Mary Ann (Allen) 
Clark. Their children were as follows: Mrs. 
Warford; H. P., now living at Logan, Kan- 
sas; Benjamin F. and Nathan W., also of 
Kansas; and John G., deceased. To our sub- 
ject and his wife have been born eight chil- 
dren: Elmer E., born October 2, 1861, is now 
married and is a large stock buyer in Oregon. 
William A., born March 29, 1866, resides in 
Lincoln township, in Dallas county, where he 
has a fine farm of one hundred and ninety-six 
acres. Flora M., born February 11, 1869, is 
now deceased. Etta B., born July 13, 1871, is 
married and living near Adel, Iowa. Hattie 
B., born January 3, 1875, is a resident of Des 
Moines. David M., born February 16, 1877, 
is a druggist and lives at Aplington, Iowa. 
Nellie M., born July 8, 1882, is at present in 
Dayton, Iowa. J. C, born May 11, 1888, is a 
farmer living on the home place. 

Politically Mr. Warford is a republican. He 
was a member of the school board for nearly 
tweiity-six years, a term of office which speaks 
volumes for the efficiency of our subject. At 
present he is one of the directors of the Gray 
fund of Dallas county and has also served as 
supervisor. He is a member of Masonic lodge, 
No. 412, at Minburn, Iowa, and has also been 
a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Adel 



since 1862. He and his -wife are both members 
of Eastern Star lodge. No. 366, at Minburn. 
In religion they give their support to the 
Christian church. In every sense of the word 
they are self-made people, who have every 
reason for satisfaction with their well spent 
lives. There are few people who are able to 
inspire more courage and enterprise than this 
worthy couple. Their ejiemplary traits of 
character and their life records may well prove 
of great benefit if their many friends will but 
heed the obvious lessons which they contain. 



I. N. ALDRICH. 



A valuable property of six hundred acres is 
in possession of I. N. Aldrich. It is located 
on sections 24 and 25, Walnut township, and 
is a well improved place, having all the acces- 
sories and conveniences of a model farm of 
the twentieth century. In its conduct Mr. Aid- 
rich displays excellent business ability and he 
derives his income not only from the large 
crops which he annually produces but also from 
his stock-raising interests. Forty-four years 
have come and gone since he arrived in this 
county, being at that time a young man of 
about twenty years. He was born in Medina 
county, Ohio, November 6, 1844. His father, 
C. M. Aldrich, was born in Oswego county. New 
York, in 1808 and was there reared. Follow- 
ing his removal to Ohio he married Betsy Gil- 
christ, who was born in Ireland but was reared 
in Ohio. Mr. Aldrich followed farming in the 
Buckeye state and there opened up a farm. 
In fact he cleared and made several good farms 
and reared his family there. He still lives in 
Ohio at the remarkable old age of ninety-nine 
years and is yet a hale and hearty man. His 
wife passed away some years ago. 

I. N. Aldrich is one of a family of seven sons 
and two daughters, all of whom reached years 
of maturity. The Rev. W. B. Aldrich was a 
minister of tEe Methodist Episcopal church and 
located in Kalamazoo, where his death occurred. 




MRS. 1. N. ALDRICH 




I. N. ALDRICH 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



445 



The eldest brother, J. C. Aldrich, is living in 
Cedai- Falls, Iowa. Charles W. is in Spencer, 
Ohio. W. J. is a resident of Berea, Ohio, 
Jennie is the wife of Hon. A. J. Howie, a 
prominent man of Berea, Ohio. T. C, of New 
York, is connected with the New York Life In- 
surance Company. I. N. is the next younger. 
Mrs. Sarali Brown died in 1904, leaving a 
family. Dr. S. W. Aldrich. the youngest, 
is in Des Moines. 

I. N. Aldrich spent the first nineteen years 
of his life on the old home farm in Ohio and 
the work of the fields became familiar to liim, 
so that he was well qualified to engage in farm- 
ing on his own account at a later date. He at- 
tended the common schools and also enjoyed 
better educational privileges. Coming west 
when a young man, he worked by the month 
as a farm hand for five years, during which 
time he saved the money with which he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land in Dallas township. 
He bought a tract of that size near his present 
place of residence and gave his time and ener- 
gies to its cultivation and improvement. He 
fenced the fields, broke the sod and transformed 
the place into a good farm but later he sold that 
and bought eighty acres where he now resides, 
lie also added to his property from time to 
time and the success w'hich has attended liim 
in his business career is indicated by the fact 
that he now owns six hundred acres, all in one 
body. He has a large and commodious resi- 
dence and two good barns. He also has a new- 
house and everj-thing about his place is indica- 
tive of the care and labor which he bestows 
upon his land. He annually harvests good 
crops and raises and feeds both hogs and cattle, 
fattening from three to eight carloads of cattle 
and hogs aimually. 

Mr. Aldrich wa.s married in Adel, on the 
30th of May, 1867, to Miss Lucy Ellis, the 
wedding ceremony being performed by Judge 
Perkins. She was born in Illinois but was 
reared in Dallas county and by this marriage 
there were eight children : Charles, who is 
married and owns and operates a farm in Wal- 
nut township ; Delbert, who is married and fol- 



lows farming in Buena Vista, Iowa ; P. R., who 
is engaged in the lumber business in Wiscon- 
sin; S. W., who is married and lives on the 
home farm; T. C, who is married and is with 
his father; G. N., at home; Warren B., a 
student at Marathon, Iowa; and Bessie, the wife 
of Harry Paul, of Grant township. 

Politically Mr. Aldrich is a republican but 
without aspiration for office. He has served as 
township trustee and township treasurer and 
has been a delegate to the conventions of his 
party. His wife is a member of the Christian 
church. Forty-four years have passed since Mr. 
.Vldrich came to this county, so that his memory 
forms a connecting link between the primitive 
past and the progressive present. The condi- 
tions of the county at the time of his arrival 
were those usually seen upon the frontier. It 
is true some settlements had been made but 
much of the land was wild and uncultivated 
and the work of improvement lay largely in 
the future. Strong purpose, a willingness to 
work and a realization of what might be accom- 
plished in utilizing the prairies enabled the 
pioneers to put forth strenuous effort and the 
result is seen today in the splendidly developed 
farms which annually bring forth rich crops. 
Mr. Aldrich has done his full share in the work 
of agricultural development and throughout 
the years has borne an unassailable reputation 
as a progressive and enterprising citizen. 



CHARLES BARTH. 



Charles Barth is numbered among the 
worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to 
the state of Iowa. He owns and operates a 
valualile property, consisting of one hundred 
and eighty acres on section 2, Lincoln town- 
ship. He Avas born in Bavaria, January 21, 
1851, and is one of a family of four children. 
His father died in the fatherland and the 
mother then emigrated with her children to 
{]\c United States and established her home in 



446 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Peoria, Illinois, the j'ear 1859 witnessing their 
arrival in the new world. 

Charles Barth was a youth of eight years 
when he came to this country and in Peoria 
he was reared to the age of eighteen years, hav- 
ing there learned the blacksmith's trade. He 
then went to Dixon, Illinois, where he worked 
at his trade during the three succeeding years. 
Later he removed to Moline, Illinois, and 
w'orked for the Moline Plow Company for nine 
j-ears, while in 1885 he came to Dallas county 
and here operated rented land for two years, 
after which he purchased one hundred acres 
of his present home place. He at once began 
to cultivate and improve this tract, built a 
good house, barn and other outbuildings for 
the shelter of grain and stock and as his finan- 
cial resources increased he added to his orig- 
inal holdings a tract of eighty acres, thus 
making him now the owner of one hundred and 
eighty acres. He keeps everything about his 
place in excellent condition and is thus num- 
bered among the progressive and enterprising 
agriculturists of this section of the state. In 
addition to the cultivation of his land he is 
also engaged in raising good gi'ades of stock. 

Mr. Barth was married in 1885, to Miss 
Elizabeth Fey, who was likewise a native of 
Germany, born in Hesse, but was reared in 
Dixon, Illinois. They have had eight children, 
of whom three sons and four daughters sur- 
vive: William, who is married and follows 
farming in White county, Missouri; John L., 
a j-oung man at home ; Anna, the wife of Fred 
Krause, a farmer of Boone county, Iowa; Lucy, 
the wife of George Kemer, a farmer of Wash- 
ington township, Dallas county; Nellie, the wife 
of Fred Bock, a farmer of Lincoln township; 
Minnie; and Albert. Their eldest son. Otto, 
died January, 1899, at the age of nineteen 
years. There are also five grandchildren. 

Politically Mr. Barth is a stanch supporter 
of republican principles. He cast his first 
presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 
1872 and has voted for each candidate of the 
party since that time. In 1895 he was elected 
road supenisor and served in that capacity for 



six years. He has been instrumental in build- 
ing and improving the roads in Lincoln town- 
ship and has also been identified with the school 
board, sendng as one of its directore. The 
parents are members of the Evangelical church. 
In America he has found opportunity to give 
full scope to his ambition and energy and 
though bom across the water he is thoroughly 
American in thought and feeling and is patri- 
otic and sincere in his love for the stars and 
stripes. His career is identified with the his- 
tory of Dallas county, where he has acquired a 
competence and where he is an honored and 
respected citizen. 



S. T. WITHAM. 



S. T. Witham, at one time closely associated 
with farming interests in Dallas township but 
now living retired in Adel, owes his prosperity 
entirelj" to his own labors. He was born in 
Washington, Ohio, Febnaary 16, 1832. His 
father. Jonathan Witham, was a native of 
Maine and the mother was born in the Buck- 
eye state. Unto their marriage were born fif- 
teen children, of whom S. T. Witham is the 
twelfth in order of birth. The parents were for 
many years residents of Ohio and passed away 
there. 

S. T. Witham was reared under the parental 
roof and lessons concerning the value of in- 
dustrj- and perseverance were early impressed 
upon his mind. Coming west of the Missis- 
sippi, he worked at the blacksmith's trade in 
Des Moines with the firm of Skinner & Stan- 
ton and subsequently removed to ]\Ionroe 
county, Iowa, where he also followed black- 
snlithing. Later he came to Adel, where he 
carried on business until after the outbreak of 
the Civil war, when he responded to the coun- 
try's call and joined the army as a member of 
Company D, Second Iowa Cavalry. He partici- 
pated in a number of battles and after serv- 
ing for three years he was honorably discharged 
by reason of the expiration of his term of 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



447 



service. He was always found at his post of 
.duty, faithful in defending the old flag and 
the cause it represented, and therefore he re- 
turned home with a creditable military record. 

When the -vvar was over Mr. Witham again 
located in Adel, where he engaged in black- 
smithing until 1887. In that year he went 
to Montana, where he worked for the Northern 
Pacific Railroad Company for seven years. On 
the expiration of that periad he returned to 
Adel and bought a farm in Adel township, 
giving his time and energies to general agricul- 
tural pursuits until 1901. He then sold the 
farm and removed to the city of Adel, where 
he has since lived a retired life. 

On the 19th of April, 1857, :\Ir. Witham 
was married to Miss Emily Bryan, who was 
born in Ohio, November 9, 1837. Her father 
was born in Pennsylvania, while the mother 
■was a native of the Buckej'e state. They be- 
came the parents of fourteen children, of whom 
Mi-s. Witham was the third. In 1854 Mr. 
Bryan brought his family to Iowa, settling 
near De,5 Moines, and there his wife died, while 
his last days were spent in Wilson county, 
Kansas. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Witham have 
been born seven children : Damaras, who was 
born May 22, 1858, and married A. J. Ginnell 
and lives in Montana; Delmar L., who was 
born April 6, 1860, in Omaha, Nebraska; Mat- 
tie, who -was born June 4, 1866, and is the 
wife of E. T. Weyman. a resident of Montana; 
Febbie, who was born .January 11, 1869, and 
is deceased; -Tohn, who was born February 1, 
1871, and has also passed away; Mabel N., 
born December 7, 1876, and now deceased; 
and Ethel, who was born November 27, 1880, 
and is .still at home. 

Mr. Witham exercises his right of franchise 
in support of the men and measures of the 
democracy. He and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church and are highly 
esteemed people, taking an active interest in 
church work and in all that pertains to the 
city's progress and improvement. They own 
and occupy a fine residence in Adel, which is 
noted for its hospitality and good cheer. Mr. 



Witham has now passed the psalmist's span 
of three score year's and ten. Unlike many 
men of his years, he does not live in reminis- 
cences and his look is still forward. He keeps 
in touch vfiih the trend of modern thought 
and matters of general interest, and his record 
of intense and well directed activity is proof 
of what may be accomplished when one baa 
determination and executive force combined 
with diligence. 



JOHN S. MARK. 



John S. Mark, the efficient and popular 
agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad Company at Adel, is one of the native 
sons of Dallas county, his birth having oc- 
curred in Van Meter township, February 15, 
1873. His parents were James A. and Sarah 
J. (Mitchell) Mark. The father was born in 
\an W^rt county, Ohio, April 30, 1840, and 
was a son of John and Maria (Jones) Mark. 

John Mark was a native of Pennsylvania. 
He followed the occupation of farming as a 
life work and was also a preacher of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. About 1854 he re- 
moved from Indiana to Missouri, locating in 
Grundy county among the pioneer settlers. He 
entered one hundred and twenty acres of gov- 
ernment land, upon which he built a log house, 
and then set to work to break the wild prairie, 
turning the furrows with ox teams. He spent 
a lunnber of years there, after which he re- 
mo^■ed to Mercer county, Missouri, near the 
Iowa state line. He took up government land 
lying in both states but built his cabin home 
in l\Iis.?ouri. Again he broke the wild prairie 
with ox teams and carried on the work of cul- 
tivating the fields but some time afterward 
traded this farm for a sawmill, which he re- 
moved to Liviijgston, Missouri. He was re- 
siding there when the Civil war broke out and, 
being a strong Union man, he felt that it would 
be better for him to return to Iowa. Accord- 
ingly he sold his mill and went back to Decatur 



448 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



county, Iowa, where he remained until 1867. 
He then removed to Kansas, preaching and 
farming in Labette county near Oswego. He 
was a man whose upright life, warm sympathy 
and kindly spirit endeared him to all with 
whom he came in contact and he exerted a 
widely felt influence for good. After his death 
the people placed a memorial window in the 
Methodist Episcopal church in Oswego in his 
honor. His political allegiance was given to 
the republican party. He passed away at the 
age of sixty-eight years, while his wife, who 
was born in Pennsylvania, died in Indiana 
during the early childhood of their son, James 
A. Mark. In the family were six children, 
namely: Martha Ann, the wife of Thomas A. 
Preston of Gallatin, Missouri; John M., who 
is living in Oregon ; Marj' J., the wife of Dan- 
iel Francis of Los Angeles, California; William 
A., who wedded Mary C. Harper, and is living 
on a farm near De Soto, Iowa; James A., of 
Adel, Iowa; and Maria A., the wife of Stephen 
Grouse of Leon, Iowa. 

James A. Mark was a lad in his teens at the 
time of his parents' removal west of the Mis- 
sissippi. He assisted his father during the 
period of his boyhood and youth and after ar- 
ri^dng at years of maturity he was married on 
the 23d of March, 1868, to Miss Sarah J. 
Mitchell, whose birth occurred in Vermilion 
county, Illinois, March 20, 1850. Her par- 
ents were John H. and Caroline (Baldwin) 
Mitchell. Her father was born in Ohio and 
died in 1898, at the advanced age of eighty-two 
years, passing away in Madison county, Iowa. 
His wife was born in Indiana and died in Madi- 
son county, September 29, 1891, at the age of 
seventy-five years. They were married in Ohio 
and Mr. Mitchell ^\-as a cooper and also a ship 
carpenter by trade. He was likewise skilled in 
other industrial arts, including blacksmithing. 
He went to Illinois in the '40s, locating in 
Vermilion county, becoming one of the pioneer 
farmers of that locality, where he carried on 
general agricultural pursuits until the spring of 
1853. He then came to Dallas county, Iowa, at 
a time when few settlements had been made 



within its borders. He entered land, however, 
in Madison county, where he built a log house 
and broke the wild prairie with ox teams, 
turning the first furrows in the fields. His 
nearest neighbors were John Atkins and his 
family. Mr. Mitchell spent his remaining days 
upon the farm which he developed and im- 
proved. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and an earnest Christian 
man. His political allegiance was given to the 
whig part}'. In his family were six children, 
of whom five are now living: George S., who 
married Mahala J. Pay ton and lives in Pomona, 
California; Darius B., who married Isabelle 
Hester and is living in Adel; Rachel A., the 
wife of Alvin Bever, of Dallas county ; John 
J., who married Ruth Foley and makes his 
home in Adel ; ^Mrs. Sarah J. ^lark ; and Wil- 
liam D. The last two were twins and William 
D. Mitchell died November 5, 1893. He had 
married Samantha M. Richards, who is now 
living in Dallas county.. 

Prior to his marriage James A. Mark had 
sen-ed his country as a soldier in the Civil war. 
On the 13th of Jime, 1861, he enlisted as a 
member of Company H, First Regiment of 
Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and was discharged 
on the 3d of January, 1864, at Little Rock, 
Arkansas, by reason of the fact that he would 
re-enlist as a veteran. After again entering 
the army he remained at the front until he 
was discharged as sergeant of Company H on 
the 16th day of November, 1865, in the city 
of New Orleans. He was with the army for 
four years and five months and was a most 
loyal defender of the stars and stripes. He 
participated in the battle of Prairie Grove and 
was with his regiment in all of the engagements 
in which it participated. 

After his return home from the war James 
A. Mark located in Dallas county, settling in 
Van Meter township, where he successfully and 
energetically followed the occupation of farm- 
ing until the spring of 1882. He then re- 
moved to Washington township, where he lived 
until the spring of 1901. He then took up 
his abode in Adel, where he has been work- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



449 



ing at the carpenter's trade, which he had fol- 
lowed to a greater or less extent throughout his 
previous life. He has served ad trustee in 
Van Meter township and has always stood for 
good citizenship, giving his support and co- 
operation to many movements that have been 
of direct benefit to the comiuunity. His life 
has ever been honorable and upright, actuated 
by high principles and guided by commendable 
methods. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and his interest in the tem- 
perance cause is indicated by his affiliation with 
the Good Templars society. He is also a mem- 
ber of Colonel Mills post, No. 45, G. A. R., 
and in politics he is a stanch republican. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Mark have been 
born five sons and a daughter: Mary F., the 
wife of R. D. Lancaster, a resident of Des 
Moines; John S., of this review; William O., 
who married Minnie Switzer and is living in 
North Dakota; James H., of Sanborn, Iowa; 
Otto R., who married Gertrude Beaver and lives 
in North Dakota; and Thomas C, of Adel. 

In taking up the personal history of John S. 
Mark we present to our readers the life record 
of one who is widely and favorably known in 
this locality. At the usual age he began at- 
tending the public schools and was a student 
in the Adel high school from 1892 to 1894. 
He lived upon the home farm imtil the latter 
year, when he started out in life on his own ac- 
count, being then twenty-one years of age. He 
entered the employ of the Des Moines North- 
ern & Western Railroad in June, 1894, and 
in November of same year he was appointed 
agent for the company at Kennedy, Iowa, hav- 
ing charge of the station there for two and a 
half years. He was then appointed extra sta- 
tion agent and telegraph operator at different 
stations for one year or more and subsequently 
was made agent at Granger, Iowa, where he 
remained from October, 1898, until the 30th of 
April, 1904. At the latter date he was trans- 
ferred to Adel, Iowa, and has since been agent 
for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 
road at this place. He is always courteous 
and considerate in his treatment of the patrons 



of the road and his ability and fidelity to the 
interests of the corporation which he repre- 
sents have made him a valuable official to 
the company and a popular one with the 
general public. 

On the 24th of June, 1903, Mr. Mark was 
married to Miss Orpha Walker, whose birth 
occurred in Adams township, this county, 
March 29, 1877, her parents being John W. 
and Elizabeth (Bothwell) Walker. Unto Mr. 
and Mrs. Mark has been born a daughter, 
Frances L., whose natal day was June 3, 1905. 
The parents are highly esteemed here, having 
gained many friends in Adel during their resi- 
dence at this place. Mr. Mark is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church and of the 
Railroad Telegraph Association, while his po- 
litical views are in harmony with the princi- 
ples of the republican party. 



DANIEL J. STORM. 



Daniel J. Storm has for thirty-four years 
been a resident of Dallas county and now lives 
on section 1, Sugar Grove township, where he 
has a pleasant residence in the midst of a well 
improved farm of three hundred and fifty 
acres. Its buildings in good repair, its well 
kept fences, its highly tilled fields and the good 
stock found in the pastures, all constitute this 
one of the attractive farming properties of the 
locality and bespeak the spirit of progressive- 
ness and enterprise which characterize the 
owner in the management of his business af- 
fairs. 

Mr. Storm wa^ born in Muscatine county, 
Iowa, October 22, 1844. His father, Daniel 
Storm, was a native of Indiana and came to 
this state with the grandfather, George Storm, 
in 1838. He located in the city of Muscatine 
and there his son Daniel was reared to man- 
hood and married Matilda Bedwell, a daughter 
of .Tames Bedwell, who had settled in Iowa in 
1837, also coming to this state from Indiana. 
Daniel Storm followed the occupation of farm- 



450 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



iiig ill Muscatine county but was called to his 
final rest at a comparatively early age, pass- 
ing away in 1844 during the infancy of his 
son, Daniel J. His wife survived him for a 
number of years and later married again. 

Daniel J. Storm of this review was reared 
in Muscatine county and was educated in the 
common schools. From an early age he was 
dependent upon his own resources for a liveli- 
hood, earning his own support in various ways. 
He then continued to make his home with 
his mother and step-father until twenty-seven 
years of age, when he was married in Musca- 
tine county, on the 25th of September, 1872, 
to Miss Anna Jones, who was born in Ross 
county, Ohio, and was brought to Iowa when 
a maiden of about ten summers, the family 
home being established in Muscatine county. 

In 1872 Mr. Storm came to Dallas county 
to look over the country and, being pleased 
with its future prospects, removed his family 
here the following year. He rented land near 
Perry, upon which he lived for a year, after 
which he operated another rented farm for 
two years. He made his first purchase in the * 
faU of 1875, becoming owner of one hundred 
and sixty acres on section 1, Sugar Grove 
township. It was raw prairie, upon which 
he took up his abode in the fall of 1876. Not 
a furrow had been turned or an improvement 
made, but he broke and fenced the land, built 
a little house and began to cultivate the fields. 
Later he built to and remodeled the house, 
making a good, substantial farm residence. He 
also built a barn, granary and other outbuild- 
. ings and added much to the value and pleasant 
appearance of the place by setting out shade and 
ornamental trees and also planting an orchard. 
Later he bought more land from time to time 
as his financial resources made this possible 
until he now owns three hundred and fifty 
acres. Realizing the value of systematic drain- 
age, he tiled the place and he also protected 
his crops from the stock by building good 
fences. The modern accessories and conven- 
iences of a model farm are now found upon 



his place and he annually gathers golden har- 
vests as a reward for the care and labor he 
bestows upon the fields. He also feeds and fat- 
tens stock for the market, shipping annually 
about three carloads of cattle and hogs. His 
business interests have been ably managed and 
have resulted successfully. 

In 1897 Mr. Storm was called upon to 
mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away 
in November of that year and was laid to rest 
in Greenwood cemetery. They were the par- 
ents of six children, two sons and four daugh- 
ters: Albert M., who aids in carrying on the 
home farm ; George C, who is married and re- 
sides in Chicago, being employed as a stenog- 
rapher at the Pullman car works; Nellie, the 
wife of Wren Mortimer, a farmer of Beaver 
township, by whom she has four children; 
Mary, Minnie and Olive, all at home. 

Mr. Storm is an interested supporter of the 
democracy, keeping well informed on the 
questions and issues of the day. He has served 
as township trustee and has also been a member 
of the school board for three years. He has 
given his time to the farm and business rather 
than to office seeking, yet in matters of citi- 
zenship is never neglectful. His entire life has 
been passed in Iowa and the spirit of enter- 
prise and rapid accomplishment which has been 
dominant in the upbuilding of the state has 
been manifest in his career, making him an 
able and successful farmer of the community. 



HENRY T. BURNS. 



A half century has come and gone since 
Henry T. Burns became a resident of Dallas 
county. He arrived here in June, 1855, and 
for many years was one of the active farmers of 
Adel township. He is also numbered among 
the veterans of the Civil war and his long resi- 
dence, his active and honorable business life, 
and his able service as a soldier well entitle him 
to representation in this volume. He was born 
in Elkhart county, Indiana, March 4, 1842. 




MR. AND MRS. IIENUY T. I'.URXS 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



453 



His father, Samuel Burns, was a native of 
Pennsylvania, and became an early settler of 
the Hoosier state, where he wooed and married 
Miss Mary A. Diddy, also a native of Pennsyl- 
vania. For some years after their marriage 
they made their home in Elkhart county, and 
three children were born unto them there. The 
father's death occurred in that county in 
February, 1855, and later in the same year the 
mother and children removed westward to Iowa, 
casting in their lot with the early settlers of 
Dallas county, who were reclaiming this region 
for the purposes of civilization. 

Henry T. Burns was reared here, for he was 
a youth of but thirteen years at the time of his 
arrival. His educational privileges were limited 
in boyhood but by reading and observation in 
later years he has greatly augmented his knowl- 
edge, becoming a well informed man. He 
worked upon the home farm, aiding in the 
arduous task of developing and cultivating new 
land, but when the Civil war was in progress 
he put aside all business and personal consider- 
ations and offered his aid to the government 
in defense of the Union, enlisting at Adel, on 
the 16th of August, 1862. He joined Company 
B, of the Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer In- 
fantry, went south and participated in the 
movements of the Western army. He was first 
imder fire at Parker's Cross Roads in Tennessee, 
and later at Resaca and Altoona Pass, together 
with others of lesser importance. He went with 
Sherman on the march to the sea and for a 
time acted as detached escort and orderly for 
General John M. Corse. He participated in 
the last battle of the war and later marched to 
Richmond and on to Washington, D. C, where 
he took part in the Grand Review, the most 
celebrated military pageant ever seen on the 
western hemisphere. He was then mustered 
out at AVashington on the 5th of June, 1865, 
and having been honorably discharged he re- 
turned to his home, being paid off at Clinton, 
Iowa. He had never faltered in the perform- 
ance of any duty and he deserves the gratitude 
which should ever be accorded the defenders of 
the Union. After the war Mr. Burns engaged 



in farming and also had charge of the mail 
route, carrying the mail from Adel to Jefferson. 
His attention, however, was largely occupied 
by his agricultural interests and he brought his 
fields under a high state of cultivation, while 
year by year he gathered golden harvests as 
the result of the care and labor he bestowed 
upon his land. 

Mr. Burns was married in Des Moines, Iowa, 
in 1884, to Miss Amelia Johnson, a native of 
Illinois, and they commenced their domestic 
life on the old home farm. From time to time 
Mr. Burns bought more land and now owns 
about three hundred acres, constituting a valu- 
able property. Of this two hundred and 
twenty-eight acres is in the old home place and 
it is a neat and well improved farm, pleasantly 
located within two miles of Dallas Center. He 
placed good buildings upon the farm and car- 
ried forward 'the work of improvement in keep- 
ing with modern ideas of progressive agricul- 
ture. His time and attention were devoted to 
general farming until 1894, when he rented 
his place and removed to Dallas Center. Here 
he has rebuilt and remodeled his home and 
now has a good residence, in which he and his 
family are comfortably situated. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Burns were born five children : Matie, born 
March 28, 1888; Etta, born April 22, 1890; 
Harry, born April 12, 1892; and Ruth, born 
April 8, 1895, all yet under the parental roof. 
They lost their first born, a daughter, Bertha, 
when three years of age. 

Mr. Burns exercises his right of franchise in 
support of the men and measures of the repub- 
lican party. He cast his first presidential ballot 
for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, at Rome, 
Georgia, while ser\'ing in the army, and has 
ever given his allegiance to the party since that 
time. While on the farm he served as secretary 
of the school board for seventeen years and he 
has filled the offices of assessor, road supervisor 
and trustee, acting in the latter capacity at the 
present time. After his removal to Dallas Cen- 
ter he was elected alderman and is now mayor 
of the town, giving a public-spirited and bene- 
ficial administration, in which he has labored 



454 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



earnestly and effectively for progress and im- 
provement. He has frequently been a delegate 
to the county and state conventions of his party 
and delights in its triumphs and does all in his 
power to further its interests. He and his wife 
are members of the INIethodist Episcopal church 
at Dallas Center and he belongs to the Odd 
Fellows lodge and to the Grand Army of the 
Republic. He has served as commander and is 
now past commander and quartermaster of the 
post, and his wife is an active member of the 
Relief Corps. She is also connected with the 
Rebekah lodge, the woman's auxiliary of Odd 
Fellow.ship, and wherever known Mr. and Mrs. 
Burns are held in high esteem. He has been a 
resident of the county for fifty-two years and 
has witnessed its ■ development from pioneer 
conditions. He has seen the building of rail- 
roads and of two courthouses here, has watched 
the growth of towns and the transformation of 
wild land into good fai'ms. His life of business 
activity has been crowned with a goodly 
measure of success and he is now enjoying well 
earned rest. At all times his life has been 
active, useful and honorable and it is his genu- 
ine personal worth that has gained for him the 
favorable position which he occupies in the re- 
gard of those who know him. 



B. F. MYERS. 



B. F. Mj-ei^, an extensive agriculturist 
and stock-raiser living on section 32, Union 
township, Dallas county, Iowa, was born in 
Polk county, Iowa, April 29, 1849, being a 
son of J. G. and Eliza J. (Saj'lor) Myers. The 
father was born in Greene county, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1822, while the mother's births oc- 
curred in 1833. In the year 1844 J. G. Myers 
removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he re- 
mained until 1852, when he took up his abode 
in Washington county, Iowa, where he pur- 
chased a farm, which he conducted success- 
fully up to the time of his death in 1901. Mrs. 
Mver>, whose father went to Van Buren county, 



Iowa, about 1838, later removing to Des Moines, 
where he built one of the first houses and 
liotels. is still living, making her home 
in Kansas. This worthy couple were the par- 
ents of sixteen children, of whom the following 
are still living: B. F., of this review; George, 
who makes his home in lola, Kansas; Mary; 
E. S. ; Alexander A. ; John G. ; Charles ; Jessie ; 
Ada; and Martha. 

B. F. Myers was reared on the home farm, 
acquired a common-school education and then 
took up the pursuit to which he had given his 
earlier years and which he has followed to the 
present time. He is now the owner of three 
hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as 
can be found in Union township, situated on 
sections 32 and 33. He has brought it under 
a high state of cultivation and has added all 
modern improvements. Mr. Myers makes a 
specialty of the feeding of cattle and hogs, 
feeding and selling stock to the amount of 
twenty thousand dollars annually. He has 
gained his present enviable position of pros- 
perity through his own labors and the exercise 
of indomitable perseverance and energj', guided 
by sound business judgment and practical com- 
mon sense. 

In 1889 Mr. Myers was married to Miss 
Mary A. King, who was born in Madison 
countj', Iowa, in 1866, a daughter of N. M. 
and Mary E. (Close) King, who had a family 
of twelve children. Both Mr. and Mrs. King 
were natives of Illinois. The father served his 
country in the Civil war in the Second Illinois 
Cavalry, participating in several hard battles, 
in one of which he was shot through the wrist. 
After the close of hostilities, he removed, in 
the spring of 1866, to Madison county, Iowa, 
where he lived for five years, after which he 
went to Adams county, Iowa, and from there 
went to Texas, where he and his wife are now 
li^dng. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are the parents 
of five children: Florerice, who is now attend- 
ing the high school at Dexter, Iowa; Ada, who 
is also attending the same institution; Helen; 
William McKinlev : and Lenore Irene. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



455 



In his political affiliations Mr. Myers gives 
his support to the men and measures of the 
republican party and has served as school direc- 
tor for twelve years. Fraternally he is con- 
nected with Dexter lodge, No. 215, I. 0. 0. F. 
Mrs. Myers is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church at Dexter. Mr. Myers is widely 
known as an enterprising and representative 
agriculturist of the county and one who has al- 
ways followed business methods which are above 
reproach, bringing to him an honorable and 
gratifying prosperity. 



WILLIAM J. CHARLOT. 

William .J. Chariot is the owner of a neat 
and well improved farm of one hundred and 
eighty-four acres. It is pleasantly located near 
Minburn, on section 4, Sugar Grove township. 
Since 1890 he has been a resident of the county 
but his birthplace lies across the water. He 
is a native of Berlin, Germany, born on the 
15th of February, 1852. His father, F. W. 
Chariot, was born in the vicinity of Berlin and 
was there reared and married, the lady of his 
choice being Miss Wilhelmina Witt, who was 
likewise born in the fatherland. In the year 
1856 F. W. Chariot brought his family to the 
United States, settling first in Henry county, 
Illinois. He located on a farm, where he reared 
his family and there both he and his wife 
passed away. 

William J. Chariot was reared to manhood 
in Henry county, for he was but four years 
of age W'hen brought by his parents to the new 
world. His educational privileges were those 
afforded by the common schools, and he re- 
ceived ample training in the work of the farm 
from the time of early spring planting until 
crops were gathered in the late autumn. He 
thus learned to appreciate the value of indus- 
try and perseverance in the active affairs of 
life and these qualities have constituted an im- 
portant element in his later success. 



While still living in Henry county, Illinois, 
there occurred an important event in his life — 
his marriage to Miss Louisa Kuster, on the 15th 
of November, 1877. She was born in the vi- 
cinity of Berlin, Germany, and was brought 
to the United States when a little maiden of 
six summers, her childhood also being passed 
in Henry county. Following their marriage 
Mr. Chariot carried on farming in that county 
for a number of years and seven children were 
born unto them there. In 1890 they came west- 
ward to Iowa and he purchased the land which 
is now the family home. It was at that time 
a wild and uncultivated tract and he broke 
the entire place. After building a small house 
he began to improve the farm, and that he has 
prospered as the years have gone by is indi- 
cated by the fact that he is now the owner of 
a good, neat residence of commodious propor- 
tions. He has also built a big barn with suffi- 
cient cribs and a granary for the shelter of his 
grain. He has likewise set out an orchard and 
planted shade and ornamental trees, which add 
much to the pleasing appearance and to the 
value of his place. The judicious use of tile 
has made his fields well drained and augmented 
their productiveness and Re has them all well 
fenced. In fact he has made a valuable farm 
by the care, labor and management he has be- 
stowed upon his land, and in connection with 
farming he raises good grades of stock and 
also does a dairy business. It is due to his 
labor and diligence and the assistance of his 
estimable wife that he is now the owner of an 
excellent farm property and is one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of Sugar Grove township. He 
is also a stockholder in the Minburn Co-Opera- 
tive Store. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chariot have been born 
six sons and six daughters: W. F., who has 
started out in life on his own account; F. W., 
who is farming with his father; B. E. and E. 
B., who are also carrying on business on their 
own account; F. J., at home; Reynard, also 
at home; Mary, the wife of Albert Hoggen- 
stine, of Minburn ; Emma, the wife of Andrew 



450 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



-Vppenzeller, a fai-iner of Boone county, Iowa; 
Minnie, Elnora, Lorena and Esther, all at 
home. 

The parents were reared in the Lutheran 
faith and still attend services at that church. 
Mr. Chariot is a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity, belonging to the blue lodge at Minburn. 
Politically he is independent, supporting men 
and measures rather than party. He is him- 
self a man of honor, whose word is as good as 
his bond. He is always to be trusted and his 
life in its unassailable integrity is certainly 
an example worthy of emulation. 



REUBEN H. DE LA. 



One of the most enterprising citizens who has 
helped to make Dallas county what it is today 
is Reuben H. De La, the subject of this sketch. 
He is one of the leading pioneers of Dallas coun- 
ty, who owns and oj^erates a farm of two hun- 
dred and eighty acres and is a prominent stock- 
raiser. He dates his residence in Iowa from 
the year 1855 and in Dallas county from the 
year 1872. His birth occurred in Jackson 
county, Ohio, on September 30, 1847. He was 
the son of John and Ellen (Dawkins) De La, 
both natives of Jackson county. They owned 
and operated a splendid farm in that vicinity 
for many years, in 1855 they removed to 
Iowa, settling in Appanoose county, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives. They were 
the parents of ten children, the .subject of this 
review being the fourth. 

Reuben H. De La acquired his early educa- 
tion in the district schools of his native county, 
where he attended in the winter and worked 
upon his father's farm during the summer sea- 
son. This latter enterprise gave him a practi- 
cal schooling which has been of great benefit 
to him in the business which he has followed. 
For nine winters he taught school in his native 
county and in the summer worked upon his 
father's farm. His time was divided between 
these two enterprises but in 1869 he bought 



two hundred acres of what is his present place 
and paid six dollars an acre. Agriculture there- 
fore became his chosen vocation. For one year 
lie operated this farm and then built himself 
a house, to which he has since added until it 
now contains all the comforts with which the 
citizens of our agricultural districts are now 
bles.sed. He was also the owner of land in 
Perry, which he improved. He ha.-^ built all 
the buildings upon his place, has taken an in- 
terest in making it beautiful by setting out 
shade trees, has broken the prairie, laid many 
rods of tiling and fenced the entire farm. Lit- 
tle by little he has been able to add to his origi- 
nal purchase as well as to improve his place. 
In 1890 he bought eighty acres of adjoining 
land on section 15 and now owns two hundred 
and eighty acres of splendid farming property. 
For the last few years he has been feeding 
shorthorn cattle. For several years Mr. De La 
rented his farm and took up his residence in 
Perry, where he built several houses and im- 
proved the town property which he held. For 
four years he was engaged in the monument 
business with C. D. Oldham and for one year 
he was interested in selling land in and about 
Fargo, North Dakota, but his farm still seemed 
to him more like home than anj' place in the 
world and to this home he returned, since 
.spending his time here. He now raises Here- 
ford cattle and Poland China hogs and feeds 
and markets from five to seven carloads a year. 

By his first marriage Mr. De La had five 
children, all of whom have received college edu- 
cations. On the 27th of June, 1905, he married 
a second time — Mrs. Sophie Braman, of Perry, 
Iowa. 

In his political relations Mr. De La is a 
republican in all that pertains to national 
affairs. Locally he exercises his right of fran- 
chise for the man and not for the party. Edu- 
cation has always found in him a warm friend 
and for ten years he was the treasurer of the 
school board. He has served as justice of the 
peace for two years, has been prominent in 
local political affairs, having served as delegate 
to many county conventions, where he has fre- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



459 



queutly been chairman. He is a Master Mason, 
belonging to the blue lodge at Perry. In reli- 
gion his opinions axe best represented by the 
Methodist Episcopal 'church, of which he is 
an active member and while living in Perrj' 
he was church steward. Though having at- 
tained his sixtieth year Mr. De La is still active 
in everything that tends to the betterment of 
his county, having been identified with all 
public improvements in the same, as well as in 
Adel and Perry. Whatever he has undertaken 
he has carried forward to successful completion. 
This reputation has made him a man on whom 
his friends can always depend and from whom 
even his enemies would receive full justice. He 
has never allowed personal feelings to influence 
him but has always had an eye to the public 
good. He began empty-handed and it nmst 
be a great satisfaction to him to feel that what 
he has accomplished has been due entirely to 
his own effort. He is well and favorably known 
throughout the county, where a host of friends 
are not only willing but eager to testify to his 
sterling worth. 



CHRISTIAN M. BADGER. 

More than a century ago George Washing- 
ton said that "Farming is the most useful as 
well tis the most honorable occupation of man." 
and this truth has been verified throughout all 
ages. It is a matter of history that agi-iculture 
is the basis of the wealth of different countries 
yielding a greater revenue than mining and 
commercial interests combined. The great ag- 
ricultural states claim in their citizenship many 
men of genuine worth and excellent business 
ability whose labors contribute to the upbuild- 
ing of large commonwealths. To this class in 
Iowa belongs Christian M. Badger, who now 
follows farming on section 10, Colfax town- 
ship, and although he started out in life empty- 
handed, he has prospered in his undertakings 
and is today the owner of two hundred and 
fifty-six acres and a half of valuable farm land, 
from which he annually gathers g!):id liarvc-t-. 



Mr. Badger is a native of Pennsylvania, his 
birth having occurred in Union countj', that 
state, on the 28th of September, 1853. His 
father, Robert Badger, was also born in Union 
county, his natal day being February 22, 1819. 
It is probable that the family was founded in 
America in colonial days. In early life Robert 
Badger learned the carpenter's trade, which he 
followed in the Keystone state until his re- 
moval to Illinois in 1858. He took up his 
abode in Lena, Stephenson county, Illinois. 
He was a poor man with a large family and 
left Pennsylvania in debt. He hoped, how- 
ever, to enjoy better business opportunities in 
the growing west and in this he was not disap- 
pointed. Here he improved the advantages 
which were offered him and was successful in 
his business, after which he returned to Penn- 
sylvania, settled up his old debts there and 
with a clear record, again made his way toward 
the Mississippi valley. He took up his abode 
near Panther in Dallas county, Iowa, in the 
spring of 1870, and invested in one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, on which were no im- 
provements save a small house and barn. The 
land was still uncultivated and he turned the 
fii-st furrows on many an acre. He met with 
prosperity and not only made progress in a 
material way but also aided largely in the moral 
development of the community. In early life 
he became a member of the German Baptist 
church and in 1856 began preaching a.s a min- 
ister of that denomination. He did much to 
promote a knowledge of the Christian religion 
and the principles which it inculcates and as 
the years passed by, by precept and example, 
he did much for the moral interests of the 
community. His life was indeed honorable 
and upright, and he left to his family the 
priceless heritage of an untarnished name. He 
continued to engage in general farming until 
1884, when he put aside active business cares 
and spent his last years with his son Samuel, 
his death occurring on the 24th of February, 
1903. For more than a year he had sur\dved 
jii- wife, whom be had married in Pennsyl- 



460 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



vania and who bore the maiden name of Susan- 
na Shiverly. She was born in Union county 
of the Keystone state, July 19, 1819, and was 
ever a faithful companion and helpmate to 
her husband, carefully and frugally managing 
the household while he was resolutely putting 
forth earnest efforts to acquire a competence 
that would enable him to pay off the old debts 
which he had left in the east. In later years 
they were enabled to enjoy more of the com- 
forts and luxuries of life. Unto this worthy 
couple were born thirteen children, of whom 
five died in infancy. The others were: John 
and Samuel, both residents of Colfax town- 
ship; Mrs. Susan Bowers, who died in Kansas, 
at the age of forty-nine years; Mrs. Kate Ar- 
magost, a widow living in Colfax township; 
Mrs. Mary Beaver, also living in Colfax 
township; Christian M.; David W., who fol- 
lows farming in Colfax township; and Mrs. 
Elizabeth Myers, of the same township. 

Christian M. Badger was a little lad in his 
fifth year when his parents left Pennsjdvania 
and removed to Illinois. There he was reured 
and educated but his opportunities for attend- 
ing school were very limited as his services 
were needed upon the home farm. As soon as 
old enough to handle a plow he began work 
in the fields, turning the furrows and dropping 
the seed, which in the due course of time was 
to bring forth abundant harvest. He con- 
tinued to assist his father until twenty-three 
years of age, when he was married and started 
out in life on his own account. 

It was on the 9th of August, 1877, that Mr. 
Badger was joined in wedlock to Miss Hannah 
C. Repp, who was born in Williams county, 
Ohio, March 6, 1859. Her father, George 
Repp, was born October 11, 1827, in Pennsyl- 
vania, and in early manhood wedded Mary 
Jane Bell, who was born in New Jersey on the 
3d of February, 1831. They were residents of 
Ohio for a number of years and in 1868 drove 
across the country with team and wagon to 
Blackhawk county, Iowa, where a settlement 
was made, but in 1870 they came to Dallas 



county, Mr. Repp securing eighty acres of un- 
improved land which has since become the 
family homestead in Washington township. 
Thereon he and his wife still reside but the 
farm today bears little resemblance to the tract 
of land which he purchased thirty-seven years 
ago. Then, it was raw prairie; today it is richly 
cultivated fields, and golden harvests annually 
reward him for the care and labor which he 
bestows upon his farm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Repp were born eight children, of whom seven 
are yet living, as follows: Mrs. Badger; Clin- 
ton D., who is a resident farmer of Washing- 
ton township, Dallas county; Mrs. Sarah E. 
Mills, who is living in Colfax; Mrs. Clara E. 
Hailing, whose home is in Lincoln township; 
Nouh Morgan, a business man of Perry, Iowa; 
Charles H., who is located in Washington town- 
ship ; and Hattie B., who is at home with her 
parents. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Badger was 
blessed with six children and the family circle 
yet remains unbroken by the hand of death: 
Guy, the oldest of the family, married Aria 
Devilbiss and lives in Colfax township, where 
he follows farming. He has six children — 
Erma, Ivel, Orville, Lee, Marie and an infant. 
Cora, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Jacob 
Bubecker, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, and 
they have two children, Marvel and Merritt. 
Effie, the second daughter, is the wife of Charles 
Rook, a resident of Spring Valley township, 
and they have one child, Wilbur. Jesse, Ira 
and Joy, the younger members of the family, 
are still under the parental roof. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. Badger be- 
gan farming on his own account. He first 
rented land which he cultivated for ten years 
and with the money he saved during this pe- 
riod he was enabled to purchase eighty acres 
in Colfax township. This he culti\'ated for 
one year, after which he traded it for an eighty 
acre tract in Washington township, upon 
which he lived for five years. He then sold 
that property and bought the place upon which 
he now resides, on section 10, Colfax township. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



461 



Here he owns two hundred and fifty-six and a 
half acres of fine land constituting one of the 
best farms of the locality. This is splendidly 
improved and he has a comfortable residence 
upon it, in the rear of which stand two barns 
and commodious outbuildings for the shelter 
of grain and stock. All have been erected by 
Mr. Badger and they indicate the spirit of 
enterprise and progress which has dominated 
him in all his business life. About eight 
years ago his home and its contents were de- 
stroyed by fire, only a small amount of bed- 
ding being saved. Notwithstanding this loss 
Mr. Badger has prospered in his undertakings 
through the good use which he has made of 
possibilities and opportunities. Idleness and 
indolence are entirely foreign to his nature. 
He works earnestly and persistently and with a 
zeal that accomplishes results. He feeds cat- 
tle for market and also operates a threshing out- 
fit during the season. The fields produce the 
various cereals best adapted to the soil and cli- 
mate and everything about the place is neat 
and thrifty in appearance, indicating the care- 
ful supervision of a practical, painstaking 
owner. Both Mr. and Mrs. Badger are mem- 
bers of the German Baptist church and Mr. 
Badger exercises his right of franchise in 
support of the men and measures of the repub- 
lican party. l)ut wliile he Ivceps well informed 
on the issues of the day and is never remiss 
in citizenship, he has not sought office, pre- 
ferring to give his undivided attention to his 
business interests in which he has met with sig- 
nal success. 



W. W. WILCOX. 



W. W. Wilcox, a progressive and successful 
agriculturist of this county, was born in Dallas 
county, Iowa, on February 25, 1857. His par- 
ents were L. P. and Matilda (Counstel) Wil- 
cox, the former a native of Indiana, where he 
was born in 1835, and the latter born in Logan 
county, Illinois, in 1837. They came to Iowa 
at an early day and here reared a family of 



ten children, of whom seven are now living, 
the subject of this sketch being the eldest. Mr. 
and Mrs. L. P. Wilcox are now living at Perry, 
Iowa. 

W. W. Wilcox received his education in the 
common schools but early found it necessary 
to begin work. Reared on his father's farm, 
he very naturally turned to agriculture. That 
this was a wise choice is evidenced by the suc- 
cess which has crowned his efforts, for he now 
owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres 
of land on sections 3 and 10, Washington town- 
ship. He has spent much time and money in 
bringing this farm to its present prosperous 
condition. By scientific methods he has made 
the soil doubly productive, has built a fine resi- 
dence and keeps the entire place in a condition 
which always tells the passer-by that the pro- 
]>rietor lives at home. 

On March 16, 1878, he married Jeaunette 
Cashill, who was born in Linn county, Iowa, 
November 17, 1859. .She was the daughter of 
James and Mary Cashill. The father, a native 
of Ireland, and the mother, born in New York, 
came to Dallas county, Iowa, in 1848, where 
they located in Spring Valley township. The 
father died in 1903, while his widow still sur- 
vives him. They were the parents of nine 
children, of whom seven are now living. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have been born four chil- 
dren. Bertha A., whose birth occurred Febru- 
ary 21, 1880, is now deceased. Ada L., born 
January 28, 1882, is still at home. She was 
graduated at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and taught 
school for three years. Charles W., born July 
22, 1886, attended college for two years at 
Perry, Iowa, but is at home now. Raymond 
McKinley was born June 27, 1896. There is 
one adopted son in this family, Frank Henry, 
who was born July 1, 1885, being taken by 
Mr. Wilcox when only seven weeks old. He 
i> attending Ames College at present and is still 
making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox. 

In politics the subject of this sketch is a 
republican. He has served as road overseer for 
two years and was school director for the long 



462 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



term of eight years. He aiid his wife are of 
the Methodist Episcopal faith, being members 
of Wesley Chapel. They have the distinction 
of having made their own way in the world 
and in spite of obstacles have gone straight 
ahead to success. They have a vital sympathy 
with every movement which is for the benefit 
of the county. The world needs more toilers 
like them— people, whose broad sj'mpathies and 
upright lives have won for them many friends. 



JAMES C. HILL. 



Nature has been lavish in her gifts to many 
sections of this great country. In some dis- 
tricts she has provided great forests, permitting 
of the successful conduct of successful lumber 
industries. In other regions her mining re- 
sources are extensive and valuable, while in 
still other sections splendid opportunity is of- 
fered to the farmer and stock-raiser. Statistics 
show that Iowa is one of the greatest agricul- 
tural states of the Union and among those who 
are extensively and successfully engaged in 
dealing in live stock is .James C. Hill, of Dal- 
las county, now making his home in Adel. He 
is conducting a large and profitable business 
along this line and has met with a most gratify- 
ing measure of success. 

He was born in Adams township, Dallas 
county, October 3, 1858, his parents being 
Haston P. and Elizabeth (Davidson) Hill. 
The father's birth occurred in North Carolina 
in 1819, while the mother was bom in Put- 
nam county, Indiana, in 1828. They were 
married in Dallas county and unto them were 
born three sons and two daughters, namely: 
•Tohn "\V.. James C, Clara Bell, Daniel E. and 
Hattif E. 

The father of this family was only about a 
year and a half old when he was taken by his 
parents to Hendricks county, Indiana, there 
living until his removal to this county in 1849. 
Here he located in Adams township. All of 
the e^adences of pioneer life were here to be 



seen. The few homes were largely log cabins, 
widely scattered over the surface of the country. 
Much of the land was still unclaimed and un- 
cultivated and Mr. Hill entered laud from the 
government, for which he paid a dollar and a 
quarter per acre. Not a furrow had been 
turned or an improvement made thereon. He 
was one of the early settlers and he followed 
the course of the other pioneers, building a 
log house and breaking the wild prairie with 
ox teams. As he brought his fields under culti- 
vation he added to his farm from time to time 
by additional purchase until he had five hun- 
dred acres or more. For some years he suc- 
cessfully carried on general agricultural pur- 
suits here and in the spring of 1887 he went 
to Sheridan county, Nebraska, where he took 
up a homestead claim. The following fall he 
removed to his new home in Nebraska and at 
the present time he owns about two and a half 
sections of land there. He resides at Gordon, 
Nebraska, and is extensively engaged in stock- 
raising. At one time he was two-thirds owner 
of the Adel mill and he was quite an extensive 
stock shipper, sending large numbers of cat- 
tle and hogs from Dallas county before the 
Civil war. He belongs to Adel lodge, No. 80, 
A. F. & A. M., and to Tyrian chapter. No. 37, 
R. A. M., while Bis political views are in accord 
with the principles of Jacksonian democracy. 

•James C. Hill, reared upon the old home- 
stead farm in this county, acquired his educa- 
tion in the public schools, which he attended 
through the winter months, while in the sum- 
mer seasons he worked in the fields on his 
father's farm. Afterward he engaged in busi- 
ness on his own account and devoted the sum- 
mer months to the care and cultivation of his 
land, while in the winter months he purchased 
and shipped stock. He farmed during the sea- 
son of 1879 and in the spring of 1880 he re- 
moved to Custer county, Colorado, where he 
spent about one year prospecting and mining. 
In March, 1881, he returned to Adams town- 
ship, Dallas county, Iowa, where he again took 
up farming and stock-raising, there making 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



463 



his home until the spring of 1887, when he 
came to Adel and began the business of buying 
and shipping stock. During the first five years 
he drove his stock to the Des Moines markets 
but since that time he has been buying and 
shipping to Chicago. He also operates his farm 
and in both branches of business is meeting 
with gratifying success. For some four years, 
beginning in 1900, he was engaged in solicit- 
ing shipments of stock for the Chicago market, 
being a member of the Chicago Live Stock Ex- 
change until about 1904. He then disposed of 
his membership. He has handled a great many 
feeders, having bought on the Omaha and Kan- 
sas City markets, thus taking charge of thou- 
sands of cattle each year, which he has sold to 
the feeders of Dallas county. He is one of the 
most prominent stockmen of this part of the 
state, who has operated extensively and has 
conducted a business which has been very profit- 
able and gratifying. 

On the 14th of February, 1876, Mr. Hill was 
united in marriage to Miss Celinda Chance, 
who was born in Adel, February 11, 1860, a 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kendall) 
Chance, both of whom are now deceased. Her 
paternal grandfather, Tillman Chance, was 
owner of one of the first stores in Adel. Her 
father was born in South Carolina and in 1853 
came with his parents to Iowa, locating in Dal- 
las county. For many years he carried on 
general agricultural pursuits here but at a later 
date removed to Adel, where he lived retired 
until his death, enjoying in well earned rest 
the fruits of his former toil. His political views 
were in accord with the principles of democracy 
as set forth by Jackson. In his family were 
two sons and four daughters: Jane, Florence, 
Electa. Mrs. Hill. Tillman and William. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hill has been 
blessed with a daughter and son, but the 
f6rmer, Nora, died at the age of ten years. 
The son, Harry H., is interested with his father 
in farming and the live-stock business. Both 
father and son are members of Adel lodge. No. 
80, A. F. & A. M., and Mr. LTill belongs to 



Tyrian chapter. No. 37, R. A. M. He votes 
^vith the democracy and keeps well informed 
on the questions and issues of the day. His 
entire life has been passed in Dallas county, 
where he has now lived for almost a half cen- 
tury. He has therefore witnessed many of the 
changes which have occurred and the advance- 
ment which has been wrought, bringing it to 
its present condition of growth and prosperity. 
In business life he has been well known for 
his alert and enterprising spirit and his salient 
qualities and characteristics are such as win an 
honorable success. 



CHARLES K. ELLIS. 



Charles K. Ellis, whose death occurred on 
April 12, 1906, was a well known and much 
respected agriculturist. He was born in Water- 
ville, Kennebec county, Maine, July 26, 1844. 
With his father, Joshua W. Ellis, and family, 
he went to the state of Illinois in 1854, being 
hut ten years of age at that time. Here they 
remained for two years and then emigrated 
overland to Denison, Crawford county, Iowa, 
where the father had a government contract 
to deliver the mail from Denison to the frontier 
in Nebraska and was also given several other 
routes. The western one was carried by his 
son Charles, then only thirteen. This route 
lay in a territory occupied by hostile Indians 
and the boy's faithful ponies were his only 
companions on this lonely trip until he reached 
the river. Not many a lad of thirteen today 
would undertake a task fraught with so much 
danger but Mr. Ellis served with honor in this 
position for two years. Owing to the Indians 
becoming very hostile, the little village was 
broken up and they again returned to Illinois, 
where the son Charles remained with his father 
until 1870. At that time he came to Washing- 
ton township, Dallas county, where he resided 
continuously with the exception of six years, 
wlien he had charge of the county farm of Dal- 



464 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



las county, a position which he filled with 
much credit. 

On the 9th of November, 1869, Mr. Ellis 
was married to Miss Ars'illa A. Sweet. She 
was born in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1848, 
and was the daughter of J. L- and Florandia 
T. Sweet. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet came to Illinois 
at an early date and located near Buda, where 
their deaths occurred and where they were 
laid to rest in Buda cemetery. They had ac- 
cumulated considerable wealth and had several 
fine farms in Bureau county at the time of their 
demise. The father was married twice. To 
the first union there were born five children, 
of whom two are now living: J. B. Sweet, a 
lawyer at Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Mrs. A. A. 
Ellis. To the second union five children were 
born, of whom three survive: Aura, Effie and 
Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were the parents 
of ten children, of whom five sons are now 
living, four of whom are married. The record 
is as follows: E. L., born September 10, 1870, 
living in Perry, Iowa; F. R., born April 15, 
1877, conducting a livery barn at Minburn, 
Iowa; H. L., born July 4, 1879, living on one 
of his mother's farms; J. P., born November 
18, 1881, a farmer living near the old home- 
stead; and Roy J., who was born May 26, 1887, 
and operates the home farm for his mother. 

From boyhood Mr. Ellis' life was a very 
active one but he always had time to extend 
a helping hand and to say a kind word to his 
friends. His motto through life was "do unto 
others as you would have others do unto you" 
and this he most conscientiously followed, as 
his many friends can attest. Through such 
memorials as this the individual and the char- 
acter of his service are kept in remembrance 
and the importance of those ser\'ices acknowl- 
edged. His example, in whatever field his 
work may have been done, stands as an object 
lesson to those who come after. Up to the time 
that he was taken sick, at the age of sixty-one, 
he had never been in bed a day from illness 
but pneumonia developed very rapidly and at 
his age no hope was felt for his recovery. He 



passed away at his country home, surrounded 
by his wife and his five sons. Mr. Ellis was a 
republican and was identified with the Odd 
Fellows in Adel. He also belonged to the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and lived a life of up- 
rightness and honor, entitling him to high 
regard. 

Mrs. Ellis, after her husband's death, was 
appointed administratrix of his estate and 
bought her sons' interests in the property, own- 
ing at present three hundred and twenty acres 
known as the Prairie Lawn Stock Farm on sec- 
tion 15, "Washington township. She is a highly 
esteemed woman and a kind and loving mother 
and a faithful friend to all who know her. 



GEORGE W. CLARKE. 

George W. Clarke was born in Shelby 
county, Indiana, October 24, 1852. His father, 
John Clarke, was born in Warren county, Ohio, 
and his mother, Eliza J. Akers, was born in 
Floyd county, Indiana. They removed from 
Shelby county, Indiana, to Davis county, 
Iowa, in 1856, and settled on a farm near 
Drakeville, where they still live. Here also 
lived with them and worked on the farm 
their son until he was twenty-two years of age. 
In the winter he had taught school in the 
country and in Drakeville and later he taught 
in Bloomfield. He acquired his education at 
Oskaloosa College, Oskaloosa, Iowa, from 
which institution he was graduated in 1877. 
Immediately after, he entered the law office 
of Laiferty & Johnson, at Oskaloosa. After 
studying there for a time he entered the law 
department of the State University of Iowa and 
was graduated in 1878. In the same year he 
came to Adel, in Dallas county, Iowa, was 
married to Miss Arietta Greene and opened an 
office for the practice of law. A few years 
after he formed a partnership with J. B. White, 
under the firm name of White & Clarke. The 
firm is still in existence and is yet engaged in 
the practice of the law, as it always has been, 
at Adel. 




GEOKCK W. CI.APvKE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



467 



During his first four years at Adel Mr. 
Clarke lield tlie office of justice of the peace. 
He held no other office until he was elected 
to represent Dallas county in the legislature 
in the twenty-eighth general assembly, meet- 
ing in January, 1900. He was re-elected to the 
twenty-ninth, thirtieth and thirty-first general 
a.?semblies and in the last two was chosen 
speaker of the house, both times without oppo- 
sition, republicans and democrats alike voting 
for him. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have four children. The 
oldest is married and is practicing law at Perrj-, 
Iowa. The others are still at home. 



DON A. BLANCHARD. 

In the industrial and commercial circles of 
Adel, wherein the welfare and upbuilding of 
the city are largely promoted, Don A. Blan- 
chard has been an impoitant factor for forty 
years. Though no land is richer in opportu- 
nities or offers greater advantages than America 
success is not to be obtained through desire 
but must be persistently sought. In America 
"labor is king" and the man who resolutely 
sets to work to accomplish a purpose is certain 
of success if he has the qualities of persever- 
ance, untiring energy and practical common 
sense. Mr. Blanchard is one whose career ex- 
cites the admiration and gains the respect of 
all, for through his diligence and persistent 
purpose he has won a leading place in busi- 
ness circles in Adel and has also gained that 
good name which is rather to be chosen than 
great riches. 

Mr. Blanchard was born in Centerville, New 
York, November 30, 1841. His parents were 
Abel and Harriet (Trail) Blanchard, the for- 
mer a native of Peacham, Vermont, and the 
latter of Tolland, Connecticut. They were 
pioneers in the settlement of western New York, 
opening up a farm in the wilderness of Alle- 
gany county, that state, in 1820. The ancestry 
of the family can be traced back through eight 



generations to the year 1630, when Samuel 
Blanchard, of Lincoln, England, emigrated to 
America, settling in Charlestown, Massachu- 
setts. The mother was a sister of Judge Trail, 
of Attica, New York, and Dr. Russell Trail, 
of New York city, and an aunt of Governor 
Higgins. 

Don A. Blanchard lived upon his father's 
farm until fourteen years of age, when upon 
the death of his mother the large family of 
children became scattered and for the next few 
years we find him irregularly attending school 
at Rushford Academy, but he never had the 
assistance during his school days accorded his 
older brothers and sisters. In 1858, at the age 
of seventeen years, and during the troublous 
times in Kansas, he made his way into that 
territory and during the succeeding years he 
traveled in a half dozen different states. In 
1862, aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he en- 
listed in the First New York Dragoon Regi- 
ment as a musician. 

After his service at the front he was engaged 
for a short time in merchandising at White- 
water, Wisconsin, but, not being satisfied with 
the partnership into which he had entered, he 
took up the study of bookkeeping, etc., with 
Murray Blanchard, an attorney at Peru, Illi- 
nois. In 1866, intending to visit Omaha, Ne- 
braska, he accidentally stopped over Sunday in 
Adel, but after looking over the location he 
was impressed with its natural beauty and busi- 
ness possibilities and became connected with 
the commercial life of the city in a modest 
way. For forty years, however, the business 
has been enlarged and expanded until as a 
hardware merchant he is controlling an ex- 
tensive trade and his business is such as to 
enable him to become identified with nearly 
all of the improvements which have been 
made in and about Adel. When he cast in his 
lot with the embryo city he gave to it no half 
hearted allegiance. On the contrary he be- 
came deeply interested in everything pertain- 
ing to its welfare and development and his 
work has been most effective, beneficial and 
far-reaching. When at an early day Adel wa.s 



4()S 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



left, without any railroad facilities Mr. Blan- 
chard was one of the first in a substantial way 
to help save the county seat to Adel and was 
one of the largest contributors in time and 
money toward the building of an independent 
railroad line to this place. 

In 1868 occurred the marriage of Don A. 
Blanchard and iliss Mary Elizabeth Batton, 
who died in April, 1885. Unto this union five 
children were born, of whom three are now 
living: Mrs. Nellie C. Rail, of Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa ; Ralph, who is living in Kansas City, Mis- 
souri; and Anna, at home. Having lost his 
first wife, Mr. Blanchard was again married, 
in December, 1887, Miss H. Sue Worster be- 
coming his wife. They are well known socially 
and are much esteemed throughout the com- 
munity. 

Being a self-made man, Mr. Blanchard has 
always acted independently of cliques and 
trusts and in all things has manifested an inde- 
pendent, self-reliant spirit. He has contributed, 
however, to the support of churches and all 
enterprises and feasible plans for the public 
good and Adel has assuredly benefited in large 
measure by his interests and efforts. He has 
acted well his part and has lived a worthy, hon- 
orable life, being held in the highest esteem 
where he is best known. 



W. A. WRIGHT. 



There is in the anxious and laborious strug- 
gle for an honorable competence and the solid 
career of the business or professional man fight- 
ing the every-day battle of life but little to at- 
tract the idle reader in search of a sensational 
chapter, but for a mind thoroughly awake to 
the reality and meaning of human existence 
there are noble and immortal lessons in the 
life of the man who without other means than 
a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart con- 
quers adversity and, toiling on through the 
work-a-day years of a long career, finds not 
onlv success but also something far greater and 



higher — the deserved respect and esteem of 
those with whom his years of active life have 
brought him in contact. Mr. "Wright is yet 
comparatively a young man but already he has 
gained a prominent place in commercial cir- 
cles in Dallas county and has gained the high 
regard of many. He conducts the leading dry- 
goods store in Adel, having carried on the 
business since 1905. 

He was born in De Soto, Dallas county, De- 
cember 10, 1872. His father, T. J. Wright, 
was a native of Indiana, born May 25, 1844. 
He became a farmer by occupation and in 1856 
removed to this county, carrying on general 
agricultural pursuits in Van Meter township 
until after the outbreak of the Civil war. When 
no longer able to content himself at the plow 
while the Union was endangered he joined 
the army on the 9th of August, 1862. He was 
enrolled with the boys in blue of Company C, 
Thirty-ninth Iowa "\''olunteer Infantry, and 
served until the 5th of June, 1865, during 
which time he participated in a number of 
hotly contested battles. In the engagement at 
Allatoona, Georgia, he sustained a bullet 
wound in the right cheek, knocking out several 
teeth. When the war was over and the victory 
of the Union arms was proclaimed throughout 
the land he returned to De Soto, where he 
engaged in the manufacture and repair of 
wagons. In 1901 he came to Adel, where he 
carries on the same business, being now closely 
associated with the industrial life of the city. 
He married Sarah Chestnutwood, who was born 
in Ohio, July 4, 1847, and is also living. Of 
the familj''- of six children who graced their 
marriage two died in infancy, while those w^ho 
still survive are: E. E. : Mrs. J. M. Lowery, 
of Adel; and Mrs. S. F. Couch, also of this 
county. 

The other member of the family is W. A. 
Wright of this review. He was reared in De 
Soto and pursued his education in the com- 
mon schools. He entered business life as a 
clerk in the store of M. B. Cole, with whom 
he remained for five years. Later he spent 
nine months as manager of a store for R. E. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



4fi9 



Holmes at Redfield, Iowa, and afterward 
clerked for two years in The Leader at Adel. 
He was next employed in the wholesale house 
of George White at Des Moines, having super- 
vision over the traveling salesmen, and he 
afterward conducted a dry-goods store at Bruns- 
wick, Missouri, but in 1904 removed his stock 
to Adel, where he has since carried on busi- 
ness. In June, 1905, he purchased the busi- 
ness of his first employer, M. B. Cole, and has 
conducted the store to the present time, carry- 
ing one of the largest stocks of dry goods in 
the city, valued at twenty-two thousand dollars. 
Recently Mr. Wright has returned from New 
York city, where he purchased goods to the 
value of five thousand dollars. The stock in- 
cludes dry goods, clothing, rugs, carpets, tin- 
ware, granite ware, furs, shoes, notions, skirts, 
jackets and hats and caps. Its tasteful arrange- 
ment and the large stock, combined with the 
reasonable prices and earnest desire to please 
his patrons have secured for him a large and 
very gratifying patronage. 

Mr. W^right was married in 1898 to Miss 
Sadie McCurdy, a native of Butler county, 
Indiana, and they have one son, Thayne A. 
The parents attend the Methodist Episcopal 
church, of which Mrs. AVright is a member. 
Mr. W'right exercises his right of franchise in 
support of the men and measures of the repub- 
lican party. He is a self-made man and his 
prosperity has resulted entirely from his own 
efforts. Quiet and unassuming in manner, he 
is nevertheless a good manager, with sound busi- 
ness judgment and keen discernment, and the 
Wright store is justly accounted a leading com- 
mercial enterprise of Dallas county. 



H. B. GOLDSBERRY. . 

H. B. Goldsberry, one of the active and 
progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Dallas 
county, has a good farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres on section 10, Sugar Grove town- 
ship. He has lived in the county since 1884, 



arriving here when a youth of fifteen years. 
His birth had occurred in Carroll county, 
Indiana, March 17, 1869. His father, G. W. 
Goldsberry, became a resident of Kansas, set- 
tling in Cherokee county. His son, however, 
established his home in Dallas county, Iowa, 
at the age of fifteen years and has since been 
dependent upon his own resources. He early 
came to realize the value and importance of 
unremitting diligence, and as the years have 
gone by his persistent labor has constituted the 
strongest element in his financial advancement. 

On the 27th of December, 1892, Mr. Golds- 
berry was united in marriage to Miss Cora J. 
Mortimer, who was born in Iowa and spent 
her girlhood days in Dallas county. Prior to 
her marriage she engaged in teaching. Her 
father, W. W. Mortimer, now deceased, was one 
of the early settlers of the county and aided 
in its development in pioneer times. After 
his marriage Mr. Goldsberry carried on farm- 
ing on the Mortimer place for three years, after 
which he rented land that he cultivated for 
eight years. On the expiration of that period 
he invested his savings in the farm where he 
resides on section 10, Sugar Grove township, 
becoming owner of one hundred and sixty 
acres, which as the years have passed has been 
converted by him into a valuable place. When 
it came into his possession he at once began 
to farm and further improve this property. He 
has since built a good barn, has fenced the en- 
tire tract, and in connection with general farm- 
ing he raises good stock, annually shipping 
large numbers of hogs and cattle. He finds 
this a source of gratifying income and his busi- 
ness is now being very successfully conducted. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Goldsberry have been 
born two children. Hazel Fern and Paul Har- 
old. Politically Mr. Goldsberry is a republi- 
can but the honors and emoluments of office 
have had no attraction for him. He served, 
however, as road supervisor and also on the 
school board. He and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, being con- 
nected with Hawkins Chapel and are much 
esteemed in the community because of their 



470 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



fidelity to their professions. In all that he 
does Mr. Goldsberry is known as an honorable 
and upright man and one well worthy of men- 
tion among the representative citizens of Dal- 
las county. Here he has hved for twenty-three 
years and has seen the swamps and sloughs 
drained, while unbroken prairie has been con- 
verted into rich fields that annually bring 
forth large and abundant harvests. He is in- 
terested in all that pertains to general progress 
and improvement and has given his co-opera- 
tion to many movements for the public good. 



F. R. COULTER. 



F. R. Coulter, an enterprising and represen- 
tative farmer and stock-raiser of Union town- 
ship, Dallas county, was born here on the 20th 
of August, 1872, being a son of J. F. and 
Mahala A. (Martin) Coulter, both of whom 
were natives of Ohio, the former born in 1840 
and the latter in 1841. They came to Iowa 
in an early day, locating in Union township, 
Dallas county, on the farm where our subject 
now resides, living here until the time when 
they passed from the scenes of this life. They 
had a family of nine children, six of whom 
are still living: Edgar E., of Union township; 
I. J., a resident of O'Brien county, Iowa; F. R., 
of this review; Alice M., who lives in Redfield; 
Cora A., the wife of Elmer D. Kitting, who 
lives in Union township; and Charles L., resid- 
ing in Dexter. J. F. Coulter died July 20, 
1880, aged forty-four years ; his wife, March 28, 
1888, aged forty-eight years. 

F. R. Coulter acquired his education in the 
common schools, and has always followed the 
occupation to which he was reared — that of 
agriculture. He is now the owner of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of fine farming land on 
sections 10 and 11, Union township, which he 
has brought under a high state of cultivation 
through modern methods of farming and by 
the exercise of industry and perseverance in 
his daily duties. He makes a specialty of the 



raising and feeding of high grade stock and is 
numbered among the leading and progressive 
agriculturists of the county. 

On the 10th of March, 1897, Mr. Coulter 
was united in marriage to Miss Dora Curts, a 
native of Union township, Dallas county, and 
a daughter of G. W. and Almeda (Wright) 
Curts, both of whom were natives of Indiana, 
whence they removed to Iowa at an early day. 
They were the parents of eight children, of 
whom the following still survive: Ellen, the 
wife of William Benson, a resident of North 
Dakota ; Margaret, who married T. A. McGrew 
and lives in North Dakota; Dora and Daisy, 
twins, the former the wife of our subject and 
the latter the wife of Ed. Benson, a resident of 
Adams township; and Frank, who also resides 
in LTnion township. Mrs. Coulter's mother 
died April 22, 1901, and her father the 29th 
of July, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Coulter are the 
parents of four children: I. Bernice, Clarence 
F., Reece M., and the baby. 

Politically Mr. Coulter supports the men and 
measures of the republican party and is now 
serving as clerk of LTnion township. Frater- 
nally he is connected with the Modern Wood- 
men camp at Redfield. Both he and his wife 
attend the Friends church and enjoy in large 
measure the confidence and esteem of those 
with whom they have come in contact, and 
the hospitality of their pleasant home is greatly 
enjoyed by their many friends. 



JACOB FORRET. 



Jacob Forret, a native son of Germany, was 
born August 1, 1856, and is a son of Nicholas 
and ^Margaret Forret, both natives of Germany. 
In 1863 they came to America, where they 
located in Dallas county, Iowa, on a farm. The 
mother is still living upon this place, while 
the father passed away in 1868. To their 
union were born eleven children, nine of whom 
are still li\'ing : Madaline, the wife of Nicholas 
Feller, who lives in Miner county. South Da- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



471 



kota; Nicholas, Jr., a resident of Boone town- 
ship, Dallas county; Matt and John, who are 
living here; Anthony of Van Meter township; 
Edward, Champ, and Elizabeth, the wife of 
Thomas Chushing, all residents of Boone town- 
ship ; and Jacob, of this review. 

Jacob Forret was only seven years of age 
when his parents came to America, so that he 
had scarcely time to acquire much of the Ger- 
man education. Pie has, however, received the 
advantages of the public schools of America, 
but like most farmers' sons, was obliged to di- 
vide his time between the schoolroom and the 
fields. His practical training came largely 
from the assistance which he gave his father 
upon the old home farm. When he started out 
for himself he rented a piece of land for ten 
years and worked it as conscientiously as 
though it had belonged to him. That he was 
well repaid for his labor on this ground is 
evidenced by the abundant returns which he 
received. He was thus enabled to buy three 
hundred and twenty acres of land in Sheridan 
county, Nebraska, and it was here that he 
lived for five years, improving the land and 
adding buildings necessarj^ to carrying on his 
agricultural pursuits. He subsequently re- 
turned to Dallas county, where he bought the 
old home farm. With the sentiment which 
usually attaches to the place upon which one 
has spent his boyhood, Mr. Forret took an 
unusual interest in remodeling the buildings 
and in adopting the progressive methods and 
implements which should put his home place 
upon an equal footing with the newer farms 
of the vicinity. He has since then purchased 
three acres on section 16, where he has built 
a home and now lives a retired life. That his 
agricultural life has been a success is evidenced 
by the fact that he now owns two hundred and 
eighty acres of land in Dallas county and three 
hundred and twenty acres in Nebraska. 

Mr. Forret was married in 1878 to Mary 
Kubitschek, a native of Bohemia, where she 
was born June 28, 1861. She i- a daughter 
of Frank and Pauline Kubitschek, natives of 
Bohemia, who came to America in 1870 and 



located in Dallas county. To their union five 
children were born, four of whom ai'e now liv- 
ing, namely: Mrs. Forret; Frank, who now 
lives at Eagle Grove, Wright county, Iowa; 
Adolph, a resident of the same place; and 
Pauline, the wife of Frank Christen, who is 
living in Bohemia. The parents of these chil- 
dren are still living in their native land, to 
which they returned in 1891 and where they 
anticipate spending the balance of their days. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Forret no children 
have been born but they have adopted a son, 
whose name is Edward Kautzky. They re- 
cently presented him one hundred and sixty 
acres of their Nebraska land. 

Mr. Forret is a stalwart democrat and has 
always given valuable assistance to his party 
in their campaigns. He and his wife are both 
members of the Catholic church at Perry, Iowa. 
Not many a farmer has been able to acquire 
a financial standing that enables him at fifty- 
one to retire and enjoy his remaining days 
in ease, but Mr. Forret has accomplished this. 
With the stalwart character inherited from his 
foreign ancestry he has worked hard and lived 
frugally and his name now stands as that of 
one of the honest, straightforward agricultur- 
ists of this county. 



FRANK C. DOWNEY. 

Frank C. Downey, one of the well known 
merchants of Dallas county, now .serving as 
postmaster of Dexter, was born here on Novem- 
ber 10, 1873. He was reared under the parental 
roof, .supplementing his early education by a 
coui-se in the Dexter high school and the Dexter 
Normal College. Mr. Downey has been reared 
in the mercantile business, working from his 
boyhood days in his father's store. In 1905 
he became a partner in the business, which is 
known to the public as Downey's Department 
Store. The excellent business and executive 
ability of our subject have contributed in large 
measure to the success which has attended this 



472 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



enterprise, making it one of the largest and 
most reliable mercantile establishments of the 
county. 

On December 6, 1900, Frank C. Downey was 
united in marriage to Miss Annott Nelson, a 
native of Vermont and a daughter of Eobert 
J. Nelson, who is now living retired. To this 
union has been born one child, Margot. 

Mr. Downey is a stanch republican in his 
political views, and in 1897 was appointed post- 
master of Dexter by President McKinley, hav- 
ing been the faithful and proficient incumbent 
in that position ever since. He is recognized 
as a representative and enterprising citizen of 
his community, and is widely known by reason 
of the large mercantile establishment with 
which he is connected. His business methods 
have ever been such as neither seek nor re- 
quire disguise, being at all times straightfor- 
ward and honorable. 



BENJAMIN ROW. 



Benjamin Row, whose business record has 
been one that any man might be proud to 
possess, has in the course of an active and use- 
life advanced steadily step by step until he 
is now occupying a position of prominence and 
trust. Throughout his entire business career 
he has been looked upon as a model of integrity 
and honor, never making an engagement that 
he has not fulfilled and standing today an ex- 
ample of what determination and force, com- 
bined with the highest degree of commercial 
integrity, can accomplish. He is respected by 
the community at large and honored by his 
business associates. He is now connected with 
the lumber trade at Dallas Center, where for 
thirteen years he has made his home. He has 
lived in the county, however, since 1871. His 
birth occurred in Washington county, Mary- 
land, on the 4th of January, 1832. His father, 
Henrj' Rotv, was bom in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, and was a son of Henry Row, 
Sr., of German ancestry. From the Keystone 



state they removed to Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, where Henry Row, Jr., was mar- 
ried to Miss Sarah Carpenter,, a native of Mary- 
land. He was a blacksmith by trade and a 
fine mechanic. Unto him and his wife were 
born five sons and five daughters, of whom 
three sons and three daughters are yet living. 
One of the number, Joseph Row, resides with a 
son in Dallas county, at the age of eighty years, 
while Hiram Row is living with a son-in-law 
in Calhoun county, at the age of about seventy- 
eight years. The sisters are Mrs. Sarah Bowers, 
a widow, Mrs. Mary Slyfer and Catherine, the 
wife of Andrew Hammer, all of Ogle county, 
Illinois. 

Upon the homestead farm in his native state 
Benjamin Row was reared. He is largely a 
self-educated as well as a self-made man and 
it has been practically through reading and ex- 
perience in the years of his manhood that he 
has gained the knowledge that now makes him 
a well informed citizen of Dallas Center. In 
early manhood he sought and won a companion 
and helpmate for life's journey, being married 
on the 16th of February, 1854, to Miss Ann 
Rebecca Yeakle, a native of Maryland. Re- 
moving westward to Illinois, he located in Ogle 
county in 1857 and there worked by the day or 
job at farm labor. Later he rented land, which 
he cultivated during the period of the Civil war. 
He continued to make his home in Illinois 
until 1871, when he came to Dallas county and 
began farming in Walnut township, first secur- 
ing eighty acres of raw land, upon which not a 
furrow had been turned nor an improvement 
made. This he placed under the plow, erected 
substantial buildings upon it and continued the 
work of cultivating the farm until 1879, when 
he sold out and bought one hundred and sixty 
acres across the road in Grant township. This 
he also improved, placing good buildings upon 
it and he there carried on general farming until 
1890, when he sold his stock and rented his 
land. He and his wife went to California and 
have since spent two winters in Los Angeles. He 
then engaged in the lumber business and con- 
tinued there in business for fourteen months. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



475 



after which he sold out and returned home. 
In 1893 he established a lumber business at 
Valley Junction but disposed of it in the spring 
of the same year and bought out the lumber 
business at Dallas Center, which he is now con- 
ducting. It is the oldest lumber business in 
the town and he now carries a large line of 
lumber and building materials. He also han- 
dles coal and has built up a nice trade. His 
business has developed along safe, substantial 
lines and he now has a gratifying patronage 
which makes him one of the successful mer- 
chants of the county. He has erected a good 
home in Dallas Center and another residence 
which he rents and he purchased a farm of 
eighty acres just outside the city limits. He 
lived upon that place for five years and then 
sold out, after which he returned to Dallas 
Center and erected another dwelling, which he 
now occupies. He has built four good liouses 
in the town and has thus contributed to its 
improvement. In addition to his city property 
he owns eighty acres east of town. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Row have been born fi\e 
children, who are yet living. Mary is the wife 
of Oliver Folk, a farmer of Dallas county and 
they have three children. Laura is the wife of 
Scott Crouse, a resident farmer of Colfax town- 
ship and they have four children. Mrs. Katie 
Ward, now a widow, is living in Dallas Center 
and has three children. J. F., of Dallas Center, 
is married and has three children. Mrs. 
Anna Rhodes, also a widow, lives in Dallas 
Center and has two children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Row are members of the Dunk- 
ard church. In politics he is independent but 
cast his first presidential ballot for James Buch- 
anan, and in 1856 supported Stephen A. Doug- 
las. He has since at different times voted the 
republican ticket and again has given his sup- 
port to the democracy. When on the farm he 
served a.s a school director and was also road 
eupen'isor but he has never sought or desired 
office, preferring to give his time and energies 
to his business affairs. To see him in his of- 
fice, — alert, enterprising, watchful, his voice 
and manner indicating precision and dispatch 



in his work, — one would think him all business 
but his friends, and they are many, know him 
to be a most genial and companionable gentle- 
man, who richly enjoys the pleasures of life. 
His success has been won entirely along lines 
of old and time-tried maxims. He has care- 
fully planned his business, has the ability and 
executive force to carry it forward, and has 
gained thereby a gratifying prosperity. 



WILLIAM D. HAYMOND. 

William D. Haymond, living on sections 9 
and 10, Sugar Grove township, is one of the 
prosperous and up-to-date farmers and stock- 
dealers of the county. His business interests 
are constantly growing in volume and impor- 
tance and result from the careful management 
which he has ever displayed in carrying on 
his farming interests. Today he has three hun- 
dred and four acres, the greater part of which 
is under the plow and returns him excellent 
crops for the care and labor he bestows on the 
fields. He is a typical son of the middle west 
and was bom near the city of Kankakee, in 
Kankakee county, Illinois, October 12, 1857. 

His father, George Haymond, was a native 
of Indiana and was there reared, after which 
he removed to Illinois, settling in Kankakee 
county when a young man. He was married 
there to Catherine Doke, a native of Illinois. 
He was a mechanic, a wagonmaker and black- 
smith and in ©arly days worked at his trade 
in Illinois. In 1860 he removed to Iowa with 
his family, settling in Des Moines, where he 
spent the winter. In the spring of 1861, how- 
ever, he went to Warren county and located on 
a farm, which he continued to cultivate for 
about ten years. On the expiration of that 
period he took up his abode near Winterset 
and lived on a farm there. His death occurred 
in Madison county in the fall of 1900. His 
widow still survives him and now makes her 
home with a daughter in McGregor, Iowa. 



476 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



In their family were twelve children, eight 
sons and four daughters, of whom eleven have 
reached years of maturity : Edward, who is farm- 
ing on the old homestead in Madison county; 
William D., of this review ; Adaline, the wife of 
George Dilly, a merchant of Kankakee, Il- 
linois; John, a resident farmer of Kankakee 
county ; Douglas, who follows farming in Madi- 
son county, Iowa; Samuel, a farmer and stock- 
feeder of Madison county; Elma, the wife of 
Walter Davis, a farmer of McGregor, Iowa; 
Ray, who is living at Colorado Springs, Colo- 
rado; Jefferson, who carries on agricultural 
pursuits in Madison county, this state ; George, 
who is engaged in the livery business in Win- 
terset, Iowa; and two now deceased. Albert 
died at the age of four years, and Hattie passed 
away at the age of twenty-two years. 

William D. Raymond came to Iowa in 1860, 
when a lad of four years and in early manhood 
started out in life on his own account, depend- 
ing entirely upon his own resources. He 
w'orked at farm labor by the month for some 
time and afterward engaged for six years in the 
business of ditching and laying tile. His en- 
ergy, economy and perseverance constituted 
the basis of the success which he is now enjoy- 
ing and which enabled him to become a prop- 
erty holder. 

On the 9th of March, 1882, was celebrated 
the marriage of Mr. Raymond and Miss Agnes 
Scott, a daughter of Samuel and Jane Scott. 
She w-as born in the state of New York and wus 
there reared and educated, becoming a school 
teacher prior to her marriage. Following the 
celebration of their wedding Mr. Raymond 
rented a farm in Dallas county, which he cul- 
tivated for eight years and then with the capital 
he had acquired through his savings he bought 
eighty acres, where he now resides. Taking up 
his abode thereon he resolutely set to work to 
bring the land under cultivation and produce 
abundant crops such as are raised on Iowa 
soil. In the early days he suffered many hard- 
ships and privations but he kept up a stout 
heart and continued in the work. He allowed 
no difficulties or obstacles to discourage him and 



with resolute spirit continued on year after 
year. Success always crowns persistent, unfal- 
tering effort, and in due course of time he ex- 
tended the boundaries of his farm by ad- 
ditional purchase until it now comprises three 
hundred and four acres in one body. The 
home which he has erected is a pleasant two- 
story residence, in the rear of which are a 
large barn, granary and corn cribs. In fact 
the farm is an excellent property, well 
equipped, and in the pasture and feed lots are 
seen good grades of cattle and hogs, which are 
fattened for the market. Re annually sells 
from one to tw'o hundred head of steers and 
three carloads of hogs and from this branch 
of his business derives a gratifying income. 

In 1904 Mr. Raymond was called upon to 
mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 
7th of May of that year. Their only child, 
Lena, died when an infant of ten months. 
Mr. Raymond votes with the republican party 
and is a stalwart advocate of its principles, 
being recognized as one of the leaders in its 
local ranks. He was elected and served as 
township trustee, filling the office for three con- 
secutive terms, and he is now township treas- 
urer. He also belongs to the Presbyterian 
church at Dallas Center, to which his wife also 
belonged, and he is a member of the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows there. Re com- 
menced life empty-handed but in this land 
where effort is not hampered by caste or class 
he has worked persistently and energetically 
with the result that he has attained gratifying 
success. Re is now classed with the represent- 
ative farmers of Sugar Grove township and in 
this connection deserves mention in the history 
of his adopted county. 



PETER DURKES. 



Peter Durkes is one of the prominent farm- 
ers and old settlers of central Iowa and has a 
good property of eighty acres on section 33, 
Grant township. Re has lived in Dallas county 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



477 



since November, 1868, and upon his present 
farm since 1875, or for a period of more than 
three decades. He was born in Germany, 
March 9, 1843, and is a son of Daniel and 
Susan (Stohlhaeber) Durkes, k\\o were also 
natives of Germany, in which country the 
father followed the occupation of farming. 
They became the parents of six sons, all of 
whom reached years of maturity. The entire 
family came to America in 1854, settling in 
Miami county, Indiana. The voyage was made 
on a sailing vessel and they were thirty-six 
days on the water between the European and 
American ports. They experienced several 
severe storms, one of which destroyed every 
mast on the vessel. 

Peter Durkes was a youth of fourteen years 
when he accompanied his parents to the new 
world. His educational privileges were those 
afforded by the common schools and when 
not busy with his text-books he aided his father 
in the farm work. When a young man he 
worked out by the day in the lumber camps, 
being thus employed until about twenty-four 
years of age, when, in 1868, he came to Dallas 
county and settled at Dallas Center, where he 
followed the carpenter's and joiner's trade for 
ten years, being thus closely associated with 
building operations in the town and surround- 
ing district. 

Mr. Durkes was married in Adel, in 1870, 
to Miss Katherine Durkes, a native of Germany 
and a daughter of Valentine Durkes, who was 
an early settler of Adel township. Following 
his marriage Mr. Durkes bought forty acres of 
land, where he now resides, made a home there 
and began to cultivate the farm. He has since 
added forty acres and the entire place is under 
a high state of cultivation, being well tiled 
und fenced, while the improvements of a 
model farm property are here found. He be- 
gan with the raw prairie and every improve- 
ment upon his place has been put there by him- 
self. In all his work he is practical and sys- 
tematic and his energy and diligence consti- 
tute the ba.?is of the prosperity he has enjoyed. 



Unto Mr. and Mrs. Durkes have been born 
six children, of whom five are now living: 
Kate, at home; Daniel, who is supervisor of 
piano construction in Chicago; Clara, the wife 
of William Anderson, of Grimes; William F., 
a railroad man at Brooklyn, Iowa; and Laura, 
at home. They also lost one daughter, Hen- 
rietta, who died when a year old. 

In politics Mr. Durkes is a democrat where 
national issues are involved but casts an inde- 
pendent local ballot. His good qualities are 
many as is attested by the fact that he has an 
extensive circle of friends in this county. Here 
he has lived for almost a third of a century, 
so that his life record is well known and at all 
times it has been characterized by a purposeful 
spirit and ready determination that have en- 
abled him to overcome difficulties and obstacles 
and make steady advancement on the high 
road to prosperity. 



REV. .lAMES CLEARY. 

Rev. James Cleary, pastor of St. Patrick's 
Catholic church at Perry, was born in Mineral 
Point, Wisconsin, on the 9th of October, 1865. 
His parents were Patrick and Mary (Madigan) 
Cleary, both of whom were born in County 
Clair, Irelajid. The father died at Mineral 
Point, Wisconsin, in his seventy-fourth year 
and the mother is now living there. They 
were married in the state of New York and at 
an early date removed to Wisconsin, locating 
on a farm near Mineral Point, where the father 
devoted his time and energies to agricultural 
pursuits. In the family were eleven children, 
of whom Father Cleary is the seventh in order 
of birth. 

After acquiring his early education he pre- 
pared for the priesthood, was ordained and has 
since consecrated his life to the woi*k of the 
church. He came to Perry from Keokuk 
county, Iowa, where he was in charge of St. 
Mary's church. His collegiate course was pur- 
sued at Dubuque, Iowa, and he was graduated 



478 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was ordained 
to the priesthood at Sacred Heart cathedral, 
in Davenport, Iowa, in December, 1891, after 
which he became assistant to Father Flavin, at 
St. Ambrose church, Des Moines. Later, as 
stated, he was given charge of St. Mary's parish 
in Sigourney and thence came to Perry to take 
charge of St. Patrick's church at this point. 
He entered upon his work here with the ut- 
most zeal on the 25th of July, 1898. He saw 
the need of a new church and began planning 
toward that end. It was not until November, 
1900, however, that any movement was made 
to create an interest in a new church. He 
then submitted three propositions to his peo- 
ple : first, to erect a new church at the cost of 
about twelve thousand dollars; second, .to re- 
model the old church; and third, to leave the 
church as it was. A vote was taken and sixty- 
one voted in favor of building a new church, 
while nine voted against it. On the 11th of 
November Father Cleary appointed a building 
committee and on the 16th of June, 1901, a 
contract for the building WBS let. On the 18th 
of August following the cornerstone was laid 
by Father Lambert, of Chicago, and on the 
10th of August, 1902, the church was formally 
opened and dedicated by Bishop Cogsgrove. It 
is a splendid structure and its dedication was 
one of the notable events in the history of 
Perry. It stands as a monument to the earnest 
and stupendous efforts of the pastor, who has 
done excellent work for his people. The vari- 
ous societies of the church are in good stand- 
ing and its influence is widely felt as a potent 
force in the moral development of the com- 
munity. 



WILLIAM F. LOURY. 

Among Adel's worthy representative citizens 
is numbered William F. Loury who is now liv- 
ing retired but who in former years was as- 
sociated with agricultural interests. It was 
through this means that he acquired the pros- 



perity that now enables him to live comfort- 
ably without recourse to further labor. He is 
a typical citizen of the middle west, possessing 
a spirit of determination and energy which has 
been a dominant factor in the upbuilding of 
the Mississippi valley. He was born in Ver- 
milion county, Illinois, on the 9th of October, 
1839. 

His father, James K. Loury, was a native 
of Kentucky, while his mother, who bore the 
maiden name of Priscilla Standfield, was born 
in Tennessee. James K. Loury was one of a 
family of four children but all are now de- 
ceased. By his marriage there were born thir- 
teen children of whom five are living, as fol- 
lows: George Standfield, who makes his home 
in Winterset, Iowa; Thomas J., a resident of 
Belleville, Kansas; Mrs. Phoebe Belden, a 
widow, living in Oklahoma; Mrs. Lucinda 
Baldwin, who is located in Vermilion county, 
Illinois; and John M., of Nebraska. The other 
member of the family is William F. Loury, of 
this review. 

It was in the year 1852 that the parents re- 
moved from Illinois to Iowa, settling in "\^an 
Meter township, Dallas county, where the 
father purchased two hundred and forty acres 
of wild prairie land. His son William assisted 
in the arduous task of developing the new farm 
and turned the first furrows in many a field, 
thus breaking the land which he soon placed 
under cultivation, while in the due course of 
time golden harvests were gathered as a re- 
ward for his care and labor. He continued to 
cultivate and improve the place until after 
the death of his wife when he rented the farm 
to his two sons and removed to Van Meter, 
where he engaged in the hardware business. 
It was at that time that the Rock Island Rail- 
road was being built through Van Meter. 
At a later day he disposed of his store and 
went to Lewis, Iowa, where he engaged in 
business for a time and subsequently took up 
his abode in Anita, Iowa, where he opened a 
dry-goods store. After a year, however, he sold 
out and went to Atlantic, Iowa, where he pur- 
chased a home and seven acres of ground. He 




-■^II;. AM) .M|;s. \v. |. 



'. l.niKY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



481 



then began raising hogs and continued in that 
business until his death, which occurred when 
he was seventy-five years of age. He worked 
earnestly and persistently as the years passed 
by, and from early manhood was dependent 
upon his own resources so that whatever success 
he gained came to him as a reward for his 
labor. 

William F. Loury spent his youth upon the 
home farm with his parents and continued to 
assist his father in the labors of the fields until 
his marriage. His educational privileges were 
those afforded him by the public schools. He 
was a youth of thirteen years at the time of 
their arrival in Iowa so that, as far as youth 
and age permitted, he assisted in the devel- 
opment of the new farm, following the plow 
in the furrows and harvesting the grain in late 
autumn. At the time of his marriage he be- 
gan farming on his own account and, hav- 
ing no money with which to purchase land, 
rented a tract which he cultivated for two years. 
During that time he carefully saved his earn- 
ings and on the expiration of that period pur- 
chased ninety acres in the spring of 1862. 
Desirous of having a better property he added 
to the place from time to time, as his financial 
resources increased, until his farm comprised 
two hundred and two acres in Van Meter town- 
ship. The farm was noted for its rich fertility, 
produced through the care and labor of Mr. 
Loury, who rotated his crops and kept his land 
in good condition. For two years he was also 
engaged in buying and selling .stock. He met 
\yith a desirable measure of success and at 
length acquired a gratifying competence so 
that in 1906 he was able to withdraw from 
active agricultural life. He then sold his farm 
and removed to Adel, where he has since lived, 
owning a nice house and lot in town. He is 
now enjoying the comforts and some of the 
luxuries of life and well merits the rest which 
has come to him. 

It was on the 11th of February, 1860, that 
Mr. Loury was united in marriage to Miss 
Rachel Foley,' who was born in Lake county, 
Indiana, June 29, 1839, and died on the 17th 



of August, 1902, after a hajDpy married life 
of more than forty-two years. She was a 
daughter of John and Sarah (Heyworth) 
Foley, natives of Ohio and Tennessee, respec- 
tively. They were married in Vermilion 
county, Illinois, where they lived for a time, 
after which they removed to Lake county, 
Indiana, where they resided until 1852. In 
that year they came to Iowa and took up their 
abode in Van Meter township, Dallas county, 
which was then a wild and uncultivated region. 
Indians were still occasionally seen in the 
neighborhood and there were various evidences 
of the former occupancy of the red men. Com- 
paratively few claims had been taken up so 
that the prairies were still to a great extent 
uncultivated, being still overgrown with the 
native grasses. Here and there a little cabin 
was to be seen showing that the work of de- 
velopment had been begun by some resolute 
spirit who desired to establish a home on the 
frontier and was not afraid of the hardships 
and privations incident to pioneer life. Mr. 
Foley purchased three hundred and twenty 
acres of government land, all wild prairie, and 
took up his abode thereon at a time when there 
were only two dry-goods houses in Des Moines 
and very few residences. He had to go long 
distances to mill and market and performed 
the arduous task of breaking the soil and culti- 
vating the fields for the first time. Earnest 
labor always finds its just reward, however, and 
in the course of years he tran,sformed his 
fields into an excellent property, which proved 
a good source of annual income. He carried 
on the work of the farm until he had reached 
an advancQd age, after which he spent his 
last days with his children, passing away on the 
21st of February, 1892. His wife survived 
him and died on the 9th of June, 1904. They 
were well known and honored pioneer people 
of the county and deserved much credit for 
what they accomplished in advancing the 
early development of this part of the state. In 
their family were five children, of whom three 
iii'f now living: Frances, a resident of Walla 
Walla, Washington; Mrs. Margaret Foster, who 



482 



TAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



is living in Fresno, California; and Mrs. Ruth 
Mitchell, of Adel. One son, Daniel, died in 
Columbus, Kentucky, while serving hiii country 
in the Civil war. The other member of the fam- 
ily was Mrs. Loury, whose death was deeply 
deplored throughout this community for she 
had won many warm friends through her good 
traits of mind and heart. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Loury have been born 
seven children but two have passed away. 
Those still surviving are: Theodore, who is 
now po.'^tmaster at De Soto, Iowa; Mrs. Susan 
Cronkwright, of Adel, Iowa; John W., who is 
living in Page, Kansas; Sarah A., who is acting 
as her father's housekeeper; and James M., 
who is living at Fort Collins, Colorado. 

Mr. Loury exercises his right of franchise in 
support of the men and measures of the repub- 
lican party and in communitj' affairs is deeply 
and helpfully interested. He has served as 
school trustee for a number of years and in 
the spring of 1907 was elected park commis- 
sioner of Adel, in which position he is now 
serving. His friends, and they are many, 
sjpeak of him in terms of warm praise and good 
will and his life record shows that he is well 
entitled to mention among the distinctively rep- 
resentative citizens of Dallas county. 



J. S. O'MALLY. 



J. S. O'Mally, an extensive stock-raiser and 
feeder and the owner of three hundred and 
thirty acres of fine farming land on section 4, 
Washington township, was born in Clinton 
county, Iowa, May 10, 1868. He is a son of 
Patrick and Agnes O'Mally, both natives of 
Ireland, where the father was born in 1838 
and the mother in 1842. Mr. O'Mally came to 
America in 1861, locating in Clinton county, 
Iowa, where he bought a farm. His venture 
in the new world proved to be so successful 
that he was able, after a life of industry and 
thrift, to retire and move to Perrs\ where he 
is still living. There were seven children born 



to this union: J. C, of Dallas county, Iowa; 
J. S., the subject of thi^ review; Anna, the 
wife of Timothy Graney ; Peter, deceased ; Ben- 
son, of Perry, Iowa; William, of Dallas county; 
and Martha, at home. 

It has been said that the boy who is brought 
up on a farm stands the best chance of winning 
his way in the world. When we look over the 
names of our most successful business men of 
the large cities we find that those who have 
done most for the progress of these cities have 
been born in the country and reared upon a 
farm. It was on this account that J. S. O'Mally 
was fortunate. In addition to the work which 
Jie did upon his father's farm he found time 
to attend the common schools and thus ac- 
quired an elementary education. When he 
had attained his maturity he entered into the 
grain business, becoming a large buyer and 
continuing in the business at Perry for one 
year. He then engaged himself as fireman 
on the Wabash road and served in this capacity 
for the following three years. In 1889, when 
the tide of emigration was moving westward, 
Mr. O'Mally was not able to withstand the 
temptation and accordingly removed to Okla- 
homa, where he entered a piece of land and 
remained one year. At the end of this period 
he returned to Iowa, where he purchased the 
farm which he is now conducting. He has 
added to his general farming the business of a 
stock-raiser and feeder, in which he has proved 
most successful. 

Mr. O'Mally was married on February 22, 
1895, to Miss Flynn, a native of Dallas county, 
Iowa, where she was born July 21, 1874. Her 
parents were Patrick and Jane (Riley) Flynn, 
the former born in Ireland in 1839 and the 
latter in Canada in 1845. There were five 
children born to these worthy people: W. E., 
who is now in Indiana and is the well known 
manager of the McCormick Harvester Com- 
pany; Nora, the wife of Mr. O'Mally, who 
lives in Dallas county; James, residing in New 
York and superintendent for the International 
Tobacco Trust; Mrs. O'Mally, the wife of our 
subject ; and Mary, who is still at home in Min- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



483 



burn, Iowa. Patrick Flynn came to America 
in 1868, locating at first in Wisconsin, where 
he lived for four years and then removed to 
Dallas county, where he has since resided. 
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
J. S. O'Mally; Grace, Wendell L. and Clif- 
ford J. 

Mr. O'Jlally's i^olitical affiliations have been 
with the democratic party. Education has 
always found in him a warm supporter and 
he served as school treasurer for eight years. 
He was also elected to the position of township 
trustee. Both he and his wife are devoted 
members of the Catholic church at Perry, 
Iowa. In the matter of progressive farming 
and stock-raising Mr. O'Mally has won a place 
in the first rank in that business in the county. 
Beginning with absolutely nothing but his own 
willing hands and indomitable courage, he has 
made his way to success and prosperity. He 
has gained it all by upright, honorable methods 
which have gained him the warm regard of 
an extensive circle of friends. 



JOHN S. WISE. 



Nature has been lavish in her gifts to almost 
all sections of this great country. In some 
regions are vast timber tracts, offering excel- 
lent opportunities to the lumberman. In others 
the mines are rich in minerals and again we 
find broad prairies where the soil is alluvial 
and responds readily to cultivation. There 
is no finer plowing land in all the world than 
is to be found in the Mississippi valley and 
Iowa has become the banner state in the pro- 
duction of some cereals. Her agriculturists 
are as a class a contented and pro.sperous peo- 
ple and among this number is found John S. 
Wise, whose farm of two hundred acres, sit- 
uated on section 22, Sugar Grove township, is 
devoted to the raising of cereals and to the 
raising and feeding of stock. 

He came to Iowa in 1884, when a young man 
of sevent^feen years, his birth having occurred 



in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th 
of December, 1866. He made the trip with 
his parents to Illinois in early boyhood and 
was reai'ed in Cai'roU county, that state, while 
the public schools afforded him good educa- 
tional privileges that fitted him for life's prac- 
tical and responsible duties. He has also added 
largely to his knowledge since attaining his 
majority, learning many valuable lessons in 
the school of experience. When a lad of ten 
years he began work in the fields and each 
season since that time has found him busy at 
the tasks of plowing, planting and cultivat- 
ing. He remained with his father until twenty- 
four years of age, assisting in improving and 
developing the farm. 

As a companion and helpmate for life's jour- 
ney Mr. Wise chose Miss Blanche Grouse, who 
was born in Carroll county, Illinois, but was 
reared in Iowa. The wedding was celebrated 
in Colfax township, Dallas county, on the 7th 
of December, 1890, and unto them have been 
born five children who are yet living : Samuel 
G., John H., Bessie E., Martha 0. and Susie. 
They lost their first born, Jake A., who died 
at the age of three years. Mrs. Wise is a daugh- 
ter of Levi and Annie (Lambert) Grouse, who 
came to Dallas county in the early '703 and 
have made their home most of the time in Col- 
fax township, where they now reside. The 
father was born in Pennsylvania and is a son 
of Jacob Grouse, one of the early settlers of 
this county and a well known man. 

It was in 1892 that Mr. Wise located where 
he now resides. He coihmenced here with 
eighty acres of land and his stock in trade con- 
sisted of laudable ai?ibition and unfaltering 
determination. Upon these he has builded his 
later success. As the years passed he cultivated 
and improved- his farm -and he also farmed 
some of his father's land in connection with 
his own place. His labors brought him a goodly 
measure of success arid he bought more land 
from time to time. He now has one hundred 
and twenty acres in the home place and eighty 
acres in another tract. Upon his home farm 
he has erected a large and substantial barn and 



484 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



has provided ample shelter for grain and stock. 
He has also improved the house and has largely 
fenced his place with woven wire and cedar 
posts. The farm is equipped in modern style 
and in all of his work he has kept abreast with 
progressive agriculture. In his stock-raising 
interests he has made a specialty of hogs but 
also raises good horses. 

Mr. Wise has never cared to put aside busi- 
ness interests in order to serve in public office, 
yet has filled the position of township road 
supervisor for three years and has also been 
on the school board. He votes an independent 
ticket. He and his wife are members of the 
German Baptist church and are people of the 
highest respectability, enjoying in almost un- 
qualified measure the high esteem and kindly 
consideration of all with whom they have come 
in contact. Mr. Wise has been closely asso- 
ciated with the early development of the coun- 
ty, assisting in breaking the virgin soil, in 
draining the sloughs and ponds and helping 
to upbuild the county until it is today one of 
the leading counties of this great common- 
wealth. 



WHEELER M. MAPES. 

Wheeler M. Mapes, a representative and en- 
terprising agriculturist of Union township, Dal- 
las county, was born in Laporte, Indiana, 
March 5, 1849, a son of G. W. and Martha 
(Dennison) Mapes, both natives of New York, 
the former born in 1828 and the latter in 1830. 
The parents went to Illinois in 1853, locating 
near Walnut, Bureau county, where they pur- 
chased a farm. The father was a minister of 
the Christian church and followed his holy 
calling for forty years. He passed away in Des 
Moines in 1898, while his wife survived him 
until 1900. He was one of nature's noblemen, 
actuated in all that he did by the spirit of 
Christian charity, kindliness and helpfulness. 
As a preacher he was earnest, if not eloquent, 
and in the various pastorates which he filled 



his work was always effective. He taught as 
largely by example perhaps as by precept and 
his memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of 
the great majority who knew him. His wife 
assisted him in all his work and shared with 
him in the warm regard in which he was every- 
where held. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, five of whom are still living: Wheeler 
M., of this review; Chettie, the wife of M. A. 
Hitchcock, living at Des Moines, Iowa; G. G. 
and Charles, both residents of Kansas City, 
Missouri; Frank H., who lives in Macomb, Il- 
linois ; and Ella, deceased. 

When Wheeler M. Mapes attained young 
manhood he turned his attention to agricultural 
pursuits in Bureau county, Illinois, where he 
remained for two years and then took up his 
abode in Nebraska in 1870, homesteading a 
tract of government land which he cultivated 
for four years, or until the grasshoppers be- 
came so numerous and annoying that he was 
obliged to leave the state. Our subject also has 
a creditable military record, having enlisted in 
1864, in Company I, Thirtieth Illinois Infan- 
try, as a soldier in the Civil war. He marched 
with Sherman from the Atlantic to Washing- 
ton, D. C, and was there mustered out. 

After his return from Nebraska, in 1875, 
Mr. Mapes removed to Des Moines, Iowa, en- 
gaging with the Rock Island Railroad Com- 
pany as a brakeman, in which capacity he 
served for three years. He was then promoted 
to the position of conductor, in which he re- 
mained for fourteen years, his long retention 
in the service of the railroad company being 
proof of the able and efficient manner in which 
he discharged his duties. He was conductor 
on the first vestibule train that went out of 
Council Bluffs. After his retirement from the 
railroad service Mr. Mapes again took up agri- 
cultural pursuits near Redfield, Dallas county, 
while in 1901 he purchased the farm of one 
hundred and twenty-three acres on section 10, 
Union township, Dallas county, on which he 
now resides. He has brought this land under 
a high state of cultivation, his unabating in- 
dustry and sound business judgment being re- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



485 



sultant factors in the prosperity which he now 
enjoys. 

On March 5, 1868, Mr. Mapes was united 
in marriage to Miss Caroline Winter, a daugh- 
ter of William and Lydia (Yonker) Winter, 
both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. 
Mr. and ]\Irs. Winter were the parents of four 
children, two of whom yet survive: 0. O., a 
resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Mrs. 
Mapes. Unto our subject and his wife were 
born four children : Cora L., the wife of W. F. 
Hartman, a resident of Chicago, Illinois ; Chet- 
tie I., the wife of I. T. Stanley, living in Adams 
township, Dallas county; Georgia E., a grad- 
uate of the Redfield high school, who has been 
a teacher for five years ; and Charles G., of Fort 
Williams, Ontario, Canada. 

Wheeler M. Mapes is a republican in politics 
and has served as assessor of Union township. 
Fraternally he is connected with Wiscotta 
lodge. No. 158, A. F. & A> M., at Redfield; 
and Redfield lodge, No. 3498, M. W. A. He 
has ever discharged his duties with marked 
ability and fairness, for he is a most loyal, pub- 
lic-spirited citizen. His life has been one of 
continuous activity, in which has been accorded 
due recognition of labor and today he is num- 
bered among the substantial citizens of his 
community. His interests are thoroughly iden- 
tified with those of Dallas county and at all 
times he is ready to lend his aid and co-opera- 
tion to any movement calculated to benefit this 
section of the country or advance its wonderful 
development. 



HENRY M. WATERS. 

The qualities of thrift and determination, 
which constitute a solid basis for success, are 
found in Henry M. Waters, one of the leading 
and prominent agriculturists of Sugar Grove 
township. He lives on section 22 and owns 
and cultivates three hundred and seventy-five 
acres of valuable land, consituting one of the 
best farms in Dallas county. Almost four 



decades have come and gone since he arrived in 
Iowa, for he took up his abode within its bor- 
ders in 1869. Twenty years further, however, 
were added to the cycle of the centuries before 
he came to Dallas county. His life record be- 
gan on the 8th of March, 1857, in Henry 
county, Indiana. 

His father, William D. Waters, was a native 
of what is now West Virginia, his birth hav- 
ing occurred near Wheeling, and he removed 
with his father to Indiana when a lad of twelve 
years, settling first in Henry county. There 
he made a farm and reared his family. It 
was in that locality that William D. Waters 
spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and 
when he had attained to adult age he was mar- 
ried there to Clarinda Conway, a native of 
Indiana. For some years he continued to en- 
gage in farming in Henry county but at the 
time of the Civil war he put aside all business 
and personal considerations in order to prove 
his loyalty to the government by active serv- 
ice on the battle-fields of the south. He served 
during the last year of the war under General 
Thomas in the Twelfth Indiana Regiment. 
In 1869 he removed to Iowa, settling in Polk 
county, where he purchased a tract of land and 
began farming. His labors were effective in 
their results, for as the years passed he de- 
veloped an excellent property which continued 
to be his home until his death in the year 1872. 
His wife survives him and yet resides on the 
old home place. 

Henry M. Waters was reared in Polk county 
and as a boy trudged off to the district school, 
where he acquired a knowledge of the common 
branches of English learning. His training 
at farm labor was not meager and he continued 
to assist his father in the further development 
and improvement of the old home place until his 
death and afterward remained with his mother 
and carried on the farm for her for several years. 
In 1889 he came to Dallas county and as he 
had no ready money he rented land for the first 
year. He then bought where he now resides, se- 
curing one hundred and sixty acres which he 
began to cultivate, and as he prospered he added 



486 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



to his holdings from time to time until he is 
now an extensive landowner, having a valu- 
able farm of three hundred and seventy-five 
acres. LTpon this are two sets of buildings and 
the farm is well fenced and tiled. It is now 
valuable because of the practical and system- 
atic methods he has followed in its develop- 
ment. He likewise owns a place of twenty 
acres at Dallas Center. He raises good stock 
and considerable grain and that he is one of 
the prosperous residents of the community is 
attributable entirely to his own labors. 

On the 3d of April 1889. Mr. Waters mar- 
ried Clara Mortimer, of Sugar Grove township. 
Her father, W. W. ^lortimer, was born in 
Virginia in 1841, and on coming to Iowa, in 
186.3 located in Jasper county, where he spent 
four years. He then lived in several different 
places and in 1870 came to Dallas county, 
where he .spent the remainder of his life, 
d^nng March 14. 1907. :\Ir. and Mi-s. Waters 
have three children: Clyde C, who is a grad- 
uate of the Dallas Center high school and in 
November. 1906. was appointed by Congress- 
man Hull as midshipman at Annapolis, where 
he took up his studies on the 18th of June, 
1907 ; Aha L. and Martha Lois, at home. They 
also lost their first born. William, who died at 
the age of six months. 

Mrs. Waters is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and is a lady of many estim- 
able qualities, who presides with gracious hos- 
pitality over her pleasant home. Mr. Waters 
votes with the republican party, for he believes 
its principles are most conducive to good gov- 
ernment. In a review of his life it will be seen 
that he is a self-made man whose advantages in 
youth were limited and he received no financial 
assistance when he started out on his own ac- 
count. He realized, however, that diligence is 
the basis of financial progress and that intense 
and well directed activity will produce desir- 
able results in the business world. Therefore 
he has worked hard and today is enjoying the 
fruits of his former toil, being one of the pros- 
perous agriculturists of the community with 
a record which should sen^e as a source of en- 



couragement and inspiration to others. He 
has, morover, the social qualities which win 
friendship, and he is spoken of in most favor- 
able terms throughout his part of the county. 



JOSEPH N. HANES. 



Joseph N. Hanes, who for three terms served 
as sherifif of Dallas county, figures as one of 
the prominent and well known citizens of this 
part of the state. He has made a creditable 
record in political and business circles and is 
now connected with the substantial improve- 
ment of Adel as a real estate dealer. He repre- 
sents one of the old pioneer families, his birth 
having occurred in Boone township on the 17th 
of May, 1856. 

His parents were David and Hannah 
(Craner) Hanes. The father was born in 
Frederick county, Maryland, September 12, 
1813, was reared as a farm boy and when in his 
thirteenth year he went with an uncle to 
Wayne county, Indiana, where the remainder 
of his youth was passed. On the 26th of No- 
vember, 1835, he married Miss Hannah Craner, 
who was born in Guilford county, North Caro- 
lina, August 26, 1819, and removed with her 
parents to Wayne county, Indiana, at the age 
of twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Hanes continued 
to reside in the Hoosier state until 1855, when 
they came to Dallas county, Iowa, settling in 
the southeastern corner of Boone township. A 
great many of the early settlers were Indiana 
people. Mr. Hanes' first purchase of land was 
an eighty of fine, unimproved prairie, which he 
bought of a Mr. Cook, who had entered the 
claim. He paid for this one hundred and twen- 
ty-five dollars. For a while the family occupied 
a house in the neighborhood but during the 
next year the father erected a new frame dwell- 
ing of boards sawed from the native timber by 
a mill across the river from the Boone place. 
That house was Mr. Hanes' home until 1897 
and is still in use, although some improvements 
and additions have been made. The family 




J. N. HANE.S 



PAST AND TRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



489 



took up their abode there December 1, 1856, 
and the old home is still a landmark of the 
neighborhood. Neither doors nor windows had 
as yet been put in and the cabin was heated by 
a fireplace. There came up a dreadful blizzard 
on that day — a storm that is yet remembered 
by the old settlers as one of the worst that ever 
occurred here. In those days deer were plenti- 
ful and fishing was good in the streams, and 
fish and venison furnished many a meal for the 
pioneers. For a long period David Hanes con- 
tinued to engage in general agricultural pur- 
suit.s and he operated a threshing machine for 
thirty years. He lived an honest, upright life 
and thus left to his family an untarnished 
name. In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Hanes celebrated 
the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, on 
which occasion all of their eleven children were 
present, but a month later one of their sons 
died. 

The death of David Hanes occurred in Boone 
township, Dallas county, September 11, 1900, 
and he was buried in Booneville cemetery on 
his eighty-seventh birthday. All of his ten 
children were present and twenty of the twenty- 
two grandchildren, and the grandsons acted as 
pallbearers. In politics Mr. Hanes was a whig 
and cast his first vote for William Henry Har- 
rison, while later he became a supporter of the 
republican party. He held diiferent township 
offices and in every relation of life was found 
true and loyal to the trust reposed in him. His 
wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
Edward Sines in Waukee, January 26, 1901. 
She was a consistent and devoted member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church and her entire 
life was in harmony with her professions. She 
possessed a most kindly spirit and was ever 
ready to respond to any tale of sorrow or dis- 
tress, rendering whatever assistance it lay with- 
in her power to give. In the death of these 
worthy people Dallas county lost two of her 
most honored and respected pioneer?. They 
came to the county at a very early period in its 
development and always gave their influonco on 
the side of right, progress, reform and im- 
provement. 



Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hanes were born eleven 
children : .John C, who married Louisa 
Knight and is living in Guthrie county, Iowa; 
Mary E., the wife of Benjamin P. Jordan, of 
De Soto; Nancy M., the wife of James P. Hus- 
ton, of Add; Jonathan C, who married Mary 
Cassatt and is living in Boone township ; Eliza 
A., the wife of Edward Sines, of Boone town- 
ship; Acalinda, the wife of Benedict Berger, of 
Van Meter township; David C, who married 
Addie SwLscher and r&sicles in Guthrie county ; 
Nicholas H., who married Sarah Loper and 
died at the age of thirty-two years; Joseph N., 
of this review; George B., who is living in Des 
]\Ioines, Iowa, where he is employed by the 
street railway company; and Sarah E., the wife 
of Horace Cassatt, living on his father's old 
homestead in Dallas county. Two of the sons 
were soldiers of the Civil war. One of them, 
John Hanes, enlisted in Company A, twenty- 
third Iowa Infantry, August 15, 1862, and was 
at the front for three years, during which time 
he participated in the Vicksburg campaign and 
was also in Mobile, in Missouri and Texas, re- 
turning home August 13, 1865. The parents 
were essentially home people, interested in the 
welfare of their children, whom they trained 
to become worthy and valued citizens who 
honor the memory of father and mother. 

Joseph N. Hanes, whose name introduces 
this record, mastered the branches of English 
learning in the common schools. He remained 
at home with his parents through the period of 
his boyhood and youth, attending school dur- 
ing the winter months, while in the summer 
seasons he worked on the home farm until he 
had attained his majority. He then started 
out in life on his own account, after which he 
bought and shipped stock to Chicago market 
for about four years. He then again turned his 
attention to farming. He was married when 
twenty-seven years of age and continued to en- 
gage in the cultivation and development of the 
fields until 1900, when he entered upon the 
office of sheriff, to which he had been elected 
in 1899. He was re-elected in 1901 and again 
in 1903. He was then made sheriff by an act 



490 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



of the legislature for another period of one 
j'Sar. He was prompt and fearless in the dis- 
charge of his duty and was an excellent custo- 
dian of the public peace. He was constable of 
Boone township for about twenty years before 
elected sheriff and he has thus done much to 
maintain law and order. He left the office as 
he had entered it — with the confidence and 
trust of all concerned — and he is now engaged 
in the real-estate business in Adel, handling 
considerable valuable property and negotiating 
many important realty transfers. 

On the 19th of February, 1884, Mr. Hanes 
led to the marriage altar ]\Iiss Ella Cassatt, who 
was born in Boone township, June 7, 1860, her 
parents being Henry and Charlotte (Parrott) 
Cassatt. The father, who was born in Wayne 
county, Ohio, January 11, 1821, died in 1869, 
while his wife, whose birth occurred in Warren 
county, November 12, 1824, passed away Jan- 
uary 14, 1906. They were married on the 15th 
of February, 1849, and with their two children, 
together with other families, they left Lebanon, 
Ohio, for the west in September, 1855. They 
had a team of horses and two yoke of oxen, 
which hauled the wagons that carried the 
household goods and the family. They arrived 
in Boone township in the month of November 
and rented a cabin of one room for the winter. 
In the spring following Mr. Cassatt purchased 
the farm which has since been the family 
homestead. The hardships, trials and loneli- 
ness of those early days can never be adequately 
told in words. For months at a time Mrs. 
Cassatt did not see another woman and the 
family larder contained only such things as 
they raised or could be secured through hunt- 
ing. Mrs. Cassatt long survived her husband 
and carefully reared her family after his death. 
She was loved by all and she possessed a most 
sympathetic nature, being ever ready to re- 
spond to the call of the sick or needy. She was 
deeply interested in the church and its work 
and her faith remained bright and unfailing. 
When Mr. Cassatt came to Iowa he purchased 
two hundred and twelve acres of land and was 
recognized as one of the leading farmers of 



Dallas county. His early political allegiance 
was given to the whig party and upon its disso- 
lution he joined the ranks of the new republi- 
can party. The two children who came with 
the parents to Iowa were: Mary E., now the 
wife of Jonathan Hanes, of Boone township; 
and Horace, who married Sarah E. Hanes. 
Two other children were added to the house- 
hold in this county : Clai-a, the wife of Joel Roe 
of Colorado Springs, Colorado ; and Mrs. Joseph 
N. Hanes. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Hanes 
has been blessed with four children, but Clara 
Paul, their first born, died in infancy. The 
others are: Guyer N., born May 26, 1888; 
Mary E., born December 6, 1891 ; and Lois C, 
who died in infancy. 

Mr. Hanes is a member of the Odd Fellows 
lodge at Booneville and he and his wife are 
connected with the Rebekah lodge, No. 356, at 
Waukee. He also has membership relations 
with Ne Plus Ultra lodge. No. 401, K. P., at 
Waukee, and with the Modern Woodmen of 
the World. He is also a member of the Sher- 
iffs' Association of Iowa and of the Interstate 
National Association of Sheriffs. His political 
views have alwa3's been in accord with repub- 
lican principles and he is one of the worthy and 
valued residents of Dallas county, who for 
more than a half century has lived within its 
borders. He is a typical western man, possess- 
ing the spirit of enterprise which has been the 
dominant factor in upbuilding this section of 
the country, and in Dallas county he has made 
an excellent record, gaining for him the trust 
and confidence of all with whom he has come 
in contact or who know aught of his history. 



CHRISTIAN B. ROYER. 

Christian B. Rover, living on section 13, 
Sugar Grove township, has for thirty-six years 
made his home in Dallas county and has there- 
fore been a witness of the changes which have 
occurred through the agencj' of time and man. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



491 



No longer is the wild prairie to be seen, for it 
has been converted into rich and productive 
fields and the prairie grasses have been sup- 
planted by the crops of corn, wheat, oats and 
other cereals. The land, naturally rich and 
productive, responds readily to the care and 
labor bestowed upon it, and Mr. Rover is now 
the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred 
and twenty acres, which he has greatly im- 
proved. 

A native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurred 
in Franklin county on the 23d of January, 
1840. His father, Daniel Royer, was also a na- 
tive of that county and married Sarah Butter- 
baugh, who was likewise born in Pennsylvania. 
They lived for some years in the east and in 
1847 turned their faces toward the setting sun. 
They traveled westward until they reached Car- 
roll county, Illinois, where in 1847 Mr. Royer 
entered land from the government and began 
the development of the farm. H« resided 
thereon and reared his family at that place 
until 1883, when he came to Iowa, joining his 
children here. His remaining days were passed 
in Dallas county, where he died in 1887, while 
his wife survived until 1897. 

Christian B. Royer spent the first seven years 
of his life in the state of his- nativity and then 
went with his parents to Carroll county, Illi- 
nois, where he attended the common schools 
and when not busy with his text-books he 
worked in the fields, early becoming familiar 
with the best practical methods of carrying on 
farm work. He remained with his father until 
he had attained his majority and then made 
preparations for having a home of his own by 
his marriage. That important event in his life 
was celebrated in Elkhart county, Indiana, in 
January, 1865, Miss Mary Ann Culp becom- 
ing his wife. She was a native of Ohio and was 
reared in Elkhart county, where she obtained 
her education in the public schools. 

The young couple began their domestic life 
upon land which he rented and he continued 
thus to carry on farming in Carroll countj' 
until 1871, when he (Same to Dallas county, 
Iowa, with his family. Here he purchased 



the farm upon which he now resides on sec- 
tion 13, Sugar Grove township. No improve- 
ments had been placed upon it and not a fur- 
row had been turned. To provide shelter for 
his family he built a little house and at once 
began to break the sod. He also fenced the 
fields to protect them from the inroads of 
stock and in the course of time gathered good 
harvests. He later bought more land as oppor- 
tunity offered until he owned two hun- 
dred acres. He carried on the work of im- 
provement in other lines as well, for he en- 
larged and remodeled the house and built an 
extensive barn. He also put up cribs in which 
to store the corn and provided other shelter for 
grain and stock. Fruit, shade and ornamental 
trees were set out and there are now two good 
orchards in bearing, furnishing a great variety 
of fruit. What was once a treeless tract is 
now splendidly adorned with shade and fruit 
trees and the work of improvement is as marked 
in other directions. In more recent years, 
however, Mr. Royer has sold some of his land 
to his children, retaining one hundred and 
twenty acres. He is well known in the com- 
munity as a horticulturist, having been very 
successful in the raising of fruit and also in 
growing trees which now adorn his lawn. In 
1906 he built a good home for himself, and his 
son Walter now occupies the old homestead. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Royer have been born 
four children: F. M., a farmer of Sugar Grove 
township, who married Alice Hammond; Ros- 
coe, a resident farmer of Sugar Grove township, 
who wedded Susan Hawbaker, by whom he has 
three '.sons, A. C, Ruda and Orville; Katie 
Belle, the wife of D. K. Miller, Jr., of Dallas 
Center, by whom she has two daughters, Ethel 
and Thelma; Walter M., who wedded Elva 
Rowe and is carrying on the home farm. 

Politically Mr. Royer is a republican, hav- 
ing never faltered in his allegiance to the party 
since he cast his first presidential ballot for 
Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has been 
much interested in the schools, doing effective 
work in their behalf as a member of the board 
of education. He and his wife are members 



492 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



of the German Baptist church and their lives 
are in consistent harmony with their profes- 
sions. In all that he has done Mr. Royer has 
been actuated by high and honorable princi- 
ples and his labors constitute an element not 
only in his business advancement but also in 
the growth and progress of the community 
along intellectual, political and moral lines. 



DOWNEY BROTHERS. 

The proprietors of the Prairie Grove Stock 
Farm, Michael and Timothy Downey, are 
numbered among the worthy citizens of Dal- 
las county. Together they own four hundred 
and forty acres of well improved land, located 
on sections 25 and 26, Lincoln township, and 
here in addition to carrying on general agricul- 
tural pursuits they are engaged quite extensively 
in rai.sing stock, raising as high as four car- 
loads of stock each year, this being shipped to 
the city markets, where they command a high 
price. They were born on the Emerald isle 
and come of a long line of Irish ancestry. 
Their father, Cornelius Downey, died in Ire- 
land, and the mother then came with her chil- 
dren to the new world, the year of their emigra- 
tion being 1855. The sister of Michael and 
Timothy Downey is Catherine, the wife of Cor- 
nelius Downey and resides in Dane county, 
Wisconsin. Upon arriving in the United States 
the mother at once made her way to Rock 
county, Wisconsin, where the sons grew to 
mature years. She passed away in Dallas 
county in 1892, and her remains were interred 
in the Catholic cemetery at Perry. 

In 1872 Michael and Timothy Downey came 
to Dallas county, purchased a tract of raw 
prairie and with a breaking plow they broke 
the land, planted the fields and in due course 
of time gathered rich crops as a reward for the 
care and labor which they bestowed upon the 
fields. They added to their original purchase 
as time parsed and their financial resources 
increased until their place now embraces four 



hundred and forty acres of rich farming land. 
They have placed all of the improvements 
which are here seen, these including good sub- 
stantial buildings and well kept fences, and 
they also set out a grove and have made it an 
attractive and productive property. At one 
time they operated a threshing machine, do- 
ing work throughout the county, but now give 
their entire time to their farming and stock- 
raising interests. They raise high grades of 
cattle and hogs, shipping about four carloads 
to the city markets each year, and they have 
sold about five thousand dollars worth of pro- 
ducts from their place. 

Politically they are democrats and Michael 
Downey has filled a number of townshiii offices, 
having served for six years as township trustee, 
while for several years he acted as road super- 
visor, and he has likewise served as a delegate 
to county conventions. The brothers were 
reared in the Catholic faith and are communi- 
cants of that church in Perry. 

Downey Brothers possess the sterling char- 
acteristics so dominant in the Irish race — en- 
ergy, diligence and perseverance, and although 
starting out in life empty-handed they have 
availed themselves of the opportunities which 
Dallas county offers to ambitious young men 
and have steadily worked their way upward 
until they are now numbered among the ex- 
tensive landowners of this section of the state 
and are -a credit to the land of their adoption. 



JAMES HENRY COFFIN. 

An excellent farm of three hundred and fifty- 
five acres in Adams township pays tribute to 
the care and labor bestowed upon it by James 
Henry Coffin, who is a highly respected and 
representative agriculturist of his community. 
He was born on the 18th of August, 1858, in 
the township which is still his home, and is a 
son of William and Rachel L. (Shelley) Coffin, 
mention of whom is made on another page of 
this work. The family numbered six children, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



493 



of whom three are yet H\'ing, the sisters of our 
subject bemg: Rachel ^L, now the wife of J. 
H. Nichols; aud Serepta J., wiio is with her 
parents. 

At the usual age .Tames H. Cottin became a 
pupil in the district schools aud therein ac- 
ipiired his education. During vacation periods 
he worked upon the home farm, early be- 
couung acquainted witli the hiethods in 
vogue in the cultivation and development 
of the fields. Having arrived at yeare of 
maturity he chose a companion and help- 
. mate for life's journey in Miss Mary Jane King 
to whom he was married in 1882. She is a 
daughter of J. V. King, one of the well known 
and worthy pioneer settlers of Adams town- 
ship. After his marriage Mv. Cottin located 
with his bride in Greene county, having pre- 
viously become the owner of a small farm there. 
They continued to reside upon that place, how- 
ever, for only about eighteen or nineteen 
months, after which they returned to Dallas 
county and took charge of the old home farm, 
the father reuKA-ing to the town. Mr. Coffin of 
this review continvied to cultivate the old home- 
stead for six years and in January, 1890, he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his 
present farm, to which he removed on the 15th 
of that month. He ha.s since added to the 
property from time to time until now within 
its boundaries are comprised three hundred 
and fifty-five acres, situated on sections 4, 5, 
8 and 9, Adams township. It is not only an 
extensive but also a very productive tract of 
land and the fields have been brought under 
a high state of cultivation, so that they annu- 
ally yield rich and large harvests. Mr. Cottin 
also raises some cattle each year aud a large 
number of hogs and has ample shelter for 
his stock and for his grain. He uses the 
latest improved machinery to facilitate the 
farm work and in all his business interest-; is 
atert, enterprising and jirogressive. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Coffin h:is been 
bles.-ied with ten children: ]\Iabel Ethel, now 
tlio wife of A. C. Gibbler, a resident farmer of 
Colfax township, Dallas county; Elva Luzena, 



the wife of Don E. De Camp, of Adams town- 
ship; James Melvin, who is living on the old 
homestead in Adams township ; Efiie Elizabeth ; 
at home; John William, now deceased; Cora 
Belle, Clarence Burton, Henry Virgil, Harold 
Lindon and Leona Ruth, all yet under the 
parental roof. The old homesteads of the Cof- 
fin and Couch families (Mrs. Couch having 
been a Coffin) have remained in po.ssession of 
these families since they were entered from the 
government by the grandfather Harvey. The 
name of Coffin has long been closely and honor- 
ably associated with the agricultural interests 
of this part of the state and the subject of this 
review has added new luster to an untarnished 
family name. His political views are in accord 
with the principles of the republican party and 
he sei-\-ed for three years as township trustee, 
while for three years he was justice of the peace. 
The duties of both positions are faithfully and 
promptly performed and at all times he is re- 
garded as one of the leading and worthy citi- 
zens of the community. He takes an active 
part in religious work as a member of the 
United Brethren church and is serving on the 
church board of trustees. In his business af- 
fairs he is always found reliable and he stands 
for the progressive element in citizenship and 
for trustworthiness in everj^ relation. 



JOHN SHIRLEY. 



The prosperity which generally prevails 
throughout Iowa is indicated by the size of the 
farms. This is not a state of small holdings 
but on the contrary the agriculturists of Iowa 
own large tracts of land, which is constantly 
increasing in value, until to own a farm of one 
hundred acres or more is to be comfortably 
situated in life. Mr. Shirley now has a prop- 
erty which comprises two hundred and thirty 
acres on .section 19, Sugar Grove township, and, 
moreover, he is a self-made man whose labors 
have constituted the strong element in his pres- 
ent prosperity. 



494 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



His bii-th occurred in Derbyshire, England, 
on the 2d of April, 1841, and in that country 
his minority was passed, his education being 
acquired in the common schools, although he 
is largely self-educated as well as self-made 
financially. In 1865 he came to the United 
States, attracted by the favorable reports which 
he had heard concerning its business conditions 
and opportunities. He resolved to seek his for- 
tune here and first located in Springfield, Illi- 
nois. There he secured employment with a 
fellow countryman at gardening, spending 
three years in that service, after which he be- 
gan gai'dening on his own account. He first 
rented and later bought land adjoining the 
city of Springfield, where he devoted his atten- 
tion to the raising of garden products for 
twenty-six years, finding a ready sale in the 
city market for what he produced. That his 
labors brought him prosperity as the years 
passed is indicated by the fact that he was not 
only able to purchase his land there but also 
built a good house and added all the modem 
equipments and accessories necessarj^ to carry 
on his business. 

Mr. Shirley continued a resident of Illinois 
until 1891, when he sold his property in San- 
gamon county and came to Iowa. In 1884 he 
had purchased seventy-eight acres of land on 
section 19, Sugar Grove township, Dallas coun- 
ty. Afterward he bought more land until he 
owned one hundred and eighty acres, upon 
which he took up his abode in 1891. There 
were no buildings upon it at that time but he 
erected substantial structures and fenced the 
fields. He has put up a comfortable residence 
and two good barns and has also set out fruit 
and shade trees. In fact the farm in its mod- 
ern appearance of progressive development and 
improvement is the visible evidence of his life 
of thrift and carefulness. He has also bought 
fifty-seven acres in addition to his previous 
holdings and although he started out in life 
empty-handed he is now a prosperous man. 

Mr. Shirley was married at Springfield, Illi- 
nois, on the 22d of September, 1875, to Miss 
Margaret Hailstone, who was born in Scotland 



and came to the new world when a maiden of 
fourteen years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shirley 
have been born four sons and four daughters, 
namely: Professor William Shirley, who is 
principal of the city schools of Swea City, Kos- 
suth county, Iowa; Professor Thomas Shirley, 
who is assistant superintendent of schools at 
Farmington, Iowa; Walter S., at home; Mc- 
Claren, a student in the home school; Ruth, 
who is teaching in the home school; Anna, 
who is attending Drake University at Des 
Moines, Iowa; and Laura and Jessie, both at 
home. 

Politically Mr. Shirley is independent, sup- 
porting candidates regardless of party affilia- 
tion. He has never had occasion to regret his 
determination to come to the new world. He 
found that the reports of business conditions 
had not been exaggerated here and that the op- 
portunities which he sought were to be enjoyed. 
An analyzation of his life and its work shows 
that his success has come through no fortunate 
combination of circumstances but has resulted 
from earnest labor, carefully performed day 
after day. Any man may win success under 
such conditions but it is the man of resolute 
spirit and commendable ambition that works 
his way upward. 



RUFUS R. WILSON. 



Rufus R. Wilson, who resides in Waukee, is 
one of the few remaining of the veterans of 
the Civil w'ar and as such desen'es mention in 
this volume. Moreover, he was for years an 
enterprising, practical and progressive farmer 
and stock-raiser, living in Van Meter township, 
where he owned one hundred acres of w^ell im- 
proved and valuable land. He dates his resi- 
dence in Dallas county, Iowa, from May, 1867, 
arriving here when a young man of twenty-five 
years. His birth occurred in McDonough 
county, Illinois, on the 26th of October, 1841. 
Mr. Wilson's father, John Wilson, was born 
November 2, 1806. His mother's maiden name 




MR. AND MRS. R. U. WILSON 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



497 



was Martha A. Vance and she was born May 
16, 1804. The former died in January, 1886, 
in McDonough county, Illinois. The mother 
died at the same place three years pre\'ious. 
They were the pai-ents of six sons and six 
daughters. Rufus R. was a twin, his brother 
being Lewis R. "Wilson, who enlisted at the same 
time a.s Rufus, in the same company, served in 
the same battles and was discharged at the same 
time. He now resides at Halsey, Oregon. Of 
the twelve children born to John AVilson seven 
are now living: Mary, in McDonough county, 
Illinois ; Hugh, living on the old homestead in 
the same county; James and William, of Mc- 
Donough county; Christopher, of California; 
Rufus R. and Lewis R. 

Rufus R. Wilson was reared to manhood 
in McDonough county, Illinois, spending his 
boyhood and youth upon a farm, and after 
the outbreak of the Civil war he offered 
his services to the government, enlisting on 
the 14th of August, 1882. and being mus- 
tered in on the 1st of September as a mem- 
ber of Company I, Seventy-eighth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry. He went south with Gen- 
eral Sherman and participated in the battles 
of Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain and At- 
lanta and was in the Atlanta campaign with 
all of its skirmishes and fights for two months. 
He was also in the engagement at Jonesboro 
and later went with Sherman on the march to 
the sea. He also participated in the last fight 
of the war and marched through Richmond 
and on to Washington, D. C, participating in 
the Grand Review at the close of hostilities. 
Those at all familiar with the history of the 
great civil strife will see from the foregoing 
list that his service was arduous, for he par- 
ticipated in some of the most hotly contested 
engagements, but he never faltered in the per- 
formance of any duty and when the war was 
over he was honorably discharged and returned 
to his home. He was never wounded nor was 
he ill during the period of his service at the 
front but was always found at his post of duty 
whether on the lonely picket line or on the 
firing line with all of its incident dangers. 



Mr. Wilson, following his return home, took 
up his abode upon the farm. He was married 
on the 22d of February, 1867, in McDonough 
county, Illinois, to Miss Martha A. Harkrader, 
who was born In Indiana and was a daughter 
of Joseph Harkrader, who removed from the 
Hoosier state to Ohio and thence to Illinois. 
Mrs. Wilson was three years old at the time of 
her parents' removal to Illinois. Following 
their marriage the young couple came to Iowa 
and began their domestic life in Dallas county. 
Mr. Wilson had previously visited this locality 
in the fall of 1865 and had purchased here 
sixty acres of land. He located upon this tract, 
broke the fields and fenced them, built good 
buildings and made the farm a productive and 
valuable property. Later he bought forty acres 
which he also improved and he continued to 
actively and successfully carry on farming 
upon his old home place until 1904, when he 
rented his farm and came to Waukee. Here 
he purchased the residence which he now oc- 
cupies and he has since lived retired in the en- 
joyment of a rest which he has truly earned 
and richly deserves. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have seven children, 
three sons and four daughters. Charles, who 
is living on the home farm, is married and has 
five children. John, a farmer of Adel town- 
ship, is married and has three children. Silas, 
a mason and plasterer, who is married and has 
three children, makes his home in Waukee 
where he owns a house and lot. Delia is the 
wife of Elmer Thomas of De Soto, Iowa. 
Genarie is at home. Susie and Katie are also 
under the parental roof. The last three are 
associated in the millinery business in Waukee 
and are conducting an excellent establishment. 

Politically Mr. Wilson is a democrat where 
national issues are involved but casts an inde- 
pendent local ballot. He has served as road 
commissioner but has never sought or cared for 
office. For forty years he has lived in the 
county. This has been the period of its greatest 
growth and development, for it was still a 
frontier district when he located here. It liad 
little railroad communication with the outside 



498 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



world and the now thriving towns and cities 
were small villages or hamlets. The growth of 
the county has been promoted by such enter- 
prising, progressive and public-spirited men as 
Mr. Wilson, who has always championed every 
movement for the jjublic good and who ha^, by 
his diligence and determination, overcome all 
obstacles in his business career and worked his 
way upward to success. 



EDMUND NICHOLS. 

Whatever else may be said of the legal fra- 
ternity it cannot be denied that the members 
of the bar have been more prominent actors 
in public affairs than any other class of tlio 
community. This is but the natural result 
of causes which are miuiifest and require no 
explanation. The ability and training which 
qualify one to practice law also qualify him in 
many .respects for duties which lie outside the 
strict path of his profes.sion and which touch 
the general interests of society. Holding 
marked precedence among the members of the 
bar in Iowa is Edmund Nichols, born in (lou- 
verneur, St. Lawrence county. New York, June 
4, 1860. His great-grandfather was Alpheus 
Nichols, a son of Joseph Nichols, who was born 
in 1706. The grandfather of our subject was 
Hiram Nichols, whose family lived at Rodman, 
New York, where the subject's father, Orson K. 
Nichols, was born in June, 1835. He was a 
carpenter by trade but when the war broke out 
he enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth New 
York Volunteers, and died in the rebel prison 
at Danville, Virginia, in 1863. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Amanda L. Jones and was 
of Welsh and English descent, born in Ver- 
mont in 1830. 

In the common schools Edmund Nichols be- 
gan his education and in 1879 completed the 
four j'ears' classical course in the Potsdam 
State Normal School of New York. He en- 
tered the law department of the Iowa State 
University, from which institution he was 



graduated in 1883. That he might put into 
{iractice what he had learned so thoroughly in 
theory he spent one year with William S. For- 
rest of Chicago. In September, 1884, he lo- 
cated for the practice of law at Adel, Dallas 
county, Iowa, where he went into partnership 
with T. R. North. As Mr. Nichols progressed 
in the mastery of each detail of law he reached 
out to larger fields and in November, 1888, we 
find him locating at Perry in partnership with 
Walter W. Cardell. This partnership was dis- 
solved in 1894 but Mr. Nichols continued the 
practice of his profession up to the year 1903. 
His freedom from partiality, his broad view of 
every question and his well balanced intellect 
were qualities which were soon recognized and 
rewarded by his election to the district bench 
and his re-election in the year 1906. He was 
also for four years an efficient and energetic 
prosecuting attorney for Dallas county. 

He is an enthusiastic and energetic supporter 
of the republican party and has always been 
active in both public and political affairs. Fra- 
ternally he is identified with Gerard command- 
ery, K. T., at Perry, Iowa, the thirty-second 
degree K. C. C. H., Des Moines consistory at 
Des Moines, Iowa. The Grant political club 
of Des Moines numbers Mr. Nichols among its 
most prominent members. With his broad 
views and generous, untrammeled principles 
he finds in the Unitarian church the religious 
life that best pleases him. 

On June 17, 1885, at Newell, Iowa, Mr. Nich- 
ols was joined in wedlock to Dorothy I. Stevens, 
a daughter of James and Susan (Hamilton) 
Stevens, who were reared, educated and mar- 
ried at Oswego, New York. Six children have 
been bom to this union : Lillian, Dorothy, 
Josephine, Marion. Ednnmd 0. and Elizal)eth. 

The bar entertain a very high consideration 
of the integrity, dignity, impartiality, love of 
justice and strong common sense which mark 
Mr. Nichols' character as a judge and a man. 
He is possessed of excellent traits of character, 
is brave and manly, sincere and outspoken, 
gentle in manner yet firm in the discharge of 
his duty. He has gained a high place in his 



FAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



499 



profession by hard work and by evincing his 
ability to fill the positions with which the peo- 
ple entnisted him. 



THOMAS SCOTT. 



Thomas Scott, who owns a well improved 
and valuable farm of six hundred and forty 
acres, situated on sections 12, 13 and 14, Spring 
Valley township, Dallas county, is well known 
as a stockmaii, raising Aberdeen Angus cattle. 
He dates his residence in the county from 1870 
and is widely and favorably known as one of 
its prominent and sub.stantial residents. Mr. 
Scott was born in Scotland, July 29, 1841, his 
native county being Roxburgh. He was a little 
lad of six years when his parents, Robert and 
Helen (Elliott) Scott, who were likewise na- 
tives of the land of hills and heather, emigrated 
to the United States, the family home being 
established in Stark county, Illinois, where the 
father purchased a farm and engaged in gen- 
eral agricultural pursuits. He there reared his 
family and both he and his wife died there, 
the father passing away June 3, 1865, and the 
mother February 17, 1868. The father had 
been a shepherd in his native country but after 
coming to the United States always followed 
farming. His son, William E., served in the 
war of the Rebellion as a member of Company 
E, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
and lost his life in the battle of Mission Ridge 
in 1863. The other children of the family 
are: Janet, Upton, Henry and Thomas. 

As stated, Thomas Scott wa.s a little lad of 
six years when, in 1847, he was brought by his 
parents to the United States. He was reared 
in Stark county, Illinois, where he received a 
limited education but in later years through 
reading and observation he has greatly broad- 
ened his knowledge, so that he is practically 
a self-educated man. He remained under the 
parental roof during the period of his boyhood 
and youth, assisting his father in the operation 
of the home farm until the latter's death, after 
which he remained with his mother until she 



too was called away. In 1869 he made his way 
to Dallas county, Iowa, and bought one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land, which consti- 
tutes a part of his present home farm. He re- 
turned to Illinois but in the spring of 1870 
again came to Iowa and broke his land. He 
then went back to Illinois, where he remained 
until the spring of 1871, and upon his return 
to Dallas county began the improvement of his 
place by building fences and erecting good 
buildings. He first built a small house in 
which he took up his abode. He carried on the 
work of tilling the .soil and cultivating his 
crops, and as time pa.ssed he added to his finan- 
cial resources through the sale of his products 
until he was able to add to his original posses- 
sions from time to time and now has a valu- 
able property, comprising six hundred and 
forty acres, making him one of the extensive 
landowners of Dallas county. He is here en- 
gaged in general agricultural i3ursuits and in 
raising Aberdeen Angus cattle, being assisted 
in his labors by his son. He is meeting with 
gratifying success in his business affairs and 
this is well merited, for it has come to him 
through his own well directed labors and close 
application. 

After residing in Dallas county for two years, 
during which time he kept "bachelor's hall," 
he returned to Stark county, Illinois, where he 
was married on the 10th of February, 1875, 
to MisvS Jane G. Henderson, their marriage be- 
ing celebrated near Osceola. The lady was born 
in Vermont, of Scotch parentage. After his 
marriage Mr. Scott returned to Iowa with his 
bride and here they began their domestic life 
on the farm. In course of time Mr. Scott re- 
placed his first house with a more modern and 
up-to-date residence and has likewise built two 
good barns, in addition to substantial outbuild- 
ings. He has tiled and fenced his land, set out 
a good orchard, and made it one of the valu- 
able farm properties of this section of the state. 
His stock-raising interests are proving an im- 
portant branch of his business, for he annually 
feeds and fattens several carloads of cattle for 
the city markets. 



500 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Scott has been 
blessed with three children, two daughters and 
a son. Nellie is the wife of Scott Leonard, a 
resident farmer of Spring Valley township, 
and she has become the mother of three sons, 
Ralph S., Lee L. and Walter R. Nettie M. is 
the wife of Joseph Gardner, of Gardner City, 
Dallas count}'. Walter G. is a young man at 
home, assisting his father in the management 
of the home farm. 

Mr. Scott has always given his political sup- 
port to the republican party, casting his first 
ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and sup- 
porting each candidate of the party since that 
time. For eleven yeai"s he sensed as township 
trustee. Mrs. Scott is a member of the United 
Presbyterian church. 

JDuring the thirty-seven years of his resi- 
dence in Dallas county, Mr. Scott has taken an 
active and helpful part in the work of improve- 
ment and progress which has been carried for- 
ward along various lines. Inheriting the sterl- 
ing characteristics of a long line of sturdy 
Scotch ancestry, Mr. Scott has through his own 
well directed efforts worked hi? way upward 
until he is today classed among the wealthy 
and prominent agriculturists of Dallas county. 



HOWARD W. TAYLOR. 

Howard W. Taylor, a respected and worthy 
citizen of Sugar Grove township, living on 
section 32, has most intimate knowledge of the 
history of Dallas county. He has gained this 
not from hearsay or from any written accounts 
but by beng a witness of the growth and devel- 
opment of this portion of the state. Here he 
has lived since 1849 and the experiences of his 
boyhood and youth were those which usually 
fall to the lot of the frontier settler who meets 
hardships and difficulties in establishing a 
home in the "far west." Mr. Taylor was bom 
in Parke county, Indiana, on the 20th of Feb- 
ruary, 1848, and was therefore a little over a 
year old when the family came to Dallas coun- 



ty. His father, Slemmons C. Taylor, was a 
native of Ohio and in Indiana was married to 
Miss Phoebe Murrow, who was born in Ken- 
tucky. They located upon a farm in the 
Hoosier state and there lived until after the 
birth of two of their children. In 1849, however, 
they started for Iowa, arriving here when the 
county was a wilderness and a swamp. The 
government still owned much of the land and 
Mr. Taylor pre-empted a claim. Later he 
entered three hundred and twenty acres and 
with characteristic energy he began to break 
the sod and turn the furrows. The years passed 
and his labors resulted in the development of 
a good farm, upon which he reared his family 
and spent his remaining days, his death occur- 
ring in 1891. He long survived his wife, who 
died in September, 1863. Mr. Taylor served 
as sheriff of the county for one term and took 
the first prisoner to Fort Madison in a lumber 
wagon before the building of the railroad. He 
also filled the office of justice of the peace and 
rendered decisions which were strictly fair and 
impartial, so that his official record is one that 
is commendable and deserving of high en- 
comiums. He voted with the democracy, ad- 
vocating the principles as set forth by Andrew 
Jackson. 

H. W. Taylor is one of a family of three 
children. His sister, Mrs. Sarah J. King, is 
the wife of Jasper King of Adel township, 
while Douglas Taylor resides in Sugar Grove 
township. Howard W. Taylor, whose name 
introduces this record, was reared upon the old 
homestead amid the usual scenes and environ- 
ments of frontier life. As he advanced in age 
and strength he helped to open up the farm 
and make it a good property. He remained with 
his father until he had attained his majority 
and later he started out in life on his own 
account. On the 1st of September, 1870, he 
was married to Miss Harriet Albin, who was 
born in Indiana but was reared in this state. 
Mrs. Taylor was a daughter of William W. 
and Mary (Burns) Albin. The former, born in 
Kentucky, October 2, 1807, died May 1, 1892. 
Mrs. Albin was born in Pennsylvania. Sep- 




Mi;. AND MUS. 11. W. TAYLOli 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



503 



tember 15, 1808, and died in February, 1896. 
In 1855 they came from Indiana to Dallas 
county, Iowa. Locating on new land in Sugar 
Grove township, he bought about three hun- 
dred and twenty acres and at the time of his 
death owned the same amount of property, 
although it was not all a part of the original 
purchase. 

Following his marriage Mr. Taylor took his 
bride to the farm upon which he now resides. 
He now had an additional stimulus for energy 
and activity in business affairs in providing a 
comfortable home for her who had come to 
share with him his name and fortunes. He 
worked in the fields behind the breaking plow 
and soon planted the seed which in the course 
of months brought fortli good harvests. He 
also split rails to fence the place and later he 
erected a good house and barn. He also put in 
stock scales and the latest improved machinery 
and carried on his farm work with a persist- 
ency of purpose and capable management until 
he had gained a place among the prosperous 
agriculturists of this part of the state. An- 
other feature of his modern farming is the 
drainage which has been secured through the 
judicious use of tile. He inherited a tract of 
seventy-two acres and bought more land, his 
purchase comprising one hundred acres ad- 
joining the other farm. He now owns two 
good farming properties, having eighty acres 
in the home place and owning altogether three 
hundred and two acres. All of the grain which 
he raises he feeds to his stock, for he is now 
engaged quite extensively in raising and fatten- 
ing stock for the market, this constituting to 
him a profitable source of income. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born 
five children. Delver W., who is married and 
lias one daughter, Pauline, resides in South 
Dakota, where he engaged in the real-estate 
and farming business. George C, a resident of 
South Dakota, is married and has three chil- 
dren ; Harold E., Lola Irene and Glenn. Mari- 
etta is the wife of Webster Watter, a farmer of 
Grant townsliip. Arthur O. and Harry E. are 
at home. They also lost two children : Phoebe 



iV-arl, who died at the age of thirteen months; 
and one who died in infancy. 

Mr. Taylor has long exercised his right of 
franchise in support of the men and measures 
of democracy, is much interested in the success 
of the party and has been a delegate to various 
county conventions. He has also served as 
road supervisor. He and his wife are members 
of the Christian church and are greatly es- 
teemed because of the many excellent traits of 
character which they daily display in their 
contact with social and business friends and 
acquaintances. Mr. Taylor has been a resident 
of the county for fifty-eight years. At the time 
of his arrival almost the entire countryside ap- 
peared just as it did when it came from the 
hand of nature. For miles the broad prairie 
stretched away and over it roamed the deer and 
elk, which Mr. Taylor has seen in quite large 
numbers. He has also seen much other wild 
game here. There were no railroads in the 
county at that early time and the work of de- 
velopment and improvement had scarcely been 
begun but into the county came a class of 
resolute, determined men who wished to make 
homes for their families and were not afraid 
of the hardships and privations that must be 
endured to accomplish this end. The events 
that occurred here, which to many people are 
largelj' a matter of history, were to him a 
matter of pei-sonal witness or of experience and 
he can relate many interesting incidents of the 
early daj's when this was a frontier district, 
and the plowshare had been put into the fur- 
rows in few fields. 



ERWIN BODENBERGER. 

America owes much today to the strong, ro- 
bust German nation, which has furnished so 
many successful agriculturists and business 
men to America. The subject of this sketch 
is a worthy representative of this class of our 
citizens. Born in Bohemia, Germany, in 
August, 1856, he was a son of Anthony and 



504 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Josephine Bodenberger and was one of nine 
children. The father died in Germany. 

As one of a lai-ge family Erwin Bodenberger 
was obliged to work during hi.? early yeai-s in 
order to assist in the family's support, but at 
the same time he acquired an education in the 
thorough schools of his native land. Though 
he contributed generously to the support of 
the family he was able to save what would seem 
to most young men a small fortune. Accord- 
ingly in 1882 he and his brother Anthony 
came to the United States and located in Dallas 
county. Determined to learn all the details 
of American agriculture, he worked by the 
month on different farms for eight yeai-s. So 
successfully did he achieve his purpose that he 
was enabled, in 1890, to purchase his present 
farm of eighty acres. Though he had about 
one hundred dollars on coming to this country 
he decided to live frugally and work indus- 
triously and so attained to the front rank in 
the agricultural world. 

In 1892 Mr. Bodenberger wa.s married to 
Miss Anna Huffman, a native of Bohemia, 
Germany, who came to this country in 1882. 
To their union were born seven children, six 
of whom survive: John, Gladys, Elenor, El- 
win, Igan and Reo. 

In his political relations Mr. Bodenberger 
has always supported the democratic party and 
though he has never sought the honors or of- 
fices of that party he has always been willing 
to assist those who have had that ambition. He 
is an active member of the Catholic church and 
is a well-to-do farmer of this county. By sheer 
force of will and untiring effort he has worked 
his way upward and Jias realized the hope 
which brought him to our shores. 



WILLIAM D. SCOTT. 

William D. Scott, one of the leading finan- 
ciers of this section of Dallas county, being 
president of the Redfield Savings Bank, was 
born in Redfield, Dallas county, July 23, 1867, 



a son of Thomas L. and Laura M. (Maulsby) 
Scott. Thomas Logan Scott was born in Har- 
risonburg, A'irginia, November 15, 1826, a son 
of John and Sarah (Logan) Scott, and is the 
only survi\ang member of a family of six chil- 
dren. One brother, Daniel R. Scott, served as 
a soldier in the Civil war and was captured in 
the Stoneman raid. He was confined in the 
rebel prison at Andersonville until after the 
close of the war, his death occurring on his re- 
turn home. Another brother, William G. 
Scott, was one of the organizers of the firm of 
Garr, Scott & Company, manufacturers of 
threshing machines and engines, remaining a 
member of the firm up to the time of his de- 
mise. Still another brother, James A., was for 
many years a well known attorney in Florida, 
where he married into a prominent southern 
family and became an extensive slaveholder. 
After the death of his wife, which occurred 
several years prior to the war, he came north 
and located in Indiana. He became a promi- 
nent public man, being one of the electors on 
the Breckenridge ticket. 

Thomas Logan Scott was but one year old 
when he removed \\'ith his parents to Indiana; 
a location being made in the town of Salisbury, 
the county seat of Wayne county. A year 
later the county seat was removed to Center- 
ville and the Scott family moved to Richmond, 
building a log cabin in which to make their 
home. John Scott, the grandfather, engaged 
in the mercantile business, which he conducted 
successfully up to the time of his death in 1833, 
which was occasioned by cholera. His wife 
died of the same disease sixteen years later. 
Thomas L. Scott was reared in Richmond and 
as he was left fatherless at the age of six his 
education was necessarily limited, owing to the 
fact that he felt called upon to assist in the sup- 
port of the family. When twelve years of age 
he began work as a bobbin boy in a woolen 
factory at a salary of a dollar and half per 
week, walking a distance of a mile and a half 
to his place of employment and working from 
seven o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock 
at night. For some three years he remained at 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



50r> 



the woolen mills, rising gradually to the posi- 
tion of weaver. Prior to his sixteenth year he 
entered a drug store, in which he was employed 
for about two years, and then apprenticed him- 
self to the hai-ness-maker's and saddler's trade. 
On the completion of his term of indenture he 
was connected with the aforesaid trades from 
the year 1846 until 1861. When he had be- 
come familiar with his chosen occupation he 
located first at New Paris, Ohio, but after two 
years returned to Indiana, and was located 
successively at Shelbyville, Pleasant Hill, Lo- 
gansport and Winchester. When only nine- 
teen years of age, while still residing in Rich- 
mond, Mr. Scott volunteered for sen'ice in the 
Mexican war, but as the quota of troops wa.s 
filled he was not accepted. The fire of patriot- 
ism, however, shone brightly within his breast 
and in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war 
he became an ardent abolitionist, notwithstand- 
ing the fact that he wtis a democrat. He assisted 
in raising troops for the sen'ice and in other- 
wise aiding the northern cause. His sterling 
character and integrity of purpose w'ere so well 
known that he was nominated and elected to 
the position of county auditor in 1861, on the 
democratic ticket, by a majority of some two 
hundred and fifty votes, in a republican strong- 
hold of about eight hundred plurality. In the 
fall of 1855 he came to Wiscotta (now Red- 
field), Iowa, but remained here only until the 
sunnner of 1856, when he returned to Winches- 
ter. In 1867 he came again to Iowa, locating 
in Redfield, where he became connected with the 
mercantile business in partnei-ship with Irwin 
Maulsby. Here he remained until 1871, wlien 
he bought property in Des Moines and took up 
his abode there in order to give his children 
the advantages of the superior educational priv- 
ileges which the town afforded. The family re- 
sided in Des Moines for about nine years, but 
Mr. Scott still retained his mercantile interests 
in Redfield and .spent a portion of each week 
here while residing in Des. Moines. In 1880 
he brought his family to Redfield and in the 
intervening years has been a dominant factor 
in the business development and material pros- 



perity of the town. About the year 1897 be 
severed his connections with mercantile inter- 
ests and gave his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits, being at one time in possession of seven 
hundred and eighty acres of valuable farm 
lands. He has recently disposed of his farm 
holdings and for the past five years has lived 
a retired life, enjoying in well earned ease the 
fruits of his former toil and far-sighted busi- 
ness judgment. He still has extensive town 
properties and is widely known as one of the 
enterprising and prosperous citizens of the 
community. 

On August 12, 1852, Thomas L. Scott was 
joined in wedlock to Miss Laura M. Maulsby 
of Wayne county, Indiana, and to their union 
were born seven children : Mary I., the wife 
of J. 0. Ris.ser, of Fayetleville, Arkansa.*; 
Sarah A., who became the wife of Rev. J. R. 
Wellborn and is living at Long Beach, Cali- 
fornia; Nora D., who is at home; Olene, who 
married James A. Miller and also resides at 
Long Beach, California: Blanche, at home; 
William D., of this review; and Harry L., 
train dispatcher for the Great Western Rail- 
way at Clarion, Iowa. 

William D. Scott w^as reared under the pa- 
rental roof, supplementing the education which 
he had acquired in the public schools of Red- 
field and the high school of Adel by a partial 
course at the Iowa College at Grinnell, Iowa. 
He returned to Redfield to teach a couple of 
terms in the country schools and soon after 
accjuired his father's interest in the mercantile 
firm of Scott & Maulsby, the name being 
changed to Maulsby & Scott upon his admis- 
sion as a junior partner. Mr. Scott remained 
an active factor in the successful conduct of 
this enterprise until 1903, when he became in- 
terested in North Dakota farm lands and spent 
three years in that state, being engaged in 
farming and in the supervision of his proper- 
ties. By reason of his splendid business abil- 
ity and executive force he met with a large 
measure of success in that state, returning to 
Redfield. however, in 1906. In August, 1901, 
the Redfield Savings Bank had been organized 



506 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and on September 6th opened its doors for 
business. Mr. Scott, who had been one of the 
dominant factors in its organization, was elect- 
ed president, with D. S. Patty as vice president 
and E. O. Winters as cashier, the latter being 
succeeded, in February, 1903, by J. J. Ma- 
honey. While Mr. Scott was chosen president 
at the time of the organization of the bank, it 
was not until 1906 that he gave his entire at- 
tention to its active management in principle 
and detail. Since then he has aided materially 
in placing the institution upon a sound finan- 
cial bails and has been an active and prominent 
factor in its substantial growth. He is widely 
recognized as one of the leading financiers of 
this section of the county, and has eai'ned for 
himself an enviable reputation as a careful 
man of business, his prompt and honorable 
methods having won him the deserved and un- 
bounded confidence of his fellowmen. 

Politically Mr. Scott has been affiliated with 
the republican party since free coinage of silver 
was an issue and that he is prominent in the 
community is indicated by the fact that he has 
served in all the town offices, while at present 
he is a member of the town board of aldermen. 
Fraternally he is connected with Redfield 
lodge, No. 346, K. P., and in the community 
where he resides is known for his sterling traits 
of character and genial, unostentatious man- 
ner. 



ISAAC M. THORNBURGH. 

No more desirable place for a quiet home 
can be found than in the section of Dallas 
county where Isaac M. Thomburgh resides. 
He is justly accounted one of the county's most 
prominent pioneer settlers, for he dates his 
residence here from 1865, and no man has done 
more to upbuild the community and transform 
the wild land into a rich and productive dis- 
trict, inhabited by a prosperous and progres- 
sive people than he whose name introduces 
this review. i\Ir. Thornburgh is the owner of 



a well improved farm of one hundred thirteen 
and a half acres, situated on section 21, Spring 
Valley township, his postoffice address being 
Perry. 

He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, 
September 30, 1845, a son of Lewis and Lydia 
(Macy) Thornburgh, both of whom were na- 
tives of Tennessee. The father removed from 
his native state to Wayne county, Indiana, 
where he cleared and developed a farm and 
made a home until 1864, in which year he re- 
moved to Dallas county, Iowa, and purchased 
four hundred acres of land, a portion of which 
constitutes the present home farm of our sub- 
ject. The father was here engaged in farming 
throughout a long period and passed away in 
1890. His wife had been called to the home 
beyond several years previous. Their family 
numbered twelve children, seven sons and five 
daughters, but the daughters all died in early 
life, while the five sons grew to years of matur- 
ity and four still survive. 

Isaac M. Thornburgh received his education 
in the district schools of his native state and 
was a youth of eighteen years when, in the 
spring of 1864 he enlisted for service in the 
Civil war, becoming a member of the Fifth In- 
diana Cavalry. Going to the south he partici- 
pated in several skirmishes but was mostly en- 
gaged in guard duty until the close of the war, 
when he received an honorable discharge at 
Murfi-eesboro, Tennessee, in September, 1865. 

Returning from the war, Mr. Thornburgh 
joined his parents in Dallas county and re- 
sumed agricultural pursuits, assisting his father 
in the operation of the homestead property. He 
was married here in October, 1868, to Miss 
Martha Howell, a native of Indiana and a 
daughter of Nedham Howell, who settled in 
Dallas county in 1854. After his marriage 
Mr. Thornburgh continued to assist his father 
in the management of the home place until 
1871, when he located on his present farm, 
commencing with eighty-eight and a half 
acres of land. He erected a residence and barn, 
set out fruit, fenced the land and made it a 
well improved property. In addition to raising 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



507 



the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he 
is also engaged in raising and feeding stock, 
making of late years a specialty of Duroc Jer- 
sey hogs. As his financial resources have per- 
mitted he has added to his original holdings 
from time to time and now owns one hundred 
and thirteen and a half acres of land, which 
constitutes one of the productive and attract- 
ive farms of this section of the state. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Thornburgh 
has been blessed with two sons and one daugh- 
ter, namely: Lorenzo E., who is engaged in 
merehaudiiing in Bouton, Iowa; Alonzo A., 
who is at home and assists his father in cai'ry- 
ing on the farm; and Melissa E., who is a 
graduate of the Perry high school and for a 
number of years was engaged in teaching in 
the schools of that place but is now engaged in 
the conduct of a photograph gallery at Onawa. 

Mr. Thornburgh gives stanch support to the 
republican party, having cast his first presiden- 
tial ballot in 1864 for Abraliam Lincoln. He 
has sen'ed as a member of the school board but 
otherwise has filled no public office, preferring 
to give his time and attention to his private 
business affairs. He is a member of Perry post, 
G. A. R. of which he served as commander 
for one year. He is thoroughly familiar with 
the history of the county from an early period 
in its development and has done much to ad- 
vance its material interests. A man of exem- 
plary habits and strict integrity, he is honored 
not only as a veteran of the Civil war, but also 
as one of the substantial citizens and pioneer 
residents of Dallas county. 



MAURICE E. O'CONNOR. 

Maurice E. O'Connor is a wide-awake and 
enterprising farmer, owning and operating a 
tract of land of eighty acres situated on section 
20, Spring Valley township. He is a native 
of St. Lawrence county, New York, born Feb- 
ruary 25, 1864, a son of Eugene and Mary 
O'Connor, whose family numbered eight chil- 



dren. The father was born in Ireland but at an 
early age was brought to the new world by his 
pai'ents, the family home being established in 
Canada. He was there reared and married and 
in 1881 came to Dallas county, Iowa, settling 
on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres 
near Adel. He spent his last years in Adel and 
there passed away in 1882, at the age of fifty- 
nine years, while his wife survived for many 
years and passed away in 1898, at the age of 
sixty-four years. 

Maurice E. O'Connor received a common- 
school education and was a youth of seventeen 
years when he accompanied his parents on 
their removal to Dallas county. He assisted 
his father in the operation of the home farm 
and when starting out upon an independent 
career secured employment as a farm hand by 
the month, being thus engaged for eighteen 
months. At the end of that time he returned 
to the home farm, which he managed for one 
year, and it was then that he established a 
home of his own by his marriage on the 1st of 
January, 1883, to Miss Ellen Quigley, who was 
born in Chillicothe, Missouri, a daughter of 
James Quigley, who came to Dallas county in 
1867. 

Following his marriage Mr. O'Connor oper- 
ated a tract of rented land for ten years, this 
place being located near Adel, and during that 
period, through the able assistance and econo- 
my of his estimable wife he managed to save 
the money which at the end of a decade en- 
abled him to invest in property of his own. He 
then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in 
Union township, which he improved, and re- 
sided thereon for nine yeai-s, when he disposed 
of that property and in 1903 purchased his 
present place, comprising eighty acres. He has 
built to and remodeled the house, erected a 
double corn crib, granary and outbuildings, 
built fences, laid over seven hundred rods of 
tiling and altogether has made it one of the 
valuable and productive properties of this sec- 
tion of the state. In addition to carrying on 
general agricultural pursuits, Mr. O'Connor 
also gives a portion of his time and attention 



508 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



to the raising of full blooded Duroc Jersey 
hogs, which he fattens for the market, and he 
hkewise keeps from seven to ten milch cows. 
His success has come to him as the reward of 
industry, thrift and energy, for all that he to- 
day owns has been gained through his own ef- 
forts and the assistance of his estimable wife. 
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor has 
been ble.ssed with two daughters: Margaret, at 
home; and Mary, the wife of Patrick Fitzger- 
ald, a resident farmer of Colfax township. 

Interested in the growth and success of the 
republican party Mr. O'Connor casts his bal- 
lot in support of its principles where national 
questions and issues are involved but at local 
elections ca.sts an independent ballot. Although 
he has never figured in public office he has 
served for several years as school director, the 
cause of education finding in him a wai'm 
friend. He is identified with the Modern 
Woodmen of America and the Knights of 
Columbus at Perry, and he and his family are 
communicants of the Catholic church. 

AVhen Mr. O'Connor settled in Dallas county 
much of the land was a marshy swamp but 
through proper drainage it has been made a 
very productive district and in the work of de- 
velopment and improvement which has here 
been carried on during the last quarter of a 
century he has borne his full share. Although 
starting out in life empty-handed Mr. O'Con- 
nor has steadily worked his way up and that he 
has been eminently practical in his business 
undertakings is evidenced by the well im- 
proved farm of eighty acres which is today his. 



JABEZ ASHMORE. 



Jabez Ashmore, conducting an extensive and 
profitable plumbing and heating business at 
Perry, belongs to that class of men who, recog- 
nizing the fact that success is the reward of 
persistent, earnest labor, are putting forth 
strenuous effort to achieve prosperity. Such 
men constitute the real element in a city's up- 



building and progress. Mr. Ashmore is a na- 
tive of Trenton, New Jersey, born June 11, 
1863, and was one of the nine children of 
John M. and Mary (Kersey) Ashmore. The 
father's birth occurred in Trenton, New Jersey, 
in 1841 and he still lives in that city. The 
mother, however, born in Delaware, died in 
1898, at the age of fifty-four years. Seven of 
their children still survive: Jabez, Samuel, 
Anna J., Raymond, John, Clarence and Wil- 
liam A. The father worked in the car shops 
at Trenton for some time and was on the police 
force there for a number of yeai's. He also 
worked for a rubber company in that city and 
has led a life of continuous business activity. 
In politics he has always been a stanch repub- 
lican since the organization of the party. For 
his second wife he married Maria Mather. 

Jabez Ashmore spent the first seventeen years 
of his Iffe in the public schools and then started 
out in the business world, securing employ- 
ment in a wire factory. He served a four 
years' apprenticeship at a later date in learn- 
ing the plumber's trade and was afterward 
with F. S. Katzenbach & Company for one 
year in learning the plumbing and steamfitting 
trade. This made five years spent in qualify- 
ing himself for business life. He afterward 
worked for two years with other firms and at 
the age of twenty-five went into business on 
his own account. In 1891 he arrived in Perry 
and from October of that year until 1898 was 
in the employ of Thomas J. Gilbert. In the 
spring of 1899 he began business on his own 
account and has since installed the plumbing 
in many fine homes of Perry, including the 
residences of Josiah Petty, W. W. Cardell, D. 
J. Pattee, H. J. Holmes and W. M. Wood- 
worth. He has put in the heating plants and 
the plumbing in the homes of W. F. Graham 
and L. F. Johnson and in the east ward school- 
house, and has done similar work in the homes 
of A. Longshore and H. C. Hitchcock in Des 
Moines. He installed a pneumatic water sys- 
tem in the bank building at Rippey, Iowa, 
and a plumbing and heating plant in the Kes- 
ter residence at Coon Rapids, Iowa. He also 




JABEZ A8IIM0RE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



511 



superintended the installation of the plumbing 
in the home of Dr. Jewell of Coon Rapids, put 
in a hot water plant in the home of C. H. 
Kern at Perry and has done other work which 
show.s how well he is regarded in his line of 
business in this part of the state. He is indeed 
an expert and well merits the liberal patronage 
which is accorded him. Mr. Ashmore's place 
of business is now located in the basement of 
the Brown Block in Perry. 

Mr. Ashmore is a member of Otley lodge, 
No. 299, A. F. & A. M., in which he has served 
as junior warden. He is also a member of the 
Eastern Star chapter, of which he is now 
worthy patron. He has been a member of the 
Shakespearean club and he belongs to the 
Unity church, in the work of which he is 
deeply and actively interested. He has long 
been an earnest student of the Bible, has been 
superintendent of the Sunday-school and in 
other ways has contributed to the growth and 
upbuilding of the cjiurch. His political alle- 
giance is given to the democracy but he has 
neither time nor inclination for public office, 
preferring to give his inidivided attention to 
his business affairs, in which he has met with 
splendid success, being now a leading repre- 
sentative of the commercial and industrial life 
of Perry. 



CHARLES M. POFFENBERGER. 

Charles Martin Pofi'enberger was born in 
Washington county, Maryland, May 14, 1863, 
and was a son of William and Catherine 
(Schamcl) Poffenberger. There were ten 
children in this family, of whom the following 
sun-ive; Albertus, of Hagerstown. Mary- 
land ; Andrew, a resident of Dallas county, 
Iowa; Margaret, the wife of Mr. Myers, of 
Colorado; Minnie, who lives at Hagerstown, 
Maryland; Grace, who married ]Mr. Thomas 
of Mount Jlorris, Illinois; Fannie, the wife of 
Andrew Mills, of Harper's Ferry, Maryland; 
Clara, the wife of Charles Lnngfitt, of Nortli 



Dakota; and Charles Martin, the subject of 
this review. The father of this family was 
born in Sharpsburg, Maryland, about the year 
1834. It was there that he received his early 
education, which was very limited. His prac- 
tical training was in the line of the black- 
.smith's trade, which he followed in Sharps- 
burg during his entire life. It was. said that 
during the war every man's talent could be 
made use of and Mr. Poffenberger's trade was 
no exception. He enlisted as a mechanic and 
served until the close of the war. He jjassed 
away in 1878, at the age of forty-four. During 
his entire life he was devoted to the men and 
measures of the democratic party. His wife 
was born in Tumbleton, Maryland, about 1836, 
and passed away in her sixtieth year. 

Charles Mtu'tin Poffenberger was reared by 
his maternal grandfather, Peter Schamel, from 
his second to his fifteenth year. His fath- 
er died about this time and Mr. Poffenberger 
was obliged to shift for himself. This is often 
the be,«t thing for a boy, for he finds himself 
responsible for his own place in the world. For 
several years Mr. Poffenberger worked at what- 
ever offered itself. His education was necessar- 
ily limited. He was employed by several farm- 
ers, and was always spoken of as a boy of honor 
and integrity, who earned every penny honest- 
ly. About 1886 he rented a farm, which he 
continued to cultivate for five years. By per- 
sistency, determination and careful living he 
had been able, in 1892, to accumulate enough 
money to purchase one hundred and ten acres 
of land in Colfax township across the road from 
his present home farm. It is one of the most 
dilapidated farms in Dallas county but this 
acted simply as a stimulus for the young man's 
best endeavor. He has thoroughly enjoyed his 
hard labor, which it was necessary to expend 
upon this place to bring it to its present im- 
proved condition. Today it is spoken of as one 
of the most up-to-date and best improved farms 
of the county. In 1901 he was offered so liber- 
al a price for his acres that he sold out and pur- 
chiised his present home farm of one hundred 
:ind sixty acres in Washington townsliip oi^ 



512 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



the southeast quarter of section 31. It is said 
that it is often difficult to live up to one's repu- 
tation and Mr. Poffenberger had attained so 
enviable a one on his former location that he 
put forth every effortr to make his new farm 
all that his former one had been. He has 
erected all the buildings on the place and they 
are second to none in the county. 

On the 2d of December, 1886, Mr. Poffen- 
berger was married to Miss Mary Ellen Walker, 
of Dallas county, a daughter of Samuel Walker, 
now deceased. He was one of the prominent 
farmers of Colfax township. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Poffenberger have been born ten children, nine 
of whom survive : Fred, born in 1887 ; Effie 
in 1888; Roy, in 1890; May, in 1894; Albert, 
in 1896 ; Elsie, in 1899 ; Ira, in 1901 ; Lee, in 
1903; and Ada in 1905. Jennie Viola, born in 
1892, died in 1895. The children are all at 
home and make up a large and interesting 
family. They all attend the Christian church 
and are active in its support. 

Mr. Poffenberger is a stanch republican. He 
has served as a member of the school board for 
several years and is one of Dallas county's best 
known and most influential farmers. Strong 
in all that makes for noble manhood, he is an 
inspiration to all who know him. For the wel- 
fare of the community in which he lives he is 
always active, giving liberally of his time and 
money. His advice on agricultural details is 
of value and he never gives it grudgingly. In 
consequence his influence in the agricultural 
life of the district is strongly felt. 



F. B. PRESTON. 



F. B. Preston is now living retired in Adel, 
deriving his income largely from his invest- 
ments in real estate. His life history began on 
the 2d of October, 1854, the place of his nativ- 
ity being Winchester, Indiana. His parents 
were Samuel R. and Liddie D. (Hutchens) 
Preston, the former a native of College Hill, 
Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. They were 



married in 1853. The father went to Indiana 
in the early '50s and spent the years of an 
active life as a breeder of draft horses, conduct- 
ing an extensive and successful business in that 
way. He died in Indiana in 1875. His wife 
came to Adel in 1865, bringing her two chil- 
dren, .Isabel and F. B. Preston, with her and 
here she spent her remaining days, departing 
this life in 1899, while her son Asahel was 
called to his final rest in 1888. 

F. B. Preston is therefore the only surviving 
member of the family. After acquiring a 
common-school education he learned the tin- 
ner's trade in Adel, working for one man for 
six years. He became an expert in his line 
and he afterward acquainted himself with the 
trade of a stationary engineer. Later he en- 
tered the employ of the Des ]Moines. Adel & 
^^'estern Railroad Company, with which he 
continued for four years, acting in the capacity 
of hostler when he severed his connection with 
the corporation. He afterward secured employ- 
ment in a machine shop in Adel and later he 
returned to the railroad sendee. After a time, 
however, he opened a tin shop of his own in 
Adel in 1883 and for some years thereafter 
was closely associated with industrial life in 
this city. He also put in a stock of hardware 
and groceries and carried on business until 
1891, when he sold out. He next established 
a general repair shop in Adel, which he con- 
ducted for a year and a half, after which he 
turned his attention to the butchering busi- 
ness, carrying on a meat market for five years. 
He met with success in that undertaking, as 
he had in his other business ventures, and at 
length he retired to private life to enjoy in well 
earned rest the fruits of his former toil. In the 
meantime he had made extensive investments 
in real estate, purchasing property from time 
to time until his holdings are now large and 
bring to him a gratifying annual income. He 
now owns three or four business houses in Adel, 
among which is a fine brick structure at the 
corner of Main and Walnut streets. He like- 
wise owns thirty acres of land on section 29, 
Adel township. His property interests stand 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



513 



as monuments to his thrift, enterprise and 
sound business judgment and represent the fit 
utilization of the innate talents which are his, 
for his prosperity is due entirely to his own 
labors and from a humble financial position 
he has worked his way upward to one of afflu- 
ence. 



GEORGE LOWIS. 



It is impossible to keep a man of merit in 
the background, although his early surround- 
ings are those of poverty, where rigid economy 
and self-denial must be practiced and Avhere 
few indeed are the advantages enjoyed. A 
progressive spirit knows no bounds and ability 
has no limitations of time, place or space. The 
fellow citizens of George Lowis acknowledge that 
he is in every sense a man of this character. 
He was born in Wisconsin, July 14, 1851, and 
was the son of John and Ann Lowis, both na- 
tives of England, where the father was born 
in 1823 and the mother in 1827.' They were 
the parents of ten children : George, John, 
Isabella, Alice, Mary J., William, Christopher, 
Elizabeth, J. D. and Charles D. 

Mr. Lowis received but meagre educational 
advantages; in fact he had only ten months 
of schooling when he was obliged to go to work 
upon the farm. He appreciates now that the 
practical training he then received was worth 
more to him than any theoretical education 
might have been. He was industrious, frugal 
and pei-severing and in 1895 had accumulated 
capital sufficient to purchase a farm in Dallas 
county, Iowa. Little by little he has been able 
to add to this until he is now the owner of five 
hundred and fourteen acres of land on sections 
27 and 28 of Union township. This land he has 
greatly improved. He has added many sub- 
stantial buildings to its equipment and has 
brought the soil to a condition where it yields 
him abundant returns in crops. In addition 
he has been a large stock feeder in the county, 
feeding and shipping stock to the value of 
twentv thousand dollai-s a vear. 



Mr. Lowis has been three times married. His 
first wife was Elizabeth Baker, a native of 
England, where she was born in 1852. To this 
union was born one son who is now Dr. W. J. 
Lowis, of Colba, Kansas. His second wife bore 
the maiden name of Lucy Pickett, who was 
born in New Jersey in 1852. Her sister, Ella 
Pickett, became the third wife of Mr. Lowis. 
He is a strong republican and is now township 
trustee and has also been a school director. He 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and are always ready to help 
along any meritorious cause which makes for 
the welfare of humanity. They live conscien- 
tious, Christian lives, having made practical 
use of their Christianity in every-day affairs. 
They are honorable and upright in all their 
dealings with their fellowmen, who in conse- 
quence honor and respect them. Mr. Lowis has 
thoroughly mastered the necessary details of 
his business which has brought him large re- 
turns. By close application to work he has 
accumulated a competence. The consciousness 
of having won it all. by an honest business to 
which he has given his undivided attention is 
a great satisfaction to him, for it is only by 
wise management that he has attained to his 
present po.sition. 



L. B. THORNBURG. 



L. B. Thornburg, recognized as a leading 
and influential citizen and as a prominent 
member of the republican party in Dallas 
county, makes his home in Perry. He wag 
born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1848. His 
parents, Lewis and Lydia Thornburg, were 
natives of Tennessee. The former followed the 
occupation of farming as a life work. He was 
at the head of the anti-slavery Friends church 
and a strong worker in behalf of the abolition 
mo\"ement, having been reared in the south 
amid the institution of slavery. In 1818 he 
removed to Wayne county, Indiana, becoming 
one of its pioneer settlers. There he acquired 



514 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



a tract of land and cleared a farm in the midst 
of the heavy timber, sharing in all the hard- 
ships and privations incident to pioneer life. 

L. B. Thornburg, of this review, attended the 
common schools in his boyhood but is largely 
a self-educated man aaid in the school of ex- 
perience has learned many valuable lessons. 
He came to Dallas county with his parents in 
1864 when a youth of sixteen years, the family 
home being established on a farm south of the 
present site of Perry, although the town had 
not been founded at that time. Mr. Thornburg 
still has his home there and is numbered 
among the earliest settlers of the locality. He 
was employed in the postofRce at Perry from 
1881 until 1895, serving for four years of that 
time as postmaster under President Harrison 
and giving a businesslike and capable admin- 
istration, chai-acterized by promptness and 
fidelity in all that he did. Since leaving the port- 
office he has presided over one of the local 
courts and his official record has at all times 
been chai-acterized by unquestioned loyalty to 
duty. Since age conferred upon him the right 
of franchise he has been known as an active 
republican, working earnestly and effectively 
in behalf of the principles which he believes 
are most conducive to good government. 

Mr. Thornburg was married in Perry, in 
1867, to Miss L. J. "Willis, and they had seven 
children, six of whom are yet living. He be- 
came a birthright member of the Society of 
Friends or Quakers but is now of more liljcral 
religious views and belongs to the Unitarian 
church in Perry. He is popular in the city of 
his residence, having gained many friends 
here. 



JAMES LYON. 



James Lyon is one of the honored veterans 
of the Civil war and a pioneer settler of Dallas 
county, dating his residence here from 1870. 
He now owns and operates a well improved 
farm of one hundred acres, situated on section 
20, Beaver township, and in addition to carry- 



ing on the work of the fields is also engaged to 
some extent in stock-raising. Mr. Lyon was 
born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Feb- 
ruary 2, 1846, a son of James Lyon, who on 
his emigration from Ireland to the new world, 
settled fh'st in the east and later removed to 
Wisconsin. His death there occurred and his 
wife survived and reared their family of chil- 
dren. After the death of the father, the mother 
removed with her familj' to Jackson county, 
Iowa, in 1854, but later she took up her abode 
in Clinton count}', this state. 

It was in Clinton countj' that James Lj'on 
was reared and educated. He learned the 
blacksmith's trade, which he followed in that 
county for a time. In 1870 he came to Dallas 
county and in ]\Iinbum opened a blacksmith 
shop, which he conducted with success for 
several years. In 1876, however, he decided 
to change his business and located on a farm 
in Beaver township which has been his jjlace 
of residence to the present time. He cleared 
and developed the farm, built a good two-storj' 
house, two barns, a granary, sheds, etc., for the 
shelter of grain and stock, drained his land by 
the use of seven thousand tile and also planted 
fruit and shade trees. He now has a well im- 
proved property of one hundred acres, all of 
which is under a high state of cultivation, and 
here in addition to raising the cereals best 
adapted to the soil and climate, he is also en- 
gaged in raising stock, making a specialty of 
Chester AA^hite hogs, feeding from one to two 
carloads for the market each year. 

It was during his residence in Clinton coun- 
ty, however, that the Civil war broke out, and, 
loyal to the best interests of his country, Mr. 
Lyon enlisted at Dixon, Illinois, in Janutu-y, 
1863, as a member of Company A, Nineteenth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He Avent south 
to Tennessee. Later he was transferred to 
Company D, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry, with 
which he served until the close of the Avar. He 
participated in the Atlanta campaign and was 
Avith Sherman on his march to the sea. He 
took part in the last battle that Avas fought, 
marched to Richmond and on to Washington, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



515 



D. C, participating in the grand review. He 
then went to Louisville, Kentucky, and from 
there to Springfield, Illinois, where he received 
an honorable discharge August 9, 1865. Dur- 
ing his service he was incapacitated for duty 
hut two weeks, being in the hospital at Chatta- 
iKiiiga, Tennessee. 

Mr. Lyon was married in JMinburn, Iowa, to 
Miss Margaret E. Gannon, in 1873. She was 
born in Scott county, Iowa, a daughter of 
Marcus Gannon, an early settler of Scott coun- 
ty but now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have 
no children of their own but out of the kind- 
ness of their hearts have adopted a son and 
daughter, Ray and June Lyon, whom they 
have reared and educated as their own. 

Politically Mr. Lyon is a democrat and ca.st 
his first presidential ballot in 1S72 in support 
(if Horace Greeley. He has never aspired to 
jHiblic office but has served on the school board, 
and as highway commissioner, and for sixteen 
years acted a.s township trustee. He has also 
been sent as a delegate to several county con- 
ventions. Mr. Lyon has been a resident of Dal- 
las county for more than thirty-seven years, 
and during this long period has witnessed 
much of the growth and development of the 
district from a wild region into one of rich fer- 
tility, while thriving towns and villages have 
sprung up and the county has been placed in 
the front rank among the counties of the state. 
The success which he now enjoys is well merit- 
ed, for he has ever followed the most honor- 
able business methods in his dealings with his 
fellowmen and therefore enjoys the high re- 
gard of all with whom he is brought in con- 
tact. 



W. S. ROBISON. 



The great enterprises of our country are be- 
ing carried on by men who began business life 
empty-handed. Most of them were reared on 
farms and were early accustomed to hard work, 
but more tlian this — the^■ were accustomed to 



make use of what was at hand. They learned 
also to entertain themselves and so developed 
individuality and originality and became en- 
terprising citizens. We can find men of this 
stamp in the private walks of life and in the rural 
districts as well as in the large cities, and we in- 
troduce such a man in the person of W. S. Robi- 
sou. Delaware county, Iowa, numbers this able 
agriculturist and stock-raiser among its native 
sons for he was born there June 1, 1853. He 
belonged to a family of people who were long- 
lived, his grandmother Spencer living to the 
ripe old age of ninety-nine years. He was the 
son of Milton G. and Mary E. (Spencer) Robi- 
son, his father having been born in Ohio in 
1811 and his mother in the same state in 1820. 
The latter had the honor of being a classmate 
of Abraham Lincoln. In 1849 Mr. and Mrs. 
Robison came to Delaware county where they 
took up a soldier's claim which was granted 
them on the ground that Mr. Robison's father 
was a captain in the Revolutionary war. It 
was on this piece of ground that they lived un- 
til 1872 when they moved to Madison county, 
Iowa, where Mr. Robison passed away. They 
were the parents of seven children, four of 
whom are still living: J. H., of Manchester 
county, Iowa; J. P., a resident of Edgewood, 
Iowa; Martha J., the wife of Hamilton Lee, 
who lives in Montana; and W. S., the subject 
of this sketch. 

Mr. Robison received his education in the 
common schools and was early obliged to go 
to work in the fields of his father's farm. Dur- 
ing his school days lie spent his summer vaca- 
tions in agricultural pursuits and thus ac- 
quired a practical training which has been of 
inestimable value to him ever since. He stayed 
at home until the time of his father's death 
and then struck out for himself, following gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising. He is well 
known at present as the raiser of thoroughbred 
trotting and draft horses, shipping a carload of 
horses, as well as eight or ten carloads of cattle 
and hogs each year. By hard work and care- 
ful economy he was able little by little to add 
to his original purcha.se and he is now the 



516 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



owner of five hundred and thirty acres of fine 
land in Madison county, on sections 17, 18 
and 20. He has added all of the modern im- 
provements to his place, has adopted modern 
methods of agriculture and has a residence 
which is the finest in the village of Dexter, Dal- 
las county, where he is now enjoying life. 

In 1874 he was united in wedlock to Sarah 
Guye, a native of Madison county, Iowa, where 
she was born in 1855. She was the daughter 
of G. W. and Lucella (Harris) Guye, her father 
being a native of Kentucky and her mother a 
native of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Robison 
have been bom four children who are an hon- 
or to their parents : C. W., who read law with 
Governor A. B. Cummings, is now a well 
known lawyer in Montana; Charles J. died in 
infancy; Grace L., who completed her educa- 
tion in Des Moines, has traveled extensively 
since then, having been through fifteen of the 
western and southern states of our Union; 
and Frankie J. is a student of the Dexter 
school. She and her sister Grace are expert 
equestrians and spend much of their time 
horseback riding through the country. They 
are very accomplished women and interestirig 
because of their wide experience and reading. 

Mr. Robison is a member of the Masonic 
lodge at Dexter and of the chapter at Winter- 
set, Iowa. "He is also a Modern Woodman, be- 
longing to camp No. 1662, at Dexter, Iowa. 
AVhile he makes no ostentatious display of his 
religious views, he is a firm believer in the 
doctrines of Christianity as taught by the 
Christian church, of which his wife and daugli- 
ters are members. 

Mr. Robison is an unusual agriculturist and 
stock-raiser. This occupation is generally con- 
sidered enough • to occupy every minute of a 
man's time and energy, but the subject of this 
sketch has had leisure for extensive travel and 
so brings to his work a knowledge of life which 
is wider and more comprehensive than that of 
the usual agriculturist. He uniformly bears 
himself as a gentleman, never being heard to 
give expression to a vulgar phrase or sentiment. 
Mentally he has grown to be very strong with- 



out becoming a great student of books. He is 
quick of apprehension and comprehends busi- 
ness affairs in a moment. He is domestic in 
his habits and provides liberally for those de- 
pendent upon him. He has made judicious 
investments which are rapidly increasing in 
value. He has thus become the possessor of 
considerable means and is able to surround 
his family with all of the comforts and many 
of the luxuries of life. Nothing affords him 
greater happiness than to minister to them and 
he cannot do too much to enhance their wel- 
fare. 



HON. THOMAS A. ESTES. 

Hon. Thomas A. Estes, who has repi-esented 
his district in the legislature and is now living a 
retired life after many years of active connec- 
tion with farming, makes his home on section 
2, Boone township. He is one of its well known 
residents and for a long period was closely 
associated with agricultural interests. He has 
lived here since February, 1874, and is a native 
of the state of Maine, his birth having occurred 
in Durham on the 19th of April, 1825. The 
Estes family is of Italian and English ancestry 
and was established in Massachusetts in early 
colonial days. The great-grandfather, Edward 
Estes, located in Harpswell, Maine, later re- 
moving to Durham, that state, where his son 
Caleb was one of the founders of the Friends 
church. The maternal grandfather of Thomas 
A. Estes was Benjamin Alden, a direct de- 
scendant of John Alden who came over in the 
Mayflower and landed on Plymouth Rock, Mr. 
Estes being of the eighth generation of his de- 
scendants. Thomas A. Estes was reared in 
Maine and when a lad went to work in a ship- 
yard, learning the ship-carpenter's trade. He 
was afterward engaged in ship-lniilding for a 
number of years and was employed on the con- 
struction of a number of big ocean vessels in 
those days. 

While residing in New England, Mr. Estes 
was married on the 2d of September, 1855, to 




MR. AND :\Ii;S. TIIO:\IAS A. ESTES 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



519 



Miss Mary P. Alexander, also a native of the 
Pine Tree state. They located at Harpswell, 
where Mr. Estes had for several years been 
engaged in business. There she was reared and 
educated and prior to her mari'iage engaged 
in teaching. Mr. Estes was a prominent man 
of Harpswell, active and diligent in business 
and influential in political circles. He was a 
Jefi'ersonian democi'at and ujDOn the party 
ticket was elected, in 1865, to represent his 
district in the state legislature, where he served 
for one term. He was on a number of im- 
portant committees and was closely associated 
with much important legislation. He was 
never an office seeker, however, nor did he de- 
sire political preferment. ■ He continued to re- 
side in Maine until 1871, when he removed 
westward to the Mississippi valley, settling first 
in Knox countj^, Illinois. There lie located on 
a farm and continued its cultivation for three 
years. In February, 1874, he came to Iowa, 
settling in Dallas county upon a farm belong- 
ing to his brother, Horace Estes, and here he 
has since resided. His brother settled here in 
1860 and opened up the farm, developing a 
good property. His death occurred in 1884. 

Mr. and Mrs. Estes have one son : A. H. 
Estes, who was bom in Harpswell, Maine, De- 
cember 19, 1862. He came west to Illinois and 
afterward to Iowa with his parents and was 
reared to manhood here. He has always re- 
mained on the home farm with his father and 
for several years has had charge of the prop- 
erty and business interests, thus relieving his 
father, who is now living retired in the enjoy- 
ment of the rest which he has truly earned 
and richly deserves. A. H. Estes is a practical 
and progressive agriculturist and stock-raiser, 
widely know^n as a man of good habits. 
Thomas A. Estes is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, belonging to Pioneer lodge, A. F. 
& A. M., at Des Moines. A. H. Estes has taken 
the degrees of the subordinate lodge and en- 
campment of Odd Fellows and belongs to the 
uniform rank, being a Canton degree member. 
The Estes family is well known in Dallas and 
Polk counties, both Thomas A. Estes and his 



son being regarded as leading men in the com- 
nmnity. He has now attained the age of 
eighty-two years and deserves the veneration 
and respect which should ever be accorded those 
who have traveled far on life's journey and 
whose record is in harmony with all that con- 
stitutes the exemplary citizen. 



F. D. BURNS. 



F. D. Burns is conducting a successful busi- 
ness as a blacksmith and shoer of fast horses, 
of which he makes a specialty. He was born in 
Carroll county, Maryland, October 31, 1857, 
his parents being Daniel and Mary (Knipple) 
Burns, both of whom were natives of Mary- 
land, the former of Scotch lineage and the lat- 
ter of Dutch descent. The father was a harness- 
maker by ti"ade and followed that pursuit in 
early life but afterward turned his attention 
to farming, which he continued to carry on in 
Maryland until called to his final rest. Unto 
him and his wife were born five children, of 
whom three are now living. 

F. D. Burns, the only one now in Iowa, was 
educated in the common schools. At the age 
of seventeen years he entered a blacksmith 
shop, where he learned the trade. With the ex- 
ception of nine years devoted to farming in 
Piatt county, Illinois, he has always carried 
on blacksmithing and has become an expert 
workman. In 1898 he came to Adel, pur- 
chased a shop and tools and began business 
here. His skill and excellence in the line of 
his chosen calling soon brought him a liberal 
patronage and he has made a specialty of 
track shoeing. 

In Piatt county, Illinois, in 1881, Mr. Burns 
was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Petrie, 
a native of Maryland and a daughter of Jacob 
and Ann Petrie, who were farming people of 
that state but are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. 
Burns were playmates in childhood and the 
friendship of their early youth ripened into 
love. Their marriage has been blessed with 



520 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



seven children: Hai-ry, who is now engaged 
in blacksmithing at Leo, North Dakota; Jacob 
E., who follows the same business at Billings, 
Montana; Jesse L., who is a blacksmith at Wal- 
nut, Iowa; Dorsey D., Mary A., Fred W., and 
Charles F., all at home. Mr. Burns and his 
family are all members of the German Baptist 
church and they are people genuine jjersonal 
worth, much esteemed in the community where 
they reside. 

Mr. Burns is a republican and is serving for 
the second year as a member of the city coun- 
cil and on the board of health. He is much 
interested in the welfai-e and upbuilding of the 
city and his efforts have been conducive of 
much good. He is a member of the Adel Com- 
mercial Club and is well known socially as 
well as in a business way here. 



JACOB H. WRIGHT. 

A well improved and highly cultivated farm 
of two hundred and forty acres, situated on 
section 16, Beaver township, stands as a monu- 
ment to the thrift, energy and economy of 
Jacob H. Wright, for, starting out in life de- 
pendent upon his own resources at the age of 
thirteen years, he has worked his way steadily 
upward from a humble beginning until he is 
now numbered among the progressive and 
prosperous agriculturists and stock-raisers of 
Dallas county. 

Mr. Wright was born in De Kalb county, 
Illinois, January 17, 1868, a son of Royal and 
Mary (Siglin) Wright. The father was also 
a native of Illinois, while the mother's birth 
occurred in Pennsylvania but she was partially 
reared in the former state. The father carried 
on farming in Illinois and there passed away 
in 1872. Their family numbered eight chil- 
dren, six sons and two daughters, all of whom 
are living and are heads of families. The 
record is as follows: Frank, a farmer, owning 
one hundred and sixty acres of land in Dallas 
county; Asa, a farmer residing near Wichita, 



Kansas; Chai-les, a resident farmer of Sac 
county, Iowa ; Amos, a retired farmer Living in 
Woodwai'd; Jacob H.. of this review; Hiram, 
a resident of Oregon; Jennie, the wife of 
Henry Olmstead, of Genoa, Illinois ; and Flora, 
the wife of Charles Turk, of Des Moines, Iowa. 
The mother resides in Woodward, Iowa. 

Jacob H. Wright was a little lad of but four 
years at the time of his father's death and he 
was then reared and educated by his mother 
on a fai-m near Sycamore, De Kalb county, 
Illinois. He was afforded good school advan- 
tages and at the early age of thirteen years 
started out in life upon his own resources, 
working by the month as a farm hand until 
he attained his majority. At that period in 
his life he made his way to this state, where he 
continued work as a farm hand. During this 
time he had carefully saved his earnings in the 
hope that some day he could engage in busi- 
ness on his own account and eventually his am- 
bition was gratified when he was enabled to in- 
vest in eighty acres of land, which forms a 
part of his present homestead property. As 
time passed and he prospered in his business 
undertakings he was permitted to add to his 
original possessions from time to time until he 
now owns a tract of two hundred and forty 
acres. He has greatly improved the place 
since it ctuone into his possession, has remodeled 
the house, erected a good barn, granary and 
sheds, has built good fences and has drained 
the land by laying over seven miles of tiling, 
so that his fields are now in a productive state. 
He is engaged in general agricultural pursuits 
and in raising good grades of stock, feeding 
and fattening about two carloads of cattle for 
the market each year. Both branches of his 
business are proving a profitable source of in- 
come to him and he is thus classed among the 
substantial residents of his community. 

Mr. Wright established a home of his own 
by his marriage on the 21st of February, 1889. 
to Miss Melissa Gill, who was born and reared 
in Dallas county, a daughter of Sylvanus Gill. 
This marriage was blessed with a son and 
daughter, Mary and Leslie, both of whom are 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



521 



with their father. The wife and mother was 
called to her final rest in 1892, and in the fol- 
lowing year Mr. Wright was married a second 
lime, this union being with Celia Gannon, 
of A^'oudward, Iowa, a daughter of ^lark 
Gannon, who is now deceased. Of this mar- 
riage there are seven children, Grace, Donald, 
Rachel, Floy, Gladys, Jacel, and Theodore, all 
of whom are still under the parental roof. 

A republican in principle and practice Mr. 
Wright is interested in the best interests of the 
party while the cause of education also finds 
in him a warm and stalwart friend. He has 
served as a member of the school board Init 
aside from this has neither held nor desired 
public oflSce. His success has been by no means 
the result of fortunate circumstances. It has 
come to him through energj'^, labor and perse- 
verance, directed by an evenly balanced mind 
and by honorable business principles. In man- 
ner he is quiet and unassuming and no man of 
Dallas county is held in higher regard than is 
Mr. Wright. 



J. J. GANNON. 



J. -J. Gannon is an enterprising and public- 
spirited citizen, owning and operating the old 
Gannon farm, comprising two hundred and 
forty acres, situated on section 22, Beaver 
township. He is a native son of Iowa, his 
birth having occurred in Scott county. May 22, 
1862. His father. Mark Gannon, was a native 
of Ireland, where he wa.s reared to manhood, 
after which he emigrated to the United States 
and was married in New Jersey to Miss Mary 
Hogan, also a native of the Emerald isle. In 
1856 the family removed to Iowa, the father 
operating rented land there until 1871. when he 
came to Dallas county and located on one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, which forms a part of the 
present tome farm of our subject. On the place 
stood a log hou.se and in this the parents took 
up their abode and there reared their family 
of two sons and three daughters. That con- 



tinued to be the family home for twenty years, 
and this primitive structure was then replaced 
with a more modern and up-to-date residence, 
which is today seen upon the place. The 
brother of our subject is William Gannon, a 
farmer residing on section 22, Beaver town- 
ship, while the sisters are Maggie, the wife of 
James Lyon, a farmer, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work ; Celia, the wife of Jacob 
H. Wright, also a farmer of Beaver township, 
whose sketch also appears in this volume; and 
Catherine, who married H. K. Dayton and died 
the same week in which hei' mother's death oc- 
curred. The parents ai"e both now deceased, 
the mother having passed away in March, 

1903, while the father survived until May, 

1904, when he, too, was called to his final rest, 
and thus passed away two of the highly re- 
spected citizens of this communitj'. 

J. J. Gannon, the eldest son and third child 
in his father's family, was a little lad of eight 
years when he accompanied his parents on 
their removal from his native county to Dal- 
las county. He received his early education 
in the schools of his home locality, and this 
was supplemented by a term of studj at Perry 
College. He was reared to the pursuit of farm 
life and remained with his father until the 
latter's death, carrying on the work of the 
home farm. Since coming into possession of 
the homestead, Mr. Gannon has further im- 
proved the place by tiling the land, building 
fences, good outbuildings, and remodeling the 
house. The place comprises two hundred and 
forty acres of land and is devoted to general 
agricultural pursuits, which are capably man- 
aged by Mr. Gannon. He is likewise in- 
terested in a number of financial enterprises, 
being a stockholder in the Peoples Savings 
Bank of Perry, and a stockholder in the Co- 
operative Store at Minburn, of which company 
he is now acting as president. He is also a 
stockholder in the Globe Telephone Company 
and for one year acted as its treasurer. 

Mr. Gannon was married June 16, 1903, in 
Beaver township, to Miss Mary Rooney, who 
wa.s born in Des Moines but was reared in 



522 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Beaver township. Their marriage ha^ been 
blessed with two intei-esting children, Marcus 
and Clyde. 

Supporting the men and measures of the 
democratic party, Mr. Gannon has ever taken 
a deep mterest in local political questions. 
His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth 
and ability, have frequently called him to 
serve in public office. He has filled the offices 
of assessor and township clerk and has also 
acted as secretary of the school board for the 
past fifteen years. He has also served as a 
delegate to county conventions on several oc- 
casions. He and his wife are communicants 
of the Catholic church at Perry. Having 
spent the greater part of their lives in Dallas 
count}-, they are both widely and favorably 
known and their many traits of character have 
won for them a host of warm friends, while 
in public life Mr. Gannon has also gained the 
respect and honor of his fellowmen. 



CLARK V. DAWSON. 

Prominent among the energetic, far-seeing 
and successful business men of this section of 
Iowa is Clark V. Dawson, whose life history 
most happily illustrates what may be attained 
by faithful and continued effort in carrying 
out an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and 
energy have been the crowning points of his 
success and his connection with various busines? 
enterprises has been of decided advantage to 
this section of the state, promoting its material 
welfare in no uncertain manner. He is now joint 
agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad Company and for the Neola Grain 
Company at Kennedy station, and in addition 
he owns property in Adel and at this place and 
also an excellent farm in Colfax township, to- 
gether with farming land in North Dakota. 

Mr. Dawson was born in Bureau county, Illi- 
nois, May 20, 1858, his parents being E. H. and 
Sidonia (Maple) Dawson, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania and settled on a farm in Bureau 



county, Illinois, in 1856. There they lived for 
more than a quarter of a century and in 1883 
removed to Greene county, Iowa, where they 
are now living upon a farm. They had four 
children of whom Clark V. is the eldest, the 
others being: John M., a resident farmer of 
Colfax township; Adam B., who is living in 
Indiana; and William H., who is on the faiun 
with his parents in Greene county. 

Clark V. Dawson was reared upon the old 
homestead place in the county of his nativity 
and acquired his education in the public 
schools. After starting out in life on his own 
account he formed a partnership with his broth- 
er in the cultivation of rented land and for 
several years they operated a threshing outfit 
of the old horse power kind, meeting with good 
success in this undertaking. With their earn- 
ings they purchased forty acres of land and 
kept bachelor's hall together. In 1886 they sold 
out and came to Dallas county, where Clark V, 
Dawson purchased one hundred and twenty 
acres of land and began farming. His brother 
also owns a good farm in Colfax township. For 
some time the subject of this review carried on 
the work of tilling the soil and annually gath- 
ered good crops, but in 1898 he left the farm 
to engage in the grain business at Kennedy sta- 
tion under the firm name of Dawson & Gudgel. 
They later sold out to the Neola Elevator Com- 
pany, since which time Mr. Dawson has con- 
tinued as manager of the business, buying and 
shipping grain and selling lumber. For two 
years he has been agent for the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railroad Company at this 
point. He also owns a valuable farm of three 
hinidred and twenty acres of well improved 
land in Colfax township and two hundred and 
forty acres in North Dakota, together with a 
residence property in Adel, and the store build- 
ing and all of the houses at Kennedy station. 
His success is due entirely to his own labors. 
He has been very fortunate in his business af- 
fairs but this is not due to any luck or advan- 
tageous circumstances. It has resulted from 
hard work, good management and unfaltering 
diligence. 




C. \'. DAWSON 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



525 



On the 4th of March, 1886, Mr. Dawson was 
united in marriage to Miss Maggie Keerns, who 
was born in Bureau county, Illinois, a daughter 
of Robert M. Keerns, now deceased. The moth- 
er, however, still lives in Adel and further men- 
tion of the family is made elsewhere in this 
work. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have become pa- 
rents of two children : Mabel Darline, a gradu- 
ate of the Adel high school and now attending 
college at Iowa City, Iowa; and Robert, who is 
a member of the graduating class of the Adel 
high school of 1907. 

Mrs. Dawson and her children belong to the 
Christian church and Mr. Dawson contributes 
to its support. In politics he is a republican 
but without desire or aspiration for office, pre- 
ferring to concentrate his energies upon his 
business affairs, in which he has met with ex- 
cellent success. He has made an untarnished 
record and unspotted reputation as a business 
man. In all places and under all circumstances 
he is loyal to truth, honor and right, justly 
valuing his own self-respect as infinitely more 
preferable than wealth, fame and position. He 
has, however, gained that prosperity which re- 
sults from earnest and well directed effort and 
is accounted one of the leading business men of 
his locality. 



CURTIS BARNETT. 



Curtis Barnett was born in Clinton county, 
Ohio, November 18, 1823, and was a son of 
Thomas and Theodate Barnett. His father 
was a native of Virginia, where he was born 
in 1772, and his mother a native of Georgia, 
where her birth occurred in 1782. They came 
to Ohio at a very early date and as pioneers 
were accustomed to the hardships of their en- 
vironment. Mr. Barnett killed deer, taimed 
the hides and made clothing for his children, 
an incident which well illustrates the sim- 
plicity of the life which this worthy couple were 
obliged io live. In 1827 they removed to Indi- 
ana where they both passed away. To their 



union were born twelve children, only one of 
whom survives: Curtis Barnett, the subject of 
this sketch, and he has now attained his 
eighty-third year. 

Mr. Barnett has always followed the pur- 
suit of an agriculturist and he has been suc- 
cessful, because he has brought his farming to 
a place where it is not an experiment but a 
scientific pursuit. In 1855 he removed to Dal- 
las county, Iowa, where he bought a farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres in Union town- 
ship on which he lived until about 1889, when 
he sold that property. He then removed to 
his present place, buying one hundred and 
sixty acres but has sold all but forty acres. 
This farm in on section 15, Union township. 

Mr. Barnett was married in 1843 to Miss 
Sidney George, a native of Marion county, 
Indiana, where she was born in 1825. Their 
marriage has been blessed with nine children: 
Anna J., the wife of Eli Compton, of this 
county; Isaac, also a resident of thi.* county; 
Thomas D., who is now living in Canada; Wil- 
liam A., deceased; Spicy A., the wife of J. 
Hadley, of Des Moines; E. E., who lives in 
Canada; Abigail, the wife of Levi Cook, of 
Marshall county, Iowa; J. E., now in 
Walla Walla, Washington ; and Mary, the 
■wife of J. A. Hadley, of this county. Mr. 
Barnett's wife passed away in 1898 and was 
mourned by a devoted husband and eight lov- 
ing children, as well as by a large circle of 
friends who looked upon her as a most devoted 
wife and an excellent mother. 

Mr. Barnett is a prohibitionist in his politi- 
cal views. He and his wife were members of 
the Friends church and as such Mr. Barnett is 
modest, unassuming and always cheerful and 
happy, ready to aid any enterprise which will 
promote the welfare of his fellowmen. His 
past has ever been upright, both in a spiritual 
and a temporal sense, and as this review shows 
he is distinctively a self-made man, one of 
nature's noblemen. His wife was a true help- 
meet in every sense of the term, and by her 
tender solicitude and ministrations always 
made his life, as well as the lives of their chil- 



526 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



dren, happy and serene. Mr. Baruett enjoys 
the respect and admiration of the people of 
Dallas county. 



ISAAC ANSON HADLEY. 

Isaac Anson Hadky was born in Clarke 
county, Iowa, November 11, 1861, and was the 
son of Jesse and Rebecca (Stanley) Hadley. 
His father was a native of Clinton county, 
Ohio, where he was born in 1820, and his 
mother was a native of North Carolina, where 
she was born in 1822. They came to Iowa in 
1858, locating in Warren county and later re- 
moved to Clark county, where they lived for 
twenty years. They then took up their home 
in Dallas county where they both passed away, 
the mother in 1890 and the father in 1904. 
This worthy couple were the parents of ten 
children, five of whom ai-e still living: J. F., 
of Kan-sas; Anna, of this county; Jane, the 
wife of D. B. Cook, of this county; -V. J., also 
a resident of this county; and I. A., the sub- 
ject of our sketch. 

Isaac A. Hadley wa.s reared under the par- 
ental roof and acquired his education in the 
common schools. He was but si.xteen years of 
age when his parents came to DalLis county, 
so that hLs education was finished here. It 
seems to have been the habit with the young 
men who were the sons of agriculturists to re- 
main upon their father's farm until they had 
attained their majority, and Mr. Hadley did 
not begin his career as an agTiculturist until 
he was twenty-one. For fourteen years he 
rented a farm and was so succe.ssful that in 
1893 he had acquired capital enough to pur- 
chase the east half of the northeast quarter of 
section 22 in L^nion township. He did not, 
however, remove to his new home until three 
yeai's later, but has ever since resided there. 
In 1904, upon the death of his father, he 
bought from the other brothers their interest 
in an eighty-acre farm owned by the elder Mr. 
Hadley. This was situated on the west half 



of the southe;t,st quarter of section 22, so that 
his two pieces of eighty acres adjoined one an- 
other at the corners. 

Mr. Hadley was united in wedlock in 1886 
to ^lary Barnett, a daughter of Curtis Barnett, 
one of the pioneers of Union township, who 
is still living and resides with his son. Unto 
this couple have been born three children: 
Orpha J., who is attending the summer school 
at Adel and making preparations to become a 
teacher; Orren B. and Willard J., who are at 
home. The two former are graduates of Earl- 
ham Academy of the class of 1907. 

In his political relations Mr. Hadley holds 
to the principles which are represented by the 
prohibition party and is an active worker in 
their cause. He is a member of the present 
school boai'd and is an active member of the 
Friends church. He indeed deserves mention 
among the most prominent of the Dallas 
county agriculturists and among her represent- 
ative citizens. His force of character, sterling 
integrity, and control of circumstances have 
made him highly respected and honored by a 
large circle of friends. His life has been 
manly, his actions sincere, his manner un- 
affected and his example is well worthy of 
ennilation. 



.JOHN H. QUIGLEY. 



John H. Quigley, a well known and repre- 
sentative agriculturist of Dallas county, was 
born at Oyster Bay, New York, July 15, 1854. 
He was a son of James and Margaret (Gillen) 
Quigley, both natives of Ireland, the father 
l>orn in County Kilkenny in 1831. He came 
to the United States in the year 1850 and 
located at Oyster Bay, Long Island, where he 
worked as a farm hand. The tide of emigra- 
tion was then moving westward and thither he 
went with his wife and his family of two chil- 
dren. He was the assistant railroad agent at 
Chillicothe, Missouri, and remained in that 
position for four years. In 1864 he removed 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



to Iowa, locating at Lidependenee, where he 
lived for one year when he again engaged in 
railroading, which he followed for the four 
succeeding years. He had early been trained 
in the duties of the farm and felt that along 
this line lay his best success. Accordingly he 
bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
in Dallas county, near Adel, which he occupied 
until 1893, when he retired from active work 
and removed into Adel. Seven years later he 
took up his abode in Perry where he died 
June 27, 1905. In his political relations he 
was a stalwart democrat and in religion was a 
Catholic. 

John II. Quigley wa.- reared under the 
parental roof, acquiring his education in the 
common schools and his practical training in 
the odd jobs which he did during his summer 
vacations. At the age of twenty-one he began 
his life career a.s an agriculturist. Determining 
not to go into debt, he decided to rent land 
until he acquired capital enough to pay cash 
for a farm of his own. This task took him 
five or six years, but at the end of that time 
he was able to purchase eighty acres near Adel. 
By the same thrift and industry which had 
brought him to his first state of independence 
he was able later to add the forty acres adjoin- 
ing to his original purchase. He worked hard 
to bring this farm to a condition where it 
would yield him large returns in crops. In 
the year 1895 he removed to Nevada, ^Missouri, 
where he had purchased two hundred and forty 
acres. Here he lived until he had impi'oved 
the land to his own satisfaction, a task which 
took him five years. He then returned to Dal- 
las county and purchased one himdred and 
sixty acras near Redfield, in Colfax township, 
where he made his home for three years. He 
was offered a price which he felt well repaid 
him for the labor expended upon this piece 
of land and he accordingly sold it and [lurchased 
a farm of one hundred and .sixty acies in Col- 
fax town.ship near Adel. Here he resided 
until March, 1907, when he removed to his 
present farm of two hundi-ed and thirty acres 
on section 10, Union township. With the 



same enei-gy with which he had taken hold 
of his former purchases he went to wjrk to im- 
prove the place which has since been his home. 
He has always been strictly up-to-date in his 
farming, has made use of all modern imple- 
ments and of scientific methods. On this ac- 
count he has never been a heavy loser, for he 
has carefully forecast the results of his har- 
vests. 

In 1875 Mr. Quigley was united in wedlock 
to Miss Nora Maher of Dallas county, a daugh- 
ter of Patrick ]\Iaher, a well known farmer 
who lives near Ad^el. To this union has been 
born two children : James and Fred, who are 
both at home. Mr. Quigley is independent in 
his political relations, reserving the right to vote 
for the b^st candidates and not for the party. 
He is one of the well known agriculturists of 
this county, yet his prosperity is not the out- 
come of propitious circumstances, but the 
honest reward of labor, good management, am- 
bition and energy, without which no man 
can win jjrasperity. What praise is too great 
for that man who has entered the list against 
poverty, obscurity and lack of education and 
has come off conquerer in the strife? 



HANS MEIER. 



Hans Meier is a prosperous farmer and stock- 
raiser of Beaver township, owning a well im- 
proved farm of one hundred and seventy-four 
acres on section 4, pleasantly located near Bou- 
ton. In addition to his home farm he like- 
wise owns farm land in Boone county, Iowa, 
which he leases. Mr. Meier is a native of Hol- 
stein, Germany, born January 23, 1864, a son 
of Herman and Anna (Rahn) Meier, both of 
whom were natives of the fatherland, where 
the father carried on farming. In 1874 he 
emigrated with his family, consisting of wife, 
six sons and one daughtei', to the United States, 
making his way at once to Jackson county, 
Iowa, where he spent one year, and in 1875 
came to Dallas county, where he first purchased 



528 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



one hundred and seventy-five acres of land. 
He became one of the extensive landowners of 
this section of the state, having at the time of 
his death fifteen hundred acres of well im- 
proved land. He spent his remaining days in 
this county, passing away here in 1899, when 
he had reached the age of seventy-one years. 
His wife still survives and now makes her 
home with the subject of this review. Their 
children were: Herman, born April 2, 1854; 
Henry, Aug-ust 25, 1856; Peter, September 9, 
1858; John, January 13, 1861; Hans, Januaiy 
23, 1864; Anna D., now Mrs. Lorenzen, March 
15, 1867; and Jerry, June 19, 1869. 

Mr. Meier was a youth of eleven years at the 
time of the emigration of the family to the 
new world. He was educated in the common 
schools of Dallas county and during the period 
of his boyhood and youth assisted his father in 
the operation of the home farm. In 1892 he 
established a home of his own by his marriage 
to Miss Christina Frahn, who was burn April 
22, 1872, in Germany, where she was reared. 

Following his marriage Mr. Meier located 
upon the fai-m where he now resides. He im- 
proved the place by the erection of a good 
country residence, a barn, granary, tool house, 
sheds and all outbuildings which are usually 
found upon a model farm of the twentieth 
century. He likewise drained his land by the 
use of tiling, built fences and now has a good 
property. He is here engaged in cultivating 
the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and 
in addition to tilling the soil is engaged in 
raising cattle and hogs, fattening a carload of 
each for the city mai-kets each year. In ad- 
dition to his home place, Mr. Meier also owns 
a tract of land in Boone county, which he 
rents. He is one of the substantial farmers of 
this section of the state and his success has come 
to him by reason of his capable management 
and honorable business methods. 

On the 28th of 'October, 1899, Mrs. Meier 
passed away, leaving three children, John H., 
Anna D. and Christina C. In his political 
views Mr. Meier is a democrat but has never 
been active as an office-seeker, preferring to 



give his undivided time and attention to his 
private business interests, in which he is meet- 
ing with gratifying success. He is a member 
of the German Lutheran church at Bouton, 
and there is no citizen of Dallas county who is 
held in higher regard than Mr. Meier. 



ALVA E. SMITH. 



Alva E. Smith, general manager of the 
Smith Produce Company of Redfield, one of 
the leading industrial concerns of Dallas 
county, was born in Redfield, Dallas county, 
April 29, 1867, a son of Isaac and Ada (Smith) 
Smith. The father was born in Guernsey 
county, Ohio, was reared in that state and in 
1856 came to Iowa, locating in Dallas county. 
He w'as a tanner by trade and established a 
tannery at Wiscotta. After the close of the 
Civil war, however, he discontinued the tanning 
business and settled down to farming in Adams 
township on a farm about four miles north of 
Earlham, where he purchased a quarter section 
of land. He was rather inclined to migrate, 
however, and later spent some time in Kan- 
sas, but returned to Dallas county and remained 
here until the time of his demise in 1879. His 
wife, a native of Ohio, passed away in 1894. 
Mr. Smith was a republican in politics and 
religiously was connected with the Friends 
church at Bear Creek. In the family of this 
worthy couple were six children, as follows: 
Anna, the wife of T. J. Tice, an agriculturist 
of Union township, Dallas county; Alva E., 
of this review; Edward G., who follows farm- 
ing in Union township, Dallas county; Elbert 
A., who is connected with agricultural pur- 
suits in Colfax township, Dallas county; Omar 
W., who is now in the Philippines; and Grace, 
the wife of C. Barnett, a resident of Des 
Moines. 

Alva E. Smith spent his time under the 
parental roof until he had attained the age of 
fourteen years. He was possessed of a great 
deal of ambition and had inherited something 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



529 



of his father's migratory spirit, so that he spent 
the following nine years at various employ- 
ments, his travels covering the territory be- 
tween New Orleans and Winnipeg, Manitoba. 
He did not anchor himself to any one place 
for any length of time until the year 1890, 
when he returned to Dallas county and took 
up his abode in Redfield, since which time he 
has been prominently identified with the 
town's material upbuilding and prosperity. 
On his arrival here, in 1890, he became con- 
nected with the produce business. This enter- 
prise was carried on in a moderately successful 
way until November, 1902, when the neces- 
sity of more capital to carry on the increasing 
business presented itself. Accordingly, in as- 
sociation with others, Mr. Smith organized the 
Smith Produce Company, of which be was 
made general manager. The business which 
was formerly carried on in a small way now 
became one of magnitude, the field of their 
operations being continually enlarged and ex- 
tended until .at present it amounts to almost 
three hundred thousand dollars annually. 
The prosperity of any community, town or 
city, depends upon its commercial activity, its 
industrial interests and its trade relations, and 
therefore among the builders of a town are 
those \^•ho stand at the head of the business 
enterijrise.~. Mr Smith's activity in business 
ha? not only contributed to his individual suc- 
cess but has also been an active factor in the de- 
velopment of the county, and he is widely 
recognized as one of its representative business 
men. 

^Ir. Smith was united in marriage to Miss 
Clara Lamb, a daughter of Charles Lamb, who 
was one of the early pioneer settlers of Red- 
field but is now deceased. Two children have 
been born unto our subject and his wife, Wal- 
ter £md Susie. 

In his political views Mr. Smith is inde- 
pendent, voting for the candidate who, in his 
judgment, is best qualified, regardless of party 
ties. He has served for fifteen years on the 
town council and is still a member thereof. 
He is also on the school board, and has been 



one of the prime factors in every movement 
tending to promote the advancement of his 
home town. In his fraternal relations Mr. 
Smith belongs to Redfield lodge. No. 135, I. 
0. O. F., and to the Knights of Pythias fra- 
ternity. His genuine pereonal worth and 
sterling traits of character have won him the 
unbounded confidence and esteem of the en- 
tire community and the respect and admira- 
tion of all with whom he has come in contact. 



PETER A. MOWRER, M. D. 

Dr. Peter A. Mowrer has long since passed 
the age when many men retire from business, 
believing that their active life work is done, 
but he still engages in the practice of his pro- 
fession, his labors proving of benefit to his fel- 
lowmen. He has long ministered to the sick 
and suffering, becoming the loved family physi- 
cian in many a household. Esteemed, well 
liked, and respected wherever he is known, his 
life history cannot fail to prove of interest to 
many readers of this volume. 

Dr. Mowrer was born in Chester county, 
Pennsylvania, October 30, 1830, his parents be- 
ing Peter and Catherine (Posey) Mowrer, also 
natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they 
were married. The father followed the occupa- 
tion of farming in the east and in 1856 came 
to the west with his family, settling in Buffalo 
Grove, Boone county, Iowa, where he carried 
on general farming and stock-raising until his 
death. In the family were five sons and three 
daughters, of whom four are yet living. Dr. 
Mowrer being the first born. The others are: 
Sarah, the wife of Andrew Rhodes; Nathan, 
who married Laura Vernon and is living in 
Boone; and Ella, the wife of Albert Miller of 
Perry. 

Dr. Mowrer was educated in an academj^ in 
Chester county, Pennsylvania, and took up the 
study of medicine in the office of Dr. Dicken- 
shad. To further prepare himself for the pro- 
fession he became a student in the old 



530 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



University of Pennsylvania in 1849 and was 
graduated from that institution on the comple- 
tion of a rourse in the medical department with 
the class of 1851. The 7th of April of that 
year was the day of graduation. Soon after- 
ward he located at East "\ancent, Pennsylvania, 
where he remained for three years and in 1854 
removed to Kansas. In October, 1855, after a 
brief residence in Keokuk, Iowa, he came to 
Dallas county, and settled near the cit}^ of 
Perry. He was the only physician in this 
locality at the time. His nearest fellow prac- 
titioner was at Adel. while others were at 
Boone and Jefferson. Iowa. Up to eight years 
ago he maintained his office on his farm, just 
outside the city limits, but in 1899, he estab- 
lished an office in town, in connection with his 
son. Dr. William P. Mowrer. He still lives 
upon the farm, however, and expects to make 
it his home throughout his remaining days. 
In the years which have come and gone since 
his arrival he has ever maintained a foremost 
place as a leading member of the medical pro- 
fession in this part of the county and has been 
accorded a most liberal patronage, while by 
study and investigation he has kept in touch 
Avith the trend of modern thought and scien- 
tific research. He is a member of the Perry 
Medical Society and has been medical pension 
examiner for the United States for about eight- 
een yeai's. 

Dr. Mowrer wa.s married December 10, 1863, 
to Miss Margaret L. Fagen. who was born in 
Columbiana county, Ohio, August 10, 1838, a 
daughter of Hezekiah and Hannah (Neil) 
Fagen. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, 
November 1, 1812, and died in Iowa, November 
8, 1865. His wife, who was born in Ohio, passed 
aw ay during the early girlhood of Mrs. Mowrer, 
who was one of a family of four daughters and 
two sons, and is the only one now living. Her 
father was a farmer and miller and in 1848 be- 
came a resident of PoUc county, Iowa, settling 
there among its early citizens. 

Unto Dr. and Mrs. ^lowrer have been born 
seven children : Lettie, wife of Archibald New- 
port, a resident of Brisby, Arkansas ; Kate, wife 



of George Donohue; Mona A.; Edna A., wife of 
Ed. Mullen; William P., who is practicing in 
connection with his father; Hezekiah, who 
died on the 23d of October, 1891, being six- 
teen years old at the time of his death; and 
Genie Brahan, living at home. 

Dr. Mowrer has voted the republican ticket 
since the organization of the party but, while 
he has been most loyal to its interests, has 
never sought or desired office for himself, pre- 
ferring to give his undivided attention to his 
professional duties, which he has discharged 
with a sense of conscientious obligation and in 
strict conformity to a high standard of profes- 
sional ethics. His life has indeed been one of 
signal usefulness to his fellowmen and has not 
only brought the satisfaction that comes from 
duty well performed but has also gained for 
him a comfortable competence. 



WILLIAM F. KIRGIS. 

In an analyzation of the character and life 
work of William F. Kirgis we note many of the 
characteristics which have marked the German 
nation for many centuries, — the perseverance, 
reliability and energy which constitute such an 
important part in winning success — and it is 
these sterling qualities which have won for 
Mr. Kirgis his success in the business world 
and made him one of the valuable and sub- 
stantial residents of Dallas county. He is the 
owner of a finely improved farm of two hun- 
dred and forty acres, situated on section 18, 
Beaver township, his postoffice address being 
at Bouton. Mr. Kirgis was born in Wurtem- 
berg, Germany, April 24, 1850, a son of John 
Kirgis, who was likewise born in that province 
and was there reared and married to Miss Dora 
Webber, also a native of Germany. In 1852 
the father emigrated with his family to the 
new world, .spending the first five years in New 
York city. In 1857 he went to Pennsylvania, 
where he resided until 1862, in which year he 
made his wav westward to Illinois, settling on 




MR. AND MRS. W. F. KIRGIS 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



533 



a farm near Sterling, in Whiteside county. 
After renting land for a few years lie then pur- 
chased land, which he operated until 1897, 
when he came to Dallas county and purchased 
a house and lot in Bouton, where his remaining 
years were passed, his death there occurring in 
February, 1899. His wife survived for only a 
few weeks, when she, too, was called to her 
final rest. 

William F. Kirgis was less than two years of 
age at the time of the emigration of the family 
to America, and he accompanied them on their 
various removals in the east and then went with 
them to Illinois. He was educated mostly in 
the schools of Whiteside county, Illinois, and 
remained under the parental roof until he 
reached the age of twenty-three years. It was 
during his residence in that county that he 
was married to Miss Mary Appenzeller, 
who was also a native of Germany. Following 
their marriage the young couple took up their 
abode upon a farm, which Mr. Kirgis operated 
for five years. He then removed to Kansas, 
where he spent five months but in 1880 came to 
Dallas county, where he first purchased eighty 
acres of land. This was an unimproved tract 
when it came into his possession but he at 
once undertook the work of clearing and de- 
velopmg it. In the fall of 1881 he built a fine 
country residence, tiled and fenced his land 
and made it a well improved property. As 
time passed and his financial resources per- 
mitted he added to his original holdings until 
he now owns two hundred and forty acres of 
land, all of which has been brought under a 
high state of cultivation. This farm is situ- 
ated on section 18, Beaver township. It is now 
improved with a goo.d two-story residence, three 
barns, granary, cribs and sheds and Mr. Kirgis 
has also set out three good orchards, in addi- 
tion to planting shade and ornamental trees, 
so that his place in its neat and well kept con- 
dition forms an attractive feature of the land- 
scape. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kirgis have reared a family 
of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. 
The .sons are: William A., John, George, Wal- 



ter, Elmer and Samuel, all on the home farm. 
The daughters are : Maggie, the wife of Plyna 
Boyden, by whom she has three children. Glen, 
Howard and Pearl, their home being on a farm 
in Beaver township; Emma, a young lady at 
home ; Hattie, a telephone operator at Bouton ; 
Dora, who is engaged in teaching in Dallas 
county; Martha; and Ruth. 

Mr. Kirgis cast his first presidential ballot in 
1872 for U. S. Grant and has voted for every 
presidential candidate of that party since that 
time with one exception. He has served as 
highway commissioner and as a member of the 
school board, but has never been active as an 
office seeker, preferring to give his undivided 
time and attention to his private business af- 
fairs. He and his wife were reared in the faith 
of the Lutheran church, but now attend the 
different churches, while their daughter Dora 
is a teacher in the Union Sunday school held 
at the schoolhouse. The family are prominent 
in Bouton and Dallas county, where they are 
held in the highest esteem. 



S. D. EVANS. 



The agricultural interests of Dallas county 
find a worthy representative in S. D. Evans, 
who owns and operates a well improved farm 
of two hundred and forty-eight acres on sec- 
tion 11, Beaver township. He is also well 
known as a stock-raiser. Mr. Evans was born 
in Henry county, Indiana, May 17, 1840, and 
his parents were George and Catherine (Snide- 
man) Evans, the former born in Virginia, 
where he was reared and married, his wife be- 
ing a native of Germany. At an early day in 
the development of the west, the father made 
his way with his family to Henry county, Indi- 
ana, where he acquired a farm comprising 
seven hundred acres, and there spent his re- 
maining days, his death occurring in 1861. He 
had been twice married, his first wife passing 
away in 1842, after which he was married a 
second time. 



534 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



S. D. Evans is one of a family of four chil- 
dren born of the father's fir^t marriage but only 
two now sun-ive, his sister being Eva, the wife 
of William Wimmer, a resident of Henry 
count}-, Indiana. The son was reared and edu- 
cated in his native state, a.?sisting his father 
in the operation of the home farm during the 
period of his boyhood and youth. He was a 
young man of twenty-two years when, in 1862, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reed, 
who was likewise a native of Heniy county, 
Indiana. The young couple there began their 
domestic life on a farm and three children 
were added to the household. In 1868 he made 
his way to Polk county, Iowa, where he rented 
a farm for four years and his wife here passed 
awaj' in 1873. Following her death Mr. Evans 
returned with his children, now numbering 
four, for one had been born in Polk county, to 
Henry county, Indiana, where he resided for 
two year's and was there married a second time, 
this union being with Mary L. Noggle, who 
was born in that county. Their marriage was 
celebrated August 19, 1875, and soon after- 
ward he removed with his family to Dallas 
county, Iowa, where he made purchase of one 
hundred and twenty acres of land, which con- 
stitutes a portion of his present homestead 
property. A small house stood upon the place 
but this has been enlarged and remodeled by 
the present owner. Mr. Evans tiled and fenced 
his land, built substantial outbuildings, and 
from time to time added more land until his 
place now embraces two hundred and forty- 
eight acres, which has been acquired through 
his own well directed efforts. He has set out 
a good orchard and has adorned the place with 
many shade trees, so that it is one of the at- 
tractive farms of this section of the state. Mr. 
Evans is engaged in tilling the soil and culti- 
vating the crops which are best adapted 
to soil and climate, and he likewise gives a 
portion of his time and attention to the rais- 
ing and feeding of stock, making a specialty 
of good grades of hogs. In addition to his land 
in Pallas county Mr. Evans also owns one 
lumdred and sixty acres of prairie land in Cod- 



dington county, South Dakota, near Water- 
town. 

The two surviving children of Mr. Evans' 
first marriage are: Robert Evans, who is mar- 
ried and has one daughter, and follows farming 
on the home place; and Rosetta, the wife of 
W. B. McDuffy, a farmer of South Dakota, by 
whom she has two children. Of the last mar- 
riage three sons have been born : A. Homer, 
who is a contractor and grader of Dallas county ; 
H. H., who owns farm land in Montana; and 
James, a young man at home. 

Mr. Evans cast his first presidential ballot 
in 1864 in support of Abraham Lincoln and 
has voted for each presidential candidate of the 
republican party since that time. For eight 
years he served as township trustee and for 
many years has acted as a member of the 
school board. He and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. More than 
three decades have passed since Mr. Evans made 
a permanent location in Dallas county and 
with its history from that time down to the 
present he is thoroughly familiar. He has 
aided in the early development and progress of 
the county, reclaiming it for the purposes of 
civilization, and ha.s steadily pursued his way 
undeterred by the obstacles and difficulties in 
his path until he ha< achieved a prosperity of 
which he ha.* every reason to ho proud. 



ISRAEL FREMONT HARRIS. 

Israel Fremont Harris, one of the substan- 
tial agriculturists and highlj' esteemed citizens 
of Union town.ship, Dallas county, was born in 
Athens county, Ohio, October 12, 1856, a son 
of Levi and Catherine (Erwin) Harris. The 
father was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, 
and removed to Athens county with his parents 
when a boy, being there reared and married. 
His wife died in 1862 and in the spring of 
1864 he came to Iowa, locating in Jasper 
county in the fall of that year, and being 
joined here by our subject and two daughters. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



535 



The father was manied a second time, in July, 
1865, to ^Irs. Mary Newhouse, the widow of 
Jonathan Newhouse, who was formerly Miss 
Mary Dickey. Levi Harris resided on the farm 
in Jasper county until his death, which oc- 
curred when he had reached the age of seventy- 
three years. He gave his political support to 
the republican party, and was unassuming and 
retiring in his daily life, being entirely free 
from ostentation or display, and thereby 
winning the respect and kindly regard of every- 
one with whom he came in contact. Unto him 
and his first wife were born four children, two 
of whom sunive: Mary, the wife of Robert 
DoUarhfeid, of Oregon; and Israel, the sub- 
ject of this review. The eldest in the family 
was Thomas Henderson Harris, who acted as 
color bearer of his regiment in the Civil war 
and was killed while carrying the flag in the 
battle of Chattanooga, thus laying down his 
life on the altar of his country. The other, a 
sister, jMargaret, was the wife of William 
Longcor. Her death occurred in February, 
1907. 

Israel Fremont Harris remained at home 
until he had reached his eighteenth year, when 
he entered business life, working as a farm 
hand for eight years. At the end of that time 
he rented a farm of eighty acres, feeling that 
he was now ready to carry on agricultural pur- 
suits successfully on his own account. He 
operated this place for three yeai-s and then 
removed to his father-in-law's farm, where he 
remained for four years. In the spring of 1889 
he purchased eighty acres of his present farm, 
in Union tomiship, Dallas county, to which he 
removed. In the fall of 1898 he purchased an 
additional eighty-acre tract across the road 
from his first purchase and now has one hun- 
dred and .sixty acres of the finest farming land 
in the county. He has erected all of the build- 
ings that are now seen on the place and brought 
the farm up to its present high state of im- 
provement by the exercise of his industry, en- 
terprise and perseverance. He came to Dallas 
county with a capital of one thousand dollai-s 
imd a siuiill amount of stock, and has mot with 



the prosperity which is the sure reward of well 
directed labor and modern methods in the con- 
duct of agricultural interests. 

In September, 1881, Mr. Harris was united 
in marriage to Miss Dora Poorbaugh, a daugh- 
ter of Henry and Phoebe (Lint) Poorbaugh, 
who in an early day removed to Jasper county, 
Iowa, from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Har- 
ris are the parents of two children: Grace, the 
wife of Charles Hadley, of this township and 
county, who has two children — Murl and 
Helen ; and Cecil, who is at home. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Harris is a 
democrat, and for the past five years has served 
as treasurer of the school board, being still the 
incumbent in that position. He is a stalwart 
friend of the cause of education and in fact is 
known throughout the entire community as a 
representative agriculturist and a citizen whose 
support can be counted upon to further any 
measure or movement that will promote the 
welfare and prosperity of the county. 



JAMES L. KEACHIE. 

James L. Keachie is secretary and general 
manager of the Dexter Creamery — the most 
important industry of the town. He was born 
in Sheffield, "Wentworth county, Ontario, Can- 
ada, on January 23, 1876, a son of John and 
Sarah (Kirkpatrick) Keachie. The father, also 
a native of Sheffield, was born August 14, 1838, 
while the grandfather, James Bailey Keachie, 
was born in New York, his parents having emi- 
grated from Scotland. They remained in New 
York for only a short period, however, cross- 
ing the border into Canada and taking up their 
abode in Ontario. The members of the 
Keachie family for several generation.s back 
had largely been tillers of the soil, and John 
Keachie, the father of our subject, likewise 
followed the same pursuit. For the past eight 
years, however, he has been living a retired 
life in the town of Gait, Wentworth county. 



536 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



His wife was abo born in Sheffield, Ontario, 
the date of her birth being March 8, 1845, 
while her parents were respectively of Scotch 
and German ancestry. She passed away on 
July 12, 1894, and her death was deeply 
regretted by a large circle of friends as well as 
by her immediate family. Mr. and Mrs. 
Keachie were the pai'ents of six children, as 
follows: John B., who resides in Redwood Falls, 
Minnesota; Mary, the wife of Osborn Howell, 
of St. George, Ontario, Canada; Anna, who 
married Dr. James McQueen, living in Freel- 
ton, Ontario; James L., of this revie-w; Ger- 
trude, the wife of C. E. Benkley, of New Lis- 
keard, Ontario; and Nellie, the wife oi C. E. 
Cornell, residing in Truman, Minnesota. 

James L. Keachie was reared on the home 
farm and acquired his education in the public 
schools of Sheffield and the Commercial Col- 
lege at Gait, Ontario. In 1900 he came to the 
United States, joining a brother in Dexter, 
Iowa, who had charge of the creamery here 
and whose employ he entered. The following 
winter he took a special course in butter-mak- 
ing at the Iowa State Dairy School at Ames, 
and following its completion he was offered and 
accepted the management of the creamery at 
Blairstown, Benton county, Iowa. In the 
spring of 1902, however, he resigned from this 
institution, and applied for the position of 
secretary and general manager of the Dexter 
Creamery, these offices being left vacant by the 
resignation of his brother. On the 1st of 
March, 1902, James L. Keachie assumed the 
duties of his present position, the plant under 
his management having been unusually suc- 
cessful owing to the executive ability and ex- 
cellent business training of our subject. The 
business of the creamery has increased with 
remarkable rapidity, and during the past year 
the output amounted to one hundred and 
eighty thousand pounds of butter. The entire 
product of this important industrial plant is 
shipped to Philadelphia, Pennsj'lvania. The 
Dexter Creamery is the most important enter- 
prise of the town and also one of the most 
successful creameries in this section of Iowa, 



being therefore a prominent factor in the ma- 
terial prosperity of the county. 

On the 25th of December, 1902, Mr. Keachie 
was joined in wedlock to Miss Ada Gilmore, a 
native of Valens, Ontario, Canada, and a 
daughter of William and Eliza (Cudney) Gil- 
more, both of whom are still living and reside 
on their farm in Wentworth county, Ontario. 

In his political views Mr. Keachie is a repub- 
lican and fraternally is connected with Dexter 
lodge. No. 215, 1. 0. 0. F. He is also a member 
of the United Presbyterian church, while his 
wife is connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
denomination. In the conduct of his business 
Mr. Keachie has always employed methods 
which would bear the closest investigation and 
scrutiny and which have been based upon the 
strictest principles of business integrity. He 
well deserves his position as one of the repre- 
sentative citizens of the county, and all with 
whom he comes in contact accord him the 
highest respect and esteem. 



CLAUDE A. DIDDY. 

Claude A. Diddy, proprietor of a modern 
and up-to-date drug store of Redfield and one 
of the town's leading and public-spirited citi- 
zens, was born in Boone township, Dallas coun- 
ty, Iowa, on April 15, 1870, being a son of 
John W. and Arminta (Willis) Diddy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Diddy became the parents of 
five children, four of whom yet survive : Claude 
A., of this review; Cad, a commercial salesman 
for a chemical company in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota; Frank, who is associated in busi- 
ness with his brother, Claude A. ; and. Myrtle, 
the wife of A. G. Anderson, a resident of Jol- 
ley, Iowa. The three sons and son-in-law are 
all registered pharmacists. 

Claude A. Diddy was reared at home, supple- 
menting the early education which he acquired 
in the Perry public schools by attendance at 
the Adel high school. On completing hi.'^ edu- 
cation he entered a hardware and grocery store 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



537 



in Adel as a clerk, and in 1887 entered the 
drug store of J. L. Sinicoke at Adel, where he 
learned the drug business. In 1889 he passed 
the state examination and \va5 duly registered 
as a pharmacist. Mr. Diddy then came to Red- 
tield and for four years was employed in the 
drug .•<tore of D. A. Freed, purchasing the 
Inijincss from his employer in 1893. In 1902 
he built a new, modern Inisiness block, 
one of the best in , the town, and is now • 
conducting an extensive and successful en- 
terprise, having by his honoral^le dealings 
and modern business methods won a pat- 
ronage that has made his establishment 
a source of gratifying prosperity to him. 
His business interests, however, are not 
confined to one line, for he is a half owner in 
the Redfield Publishing Company, publishers 
of the Redfield Review, and is also one of the 
stockholders in the Smith Produce Company. 
His interests are thus varied and important, 
making him one of the leading and represent- 
ative business men and citizens of tlif cnni- 
munity. 

In 1893 Mr. Diddy was united in marriage 
to Miss Lena Binns of Redfield, by whom he 
had one child, Keith W. In June, 1903, he 
was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, 
who had ever been a faithful companion and 
helpmate to him and who had won many 
friends by reason of her kindly, helpful spirit 
and her devotion as a wife and mother. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Diddy is a 
republican, and has served as mayor and also 
as a member of the town council of Redfield. 
He is public-spirited to an unusual degree and 
gives freely of his time and money for the pro- 
motion of any movement or measure whicli 
will advance the general welfare and aid the 
material prosperity of the town. Fraternally 
he is connected with Wiscotta lodge. No. 158, 
A. F. & A. M.; Redfield lodge. No. 135, I. 0. 
O. F. ; and Redfield lodge. No. 346, K. P. A 
young man, Mr. Diddy possesses the enterpris- 
ing .spirit of (he west which has been the domi- 
nant factor in producing the wonderful devel- 
opment of this section of the country. P)rook- 



ing no obstacles that honest effort can over- 
come, he has steadily worked his way upward 
until, having long since left the ranks of the 
many, he today stands among the successful 
few. 



THOMAS J. GILBERT. 

Thomas J. Gilbert, conducting a hardware 
store at Perry, is a self-made man whose life 
history clearly illustrates the fact that success 
is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but 
is rather the outcome of clear judgment, ex- 
jierience and unabating diligence. Mr. Gilbert 
was born in Ohio, January 30, 1845, and his 
education was acquired in the schools of that 
state while he was spending his boyhood days 
in the home of his parents, Henry and Fidelia 
C. (Darling) Gilbert, both of whom were na- 
tives of the Empire state. The father was born 
September 5, 1820, and died in 1900, when in 
his eighty-first year, while his wife was born 
in 1826 and passed away at the age of seventy- 
nine years. They were married in Ohio. Mr. 
Gilbert was a farmer by occupation and fol- 
lowed that pursuit during the greater part of 
his life, although in 1856 he removed to Bryan, 
Ohio, where he maintained a sawmill for a 
number of years. After the outbreak of the 
Civil war he enlisted as a member of Company 
C, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and 
sei-ved about four months, receiving the com- 
mission of lieutenant. Later he enlisted two 
hundred men and was commissioned captain 
of Company C, One Hundredth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry. He then served seven or eight 
months, after which he was honorably dis- 
charged on account of disability. For about 
two years prior to the war he served as post- 
master of Bryan, Ohio. At the time of his 
first enlistment he was deputy sheriff of Bryan, 
Ohio. Following the close of the war he re- 
moved from the Buckeye state to Augusta, 
Wisconsin, where he made his home through- 
out his remaining days, though he spent two 



538 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



01' three wintei"s with his son in Perry, Iowa. 
He became a Mason in Ohio and also took the 
chapter degrees there. He was also a member 
of the Odd Fellows lodge of Augusta, Wiscon- 
sin, and in politics was a stanch republican. 
His life was one of activity and usefulness, 
characterized by the same loyalty in citizen- 
ship in the days of peace as when he followed 
the old flag upon southern battle-fields. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were born four children : 
Thomas J.; Jennie, wife of George W. Myers, 
living in Ohio; William H., a resident of Wis- 
consin; and James P., living in Perry. 

Thomas J. Gilbert was reared at home to the 
age of fifteen years when he began working 
in a tinshop in Bryan, Ohio. Later he re- 
turned home to look after his father's business 
and subsequently engaged in clerking for 
about two years. He then went to Wisconsin 
with his father and was on a farm there for 
about two yeare, after which he returned to 
Ohio and was a hardware clerk for eight years. 
On the expiration of that period he went upon 
the road, selling hardware for a New York 
wholesale house, and was with one firm for five 
years. He afterward became traveling sales- 
man for a whol&sale hardware house of Cleve- 
land, Ohio, which he represented for three 
years, and in March, 1886, came to Perry, 
Iowa, where he engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness. He has since been numbered among the 
leading and successful merchants of this place. 
On the 20th of November, 1898, his store was 
destroyed by fire. Two weeks later, however, 
he had built a board shanty in which he car- 
ried on business until the following Septem- 
ber, when he removed to the brick store in 
which he is now located. He has been accord- 
ed a liberal patronage, owing to his reasonable 
prices, his honorable methods and his earnest 
desire to please his customers. 

Mr. Gilbert was married, January 11, 1870, 
to Miss Leanora Carey, daughter of John and 
Mary (Hicks) Carey, both natives of New Eng- 
land. They died during the early girlhood of 
their daughter, who was the eldest of three 
children, the others being Mary and Charles, 



twins. The father was a farmer by occupation 
and spent his last days in Nevada. 

Mr. Gilbert Avas prominent in public life in 
Bryan, Ohio, where he served as city treasurer 
for six years. He was made a Mason there 
and has taken the chapter and commandery 
degrees. He was likewise a member of Elkanaha 
Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Cedar Rajiids, 
Iowa. He demitted from the blue lodge of 
Masonry in Ohio and has since become a mem- 
ber of Otley lodge, No. 299, A. F. & A. M. ; 
Palmyra chapter. No. 86, R. A. M. ; Gerard 
commandery. No. 56, K. T. ; and is a charter 
member of Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the ilystic 
Shrine, at Des Moines, Iowa. His political al- 
legiance is unswervingly given the republican 
party. He is an exemplary representative of 
the craft and in his life displays its beneficent 
spirit. His business cai'eer is one of which he 
has every reason to be proud for he placed his 
dependence not upon any outside aid or influ- 
ence but upon the substantial qualities of self- 
help, unfaltering energj' and unabating perse- 
verance. Thus he has worked his way upward 
until he is now at the head of a leading profit- 
able commercial interest of Perrv. 



ALEXANDER SMART. 

Alexander Smart, who is station agent at 
Perry for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad 
Company, was born in Scotland, December 4, 
1835, and although he has passed the Psalm- 
ist's allotted span of three score years and ten 
he is yet an active factor in business circles. He 
was educated' in the schools of Edinburgh, 
Scotland, and throughout his entire life has 
manifested many o'f the sterling traits of his 
race. His parents were William and Jean 
(Johnston) Smart, who were likewise natives 
of the land of hills and heather. The father, 
who was born in 1800, wa.s a gardener in Scot- 
land and remained a resident of that country 
until 1856, when thinking that he could enjoy 
better business opportunities in the new world, 




.\i,i:x.\.\i)i:i; smai;' 



PAST AND PEESENT 01'' DALLAS COUNTY. 



541 



crossed the Atlantic to America on the saihng 
ship Cai-oline, of Rockland, Maine, which 
sailed from Liverpool to Boston. He then es- 
tablished his home in Andover, Massachusetts, 
where he lived retired. He was a member of 
the old Free church of Scotland and was a man 
whose record for integrity and fidelity gained 
for him uniform confidence and esteem. He 
died in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1882, while 
his wife passed away there at the age of fifty- 
five years. In their family were six sons and 
a daughter, of whom four are still living : James 
J., William, John J., and Alexander. 

Alexander Smart was a resident of his native 
land during the period of his youth and when 
still quite young began learning the machin- 
ist's trade, at w*liich he worked for two years. 
He was afterward in the employ of the North 
British Railroad for two years as engineer and 
subsequentlj' was employed in the same capac- 
ity between Edinburgh and Berwick. In 1857 
when a young man of twenty-one years, he 
crossed the briny deep to the new world, set- 
tling at Boston, where he became superintend- 
ent for the firm of Stone & Smart, the junior 
partner being his brother. They had a machine 
shop, which Alexander Smart managed until 
1859, when he made his way to Davenport, 
Iowa. In the vicinity of that city he engaged 
in fanning for about two years after -which he 
removed to Whiteside countj', Illinois, where he 
also carried on farming for five years. In 18G6 
he went to Malcolm, Iowa, and was agent for 
the Mississippi & Missouri Rtiilroad Company, 
which in the fall of that ye-ar sold its line to the 
Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company, 
then formed the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
Railroad Company. Mr. Smart built a grain 
elevator at Malcolm and there engaged in the 
grain business until 1868, when he removed 
to De Soto, Dallas county, which wa.s then the 
terminus of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
Railroad. When the line was extended as far 
west as Stuart Mr. Smart took charge of the 
station there and continued as agent until 1887, 
when ho entered the employ of the Southern 
Pacific Railroad, liaviijg the management of its 



business at Fresno, California. On the 15tJi 
of May, 1888, he came to Perry and was agent 
here for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
Railroad, remaining at this place until 1891, 
when he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and with 
Mr. Williams bought out the Blue Line Trans- 
fer Company. There he carried on business for 
about three years or until 1894, when he sold 
out and organized the Bazalt Hardwall Plaster 
Company, carrying on business in that way un- 
til 1899, when he again sold out and went to 
Guthrie Center. Here he took charge of the 
station for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 
Railroad Company, continuing in this position 
until October 24, 1901, when he came to 
Perry and took charge of the station for the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. In 
1905 the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad 
Company purchased this line and Mr. Smart 
has been in charge of the business as agent at 
this place continuously since. 

Mr. Smart was married in early manhood to 
Miss Lucy Ann Sanger, at Cambridgeport, 
Massachusetts. She was born at Danvers, Massa- 
chusetts, and died at De Soto, Iowa, in 1870, 
when thirty-five years of age. Her father, 
Richard Sanger, was a native of the old Bay 
state and conducted an extensive and successful 
business as a contractor and builder in Massa- 
chusetts. He died during the early girlhood of 
his daughter, Mrs. Smart. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Smart have been born a daughter and son : Ida, 
now the widow of Willard B. Conger, of Seattle, 
Washington ; and Charles, who is cashier of the 
Merchants National Bank at Fort Smith, Ar- 
kansas. -Mrs. Conger has one child married to 
Myron D. Moulton, at Seattle, Washington, 
and Mrs. Moulton has one daughter about a 
year old, this being the first great-grandchild. 
Mr. Charles Smart has two children: a son, 
Willard, twenty-one years, and a daughter, 
Gladys, eighteen years of age. 

While living in Stuart Mr. Smart sensed as 
a member of the school board and he has always 
been interested in progressive public measures 
tending to promote the welfare of the commu- 
nity along business and intellectual lines, lb' 



542 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



was made a Mason in De Soto, took the chapter 
degrees in Adel and is a charter member of the 
commandery at Perry. He also belongs to Za- 
Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des 
Moines and his political allegiance is given to 
the republican party. He has been in the rail- 
road service for half a century — a fact which is 
indicative of his thorough trustworthiness. As 
agent he has ever been considerate and reliable, 
doing all in his power to further the interests of 
the traveling public, while the companies that 
he has represented give him their unqualified 
trust and approval. He is now seventy-two 
years of age and yet remains one of the world's 
workers. From an early age he has depended 
upon his own resources for advancement in life 
and whatever success he has achieved is at- 
tributable to his labors and careful manage- 
ment. 



HANS SCHNOOR. 



Among the prominent pioneer settlers who 
have advanced the civilization of Dallas county, 
Hans Schnoor is numbered. He has borne his 
full share in the development, progress and up- 
building of this portion of the state, and his 
memorj- goes back to the time when the en- 
tire county was tut sparsely settled, when the 
land was still unclaimed for the purposes of 
cultivation but remained in the primitive con- 
dition in which it came from the hand of na- 
ture. He po.ssesses many of the sterling charac- 
teristics of the German race, for his birth 
occurred in Holstein, Germany, September 12, 
1842. His parents, Henry and Catherine 
(Johnson) Schnoor, were likewise natives of 
that place. The father was a millwright by 
trade and followed that pursuit in his native 
land. In 1852 he emigrated with his family 
to the United States, and landing in New 
Orleans made his way up the river to St. Louis, 
where he spent the winter, and in the spring 
made his way to .Jackson county, Iowa, where 
he purchased one hundred and twenty acres 



of land. He there reai-ed his family and spent 
his remaining days, passing away in Jackson 
county, September 26, 1872, while his wife 
died in Dallas county in the spring of 1889. 

Hans Schnoor is one of a family ot five sons 
and four daughters. He has two brothers liv- 
ing: Glaus, who resides near Wichita, Kansas, 
and Henry, of Greene county, Iowa. Hans 
Schnoor was reared in Jackson county, being 
a lad of ten years at the time of the emigra- 
tion of the family to the new world. His edu- 
cational advantages in his youth were very 
limited, owing to the unsettled condition of 
the country and to the fact that his services 
were needed in the development and improve- 
ment of the home farm. However, in later 
years, through reading and observation he has 
become a well informed man. 

In 1868, in Jackson county, Mr. Schnoor 
sought a companion and helpmate for the 
journey of life through his marriage to Miss 
Margaret Paulson, who was likewise a native 
of Germany. In 1870 he came with his wife to 
Dallas county, where in 18'69 he had bought 
eighty acres of raw and unimproved land. 
Taking up his abode here he at once began to 
develop and improve the land. He divided 
the place into fields of convenient size by build- 
ing fences. He then began the work of culti- 
vation and in due course of time gathered rich 
and abundant crops, for the land was found 
to be very productive. He built a good house. 
barns and other outbuildings, set out fruit and 
shade trees and made here a good home. As 
time passed and opportunity off'ered he ex- 
tended the boundaries of his farm by addi- 
tional purchases until he now owns two 
hundred acres, constituting one of the valuable 
properties of this section of the state. In ad- 
dition to carrying on the work of the fields Mr. 
Schnoor also engages in the raising of stock, 
which is proving a profitable source of income. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schnoor has 
been blessed with ten children, but one son, 
John, died at the age of two years. The sur- 
viving members are: Henry, who is married 
and follows farming and carpentering, making 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



543 



his home in Bouton; Edward, who i? married 
and follows farming in Beaver township ; John, 
who rtisides on a farm near Dawson ; Claus J., 
who is mai'ried and follows fai'ming near Daw- 
son; Otto E., who is at home and assists his 
father in the management of the home farm; 
Katie, the wife of John C. Thompson, a resi- 
dent farmer of Beaver township; Anna, the 
wife of John Hansen, a farmer of Beaver town- 
ship; Lena, the wife of George Husmann, a 
farmer of Boone connty, Iowa; and Dora, the 
wife of John Arnold, a farmer of South 
DaJcota. 

Politically Mr. Schnoor is a republican and 
cast his first presidential ballot in support of 
Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has served as 
a member of the school board and in the pres- 
ent year was elected to the office of highway 
commLssioner. He and his wife are members 
of the Lutheran church at Bouton. Thirty- 
seven year's have come and gone since Mr. 
Schnoor located in Dallas county and cast in 
his lot with its pioneer settlers. People of the 
present period can scarcely realize the strug- 
gles and dangers which attended the early 
settlers, the hardships endured and the diffi- 
culties overcome. Far removed from the con- 
veniences and advantages of city or town they 
must have possessed indomitable energies as 
well as marked physical courage to have 
selected a life on the frontier and in the work 
of improvement and progress which has been 
carried forward through the long years Mr. 
Schnoor and his estimable wife have taken a 
helpful part. 



ROBERT GOODWIN, JR. 

Robert Goodwin, Jr., president of the Red- 
field Brick & Tile Works, a leading industrial 
enterprise of Dallas county, was born in 
Sharon, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1871, a son 
of Robert and Margaret (Maxwell) Goodwin. 
The father was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian 
county, Scotland, in the year 184;"), and was 



there reared and educated. On attaining his 
majority, in 1865, he emigrated to the United 
States, locating in Sharon, Pennsylvania, where 
he was identified with coal mining. His ma- 
ternal relatives were contractors and shaft- 
sinkers in that section of the country and thus 
it was that jMr. Goodwin l)ecame connected 
with them in that line of work. In 1876 he 
came west to Iowa and for several years was 
also connected with mining in this state. He 
still owns several mines at Grand Junction, 
which ai'e being operated. In 1882 Robert 
Goodwin established himself in the brick and 
tile business, erecting a plant at Grand Junc- 
tion which he still operates. In 1892 he built 
the Dale-Goodwin pressed brick plant, and in 
1903 built another plant in Des Moines, calling 
the enterprise the Goodwin Tile & Brick Com- 
pany, the firm consisting of himself and his 
sons. In 1905 he bought the entire stock of the 
Dale-Goodwin pressed brick plant, this concern 
being now operated under the name of the 
Goodwin Brick & Tile Plant No. 2. He is 
thus associated with three extensive and suc- 
cessful brick and tile enterprises, constituting 
him one of the largest manufacturers of these 
commodities in' the state of Iowa. As early 
as the '80s he was president of the Brick & 
Tile Makers' Associations. Mr. Goodwin is 
also an extensive owner of farm lands in Iowa, 
and easily commands recognition as one of the 
leading and most influential business men of 
the Hawkeye state. In his political affiliations 
he is a republican and has always taken an 
active part in the work of the party, having 
served for five years as councilman and for 
about six years as mayor of Grand Junction. 
Fraternally he is connected with Grand Junc- 
tion lodge. No. 365, I. 0. 0. F., and with 
Grand Junction lodge, K. P. He is also a 
member of the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men at Grand Junction and exemplifies in his 
daily life the teachings of these various organ- 
izations by his kindly and charitable spirit. 
Of hLs family of seven children all yet sur- 
vive, namely: Thomas, a resident of Grand 
Junction; Robert, Jr., of this review; Marie, 



hU 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



the wife of Arthur Lanham, residing in Seat- 
tle, Washington; Margaret, the wife of Frank 
Aldrich, of Des Moines; Catherine, who is at 
home; William, living in Des Momes; and 
Daniel, also of Des Moines. 

Robert Goodwin, Jr., was reared at home, 
supplementing the advantages which he re- 
ceived in the public schools with a business 
course at the Catholic Academy at Grand 
Junction. When he had completed his studies 
here he went to Des Moines and was employed 
by his father in the building of the Dale-Good- 
win pressed brick plant, remaining thei"e for 
about a year and a half. On the expiration of 
that period he went to Jefferson, Iowa, em- 
barking in the manufacture of brick and tile 
on his own account and successfully carrying 
on the enterprise for three years. In 1896 Mr. 
Goodwin came to Redfield and established the 
business which proved to be the foundation of 
the present extensive and successful concern, 
and from a small beginning the enterprise has 
grown until it is now one of the largest in the 
state, with a capacity of one thousand cars 
annually. The plant employs on an average 
of thirty-two men, and the business contributes 
in large and substantial measure to the growth 
and material prosperity of Redfield. Mr. Good- 
win has been watchful of all the details of his 
business and of all indications pointing toward 
prosperity and from the beginning had an abid- 
ing faith in the ultimate success of his enter- 
prise. He has gained wealth, yet it was not 
alone the goal for which he was striving, for 
he belongs to that class of representative Amer- 
ican citizens who promote the' general prosperity 
while advancing individual interests. 

In 1893 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Lois Dutton, of Grand Junction, and to their 
union has been born one child. Orin Dutton. 
Fraternally Mr. Goodwin is connected with 
Wiscotta lodge. No. 128, A. F. & A. M., the 
Eastern Star. Redfield lodge, No. 346, K. P., 
and Redfield camp. No. 3498, M. W. A. For 
four years Mr. Goodwin was mayor of Redfield 
and for the same length of time served as alder- 
man. For one year he wa.s president of the 



Old Settlers Association and at all times his 
public service has been of a practical and bene- 
ficial nature. When he came to Redfield he 
had only seven hundred dollars and from this 
small beginning has built up his present ex- 
tensive and prosperous business. He is widely 
and favorably known for his straightforward 
and honorable methods and is numbered 
among the leading and representative citizens 
of his home town, being highly esteemed for 
his sterling worth and as a promoter of all that 
tends to advance the general welfare. 



ROBERT S. WALKER. 

Robert S. Walker was for many years closely 
associated with agricultural interests in Dallas 
county but has put aside the active work of the 
farm and is now living retired in Adel. He 
was born in Rockbi"idge county, Virginia, as 
was his father, John C. Walker, who was de- 
scended from one of three brothers, who were 
natives of Scotland. Leaving the land of the 
heather, they removed to Ireland and on emi- 
grating from the Emerald isle in 1734 they 
crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling 
in Virginia, so that the family was founded in 
this country in early colonial days. 

In 1837 John C. Walker removed from the 
Old Dominion to Montgomery county, Indiana, 
where he followed farming, which was his life 
work. He wedded Mary Culton, who was born 
in ^'i^ginia and was of Irish descent. She died 
in Indiana when her son Robert was but nine 
years of age, after which the family were cared 
for by the mother's sister. There were four 
sons: John E., a gi-aduate of Rush Medical 
College of Chicago, practiced his profession 
successively in Montgomery county, Indiana, 
Tama county, Iowa, and in Texas, dying in the 
Lone Star state at the age of sixty-two years. 
Archibald was a farmer of Indiana, where he 
died a few years ago. Alexander S. went to 
Texas in 1852, became a prominent attorney 
and jurist and died at his home at Austin. He 





iMR. AND iMPv8. R. S. WALKER 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COL'^TY. 



547 



Avas a self-made man, who worked his way 
through college but by his strong mentality 
and innate force of character he attained dis- 
tinction in the onerous and difficult profession 
of the law. 

Robert S. Walker is now the only surviving 
member of the family. He was educated in 
the common schools and at the age of nine- 
teen years began teaching, which profession he 
followed in the district schools for several years. 
When his father died he took charge of the 
liome farm, which he cultivated until 1868, 
when he came to Iowa, settling on a farm in 
Adams township, Dallas county. There he 
owned one hundred and twenty acres of well 
improved land, bringing the fields under a high 
state of cultivation and adding to the place all 
modern equipments and accessories. There he 
carried on genei'al farming until, 1900, when 
he sold out and retired to Adel. Here he has 
since lived in the enjoyment of well earned 
rest, his competence being sufficient to supply 
him with the necessities and comforts of life 
and some of its luxuries. 

Mr. Walker has been married twice. In In- 
diana he wedded Mary E. Cook, a native of that 
state, who died in December, 1868, soon after 
their arrival in Dallas county. In the family 
were two children : Clara, now the wife of 
A. C. Van Cleave, a prominent farmer of 
Adams township; and Mary, the wife of Syl- 
vester Van Cleave, who also carries on agri- 
cultural pursuits in Adams township. Mr. 
Walker was again married in 1871, when Mrs. 
Sarah M. Shuey became his wife. She was 
born ii; La Grange county, Indiana, October 
11, 1845, and was a daughter of Thomas and 
Mary Brown. Her father died in Illinois, 
while her mother died at the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Walker in Adams township. 

Our subject and his wife have a comfortable 
home in the east part of Adel and are enjoying 
excellent health. He is known as one of the 
most worthy and valued citizens of the county. 
He taught school for two years after coming to 
the county and was thus associated with its 
early educational development, while later he 



wa.s closely connected with its agricultural prog- 
ress. The cause of education has ever found in 
him a warm friend and he served as secretary 
of the school board of Adams township for 
seventeen years, doing much to promote the 
interests of public instruction. He was also 
justice of the peace for several years and rend- 
ered decisions which were strictly fair and im- 
partial. He has always been a republican and 
for fifty years he has been a member of the 
Presbyterian church, taking an active and help- 
ful interest in its M'ork, while for forty years 
he has served as one of its elders. Said one 
who knew him long and well : "No better man 
ever lived than Robert Walker" and this seems 
to be the consensus of public opinion concern- 
ing him in Dallas county. 



CAL\'IN iMARSHALL. 

Calvin Marshall, who was formerly exten- 
sively engaged in agricultural pui-suits in Dal- 
las county but is now living retired in the en- 
joyment of the fmits of his industry, was born 
in Wayne county, Indiana, August 22, 1824, 
a son of Miles and Martha (Jones) Marshall. 
The father was born, reared and married in 
Tennessee, and in the year 1813, soon after 
his marriage, went to Wayne county, Indiana. 
The country was in a wild and unsettled condi- 
tion and the Indians made it so unpleasant 
for Mr. Marshall that after a year he returned 
to Tennessee. In' 1815, however, he again ven- 
tured into the border country, the red men 
having by this time been somewhat subdued, 
and he made his home in Wayne county until 
1856. In the latter year Miles Marshall came 
to Iowa and located in Guthrie count}', pur- 
cha.sing a farm in what is now Penn township. 
Here he successfully carried on agricultural 
pursuits for ten yeai's, retiring at the end of 
that time and making his home with liis chil- 
dren until the time of his demise. Mr. and Mrs. 
Marsliall were the parents of ten children, two 
of whom sui-vive; Calvin, of this review; and 



548 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Martha J., the widow of John Lank, formerly 
a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Calvin Marshall was reared in Wayne coun- 
ty on the home farm and at the usual age be- 
gan attending a little log schoolhouse — char- 
acteristic of those pioneer times — -and acquired 
an education which at that early period was 
considered entirely adequate. In eaiiy man- 
hood he served an apprenticeship at the car- 
penter's trade and followed that calling for 
seven years. In the spring of 1854 he started 
for the west and arrived in Dallas county, 
Iowa, on April 15th of that year. On the 
same day there arrived in this county a Mr. 
Lemuel Maulsby, of Porter county, Indiana, 
with whom our subject was destined to come 
into closer relationship. These gentlemen 
came into possession of the first land entered 
from the government in Union township south 
of Coon river. Mr. Marshall entered the west 
half of section 19 and built a cabin of hewed 
buckeye logs, its dimensions being nineteen by 
twenty feet. Later he built an addition to this 
pioneer structure and made his home therein 
until 1871, when he erected a substantial frame 
residence. He successfully carried on farming 
at this location until 1882, when he removed 
to his present place on section 7, Union town- 
ship. To a lover of nature this is a veritable 
Eden, being situated in the valley of the Coon 
river directly at the base of the blufif and sur- 
rounded by dense foliage. The quiet seclusion 
and peaceful atmoi^phere make it a haven of 
rest to one entering from the busy, outside 
world. The home is known as Marshall Springs 
by reason of the bounteous supply of cool, 
sparkling water which flows from an artesian 
well three hundred feet in depth. An analysis 
of this water showed it to possess the same 
health-giving qualities as that of the famous 
Colfax Springs water, and on this account Mr. 
Marshall was persuaded, some time ago, to 
build a temporary bathhouse at the Springs. 
Many persons found the water highly benefi- 
cial but as the enterprise required too much 
labor for a man of his years Mr. Marshall 
abandoned it. 



In 1856 Calvin Marshall was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Cynthia Maulsby, a daughter of 
Lemuel Maulsby, and to this union six chil- 
dren have been born, three of whom are living: 
Ira, Bm'chard H. and jNIay, at home, the sons 
being active in the management of the farm. 

Mr. Mai'shall is a republican in his i)oliticaI 
views and has been a prominent factor in local 
politics in Dallas county. He was the first 
township clerk of Union and Linn townships, 
which at that time were controlled under the 
same officers, and held that position for many 
years. He also served as justice of the peace 
for many years ^nd held court in both town- 
.ships. In the year 1857 he married his first 
couple, their names being Pleasant Parker and 
Amanda Joy. The cause of education has al- 
ways found in him a stanch champion and for 
fifteen or twenty years he served as school di- 
I'ector. In religious matters he gives his support 
to the Friends church. When Mr. Marshall 
fii-st located here on the open prairie he was the 
object of not a little ridicule by the pioneers 
who had settled in the bottom lands, for it was 
thought that the prairie would never be settled. 
Time has proven Mr. Marshall's wonderful 
foresight, and he is now recognized throughout 
Dallas county as one of the sturdy, persevering 
pioneers who blazed the way for tlie present 
splendid development and prosperity of the 
country. 



FRANK PARCEL. 



Frank Parcel is an enteiprising and progres- 
sive farmer and stock-raiser of Dallas county, 
owning a well improved tract of one hundred 
acres situated on section 7, Beaver township. 
He was born in Woodford. Illinois, November 
11, 1868, a son of Cyrus Parcel, further men- 
tion of whom is made on another page of this 
work. 

Frank Parcel was but two years of age when 
he was brought to Dallas county by his par- 
ents, and here he was reared and educated, pur- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



549 



suing his studies in the common schools. He 
remained under the parental roof until he 
reached the age of twenty-one years, and was 
then married, December 26, 1888, the lady of 
his choice being Miss Mollie Swisher, who was 
born and reared in Boone county, Iowa, a 
daughter of George and Emily (McMichaels) 
Sw-isher, in whose family were five children, 
the other members of the family being: B. M., 
a farmer of Dallas county; George, a resident 
of Boone county, Iowa; J. P., also of Boone 
county; and Carrie, the wife of Charles Ver- 
non, also a resident of that county. 

Following his marriage Mr. Parcel took up 
his abode on the old home farm, which he has 
since purchased. It comprises a well improved 
tract of one hundred acres, situated on section 
7, Beaver township. Mr. Parcel has erected a 
good barn, has tiled the land, built fences, set 
out fruit and shade trees and has made the 
property one of the valuable farms of this sec- 
tion of the state. He is practical and progres- 
sive in all that he does and his place presents 
a neat and attractive appearance. In addition 
to caiTying on general agricultural pursuits 
he is also engaged in raising and feeding stock, 
which he sells on the city markets. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Parcel has been 
blessed with a son and daughter: George, a 
young man at home ; and Dorothy. In politics 
Mr. Parcel is independent, giving his sup- 
port to the men whom he deems best fitted for 
office, regardless of party ties or affiliation. He 
has been called by his fellow citizens to fill 
some local offices, having served one year as as- 
sessor, and he has likewise served as a member 
of the school board. He and his wife are iden- 
tified with the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Bouton. Fraternally Mr. Parcel holds mem- 
bership with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows at Perry, having served through all of 
the chairs of the lodge and has been a past 
grand. He has represented the lodge in the 
grand lodge of the state and served one term 
as district deputy. Both he and his wife belong 
to the Rebekahs, in which she has filled all of 
the chairs. Having spent almost his entire 



life in Dallas county, Mr. Pai'cel is well known 
and among his business associates he is regard- 
ed as a man of reliability. He finds his great- 
est social enjoyment at his own fireside, where 
his wife and intimate friends know him to be 
a delightful companion. 



HANS li. SEAMANN. 

That Hans H. Seamann occupies a promin- 
ent place among the agriculturists of Dallas 
county is a uniformly accepted fact, and that 
his labors have been of a character that have 
contributed to general progress and prosperity 
as well as to individual success is also known. 
He is the owner of three hundred and thirty 
acres of land, situated in Beaver township and 
has an additional tract of eighty acres in Boone 
county, this state. He is a native son of Iowa, 
born in .Jackson county, April 7, 1830, where 
he was educated in the common schools. He 
stai'ted out upon his own resources by working 
a? a farm hand by the month, being thus em- 
ployed for a few years in Jackson county. 
During the time that he was thus engaged he 
carefully husbanded his resources, hoping that 
in time ho would be able to engage in business 
on his own account. Eventually his aml^ition 
was gratified and his hopes realized, for in 1879, 
when a youth of nineteen years, he came to 
Dallas county and rented a tract of land, which 
he operated for two years. In 1881 he pur- 
chased fifty-nine acres of land, on which stood 
a .-^mall liouse. 

. Mr. Seamann further made arrangements for 
having a home of his own by his marriage on 
the •27tli of November, 1881, to Miss Luella 
(xill, who was born and reared in this county, 
a daughter of Stephen Gill, one of the early 
settlers liere. The young couple began their 
domestic life upon the farm which ho had 
recently purchased. As time passed and his 
financial resources increased he further im- 
proved \u< ]>ropcrty, and from time to time 
added (o his original possessions until his home 



550 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



place now embraces three hundred and thirty 
acres, which constitutes one of the highly im- 
proved and valuable fai'ms of this section of the 
state. In addition to the home place he also 
owns another tract of land in Boone county, 
his landed possessions now comprising four 
hundred and ten acres. He is engaged in rais- 
ing wheat, corn and oats, each year harvesting 
good crops as a result of the care and labor 
which he bestows upon the fields, and he also 
raises some stock. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mi-s. Seamann has 
been bles.sed with six sons: Henry S., who fol- 
lows farming in Beaver township, is married 
and has one daughter, Luella; Walter, William, 
John, Fred and Eddie, all of whom are under 
the parental roof and are assisting their father 
in the operation of the home farm. 

Mr. Seamann gives his political support to 
the republican party but is not active in local 
political affairs, preferring to give his un- 
divided time and attention to his private busi-- 
ness interests. Although reared in the faith 
of the Lutheran church he is not now identi- 
fied with any denomination but attends the 
services of the various churches. Though start- 
ing out in life in the humble capacity of a 
farm hand, Mr. Seamann has through his en- 
ergy and perseverance, and the able assistance 
of his estimable wife, worked his way upward 
until he is now in possession of a good property, 
surrounded by all the comforts and many of 
the luxuries of life. 



.JOHN C. O'MALLEY. 

John C. O'Malley is a native son of Iowa, 
dating his residence in the county from 1867, 
and he is therefore familiar with much of its 
history from an early day down to the present 
time. He owns and operates a well improved 
farm of three hundred and twenty acres, situ- 
ated on section 9, Beaver township, and here 
he is engaged in carrying on general farming 
and stock-raising interests. Mr. O'Malley was 



born near DeWitt, in Clinton county, Iowa, 
January 27, 1865, and was a little lad of two 
j'ears when he was brought by his father, Pat- 
rick O'Malley, to this county. The father set- 
tled on a tract of eighty acres, which consti- 
tutes a portion of the present homestead farm 
of our subject. Here he reared his family and 
carried on general farming throughout a long 
period but is now living retired in Perry. 

John C. O'Malley was reared in Dallas coun- 
ty and it was in the common schools here that 
he received his early training, while later he 
attended the Des Moines (Iowa) Business Col- 
lege. He remained with his father and assist- 
ed in the operation of the home farm until his 
marriage, during which time he gained a prac- 
tical knowledge of agricultural pursuits, which 
fitted him for carrying on a business of this 
character on his own account in later years. 

Mr. O'Malley chose as a companion and 
helpmate for the journey of life Miss Margaret 
Graney, their marriage being celebrated in 
Perry, Iowa. January 1, 1890. The lady was 
born in Spring Valley township, Dallas coun- 
ty. Following his marriage Mr. O'Malley lo- 
cated on the old homestead farm of eighty 
acres, having purchased this property. He has 
from time to time added to his original hold- 
ings until his farm now embraces three hun- 
dred and twenty acres. He has drained the 
land by the use of tiling, divided it into fields 
of convenient size by well kept fences, and set 
out a good orchard and many shade trees. He 
also erected a good country residence, modern 
and up-to-date in its equipments and accessories 
and built a good barn and other outbuildings, 
so that his place is now one of the best im- 
proved properties of this section of the state. 
In addition to his general farming interests, 
Mr. O'Malley is also well known as a raiser of 
good grades of stock, feeding two carloads each 
of cattle and hog; for the market annually. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. O'Malley has 
been blessed with two sons, Charles P. and Eu- 
gene J. He gives his political support to the 
men and measures of the democratic party, be- 
lieving its principles most conducive to- good 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



551 



government. He has filled some local offices, 
having for three years served as trustee of the 
township. In 1904 he was elected supervisor 
and by re-election is still continued in the posi- 
tion. In this connection, with the other mem- 
bers of the board, Mr. O'Malley is doing excel- 
lent work. Through his supervision the high- 
ways have been graded and materially im- 
proved, bridges built and many other substan- 
tial improvements have been made. He has 
exerted a wide influence in the county of his 
residence, for while advancing his individual 
interests he also promotes general prosperity. 
Having spent almost his entire life in Dallas 
county, he is widely and favoraljly known, and 
his methods in business life are such as com- 
mend him to the confidence and good will of 
all Avith whom he comes in contact. 



MERRILL S. KILE. 



In the history of De Soto's commercial and 
financial interests it is imperative that mention 
be made of Merrill S. Kile, banker and manu- 
facturer, whose enterprise and ready recogni- 
tion of opportunity have made him one of the 
leading factors in the business life of the town. 
He wa.s born in Will county, Illinois, on the 
16th of October, 1845, and is one of the four 
children of John and Nancy J. (Beebe) Kile. 
Of this family three are living, our subject be- 
ing the second in order of birth. His elder 
sister, Sarah J., is now the widow of J. J. 
Chamberlain, and a resident of Chicago, while 
Ellen E., the younger sister, is the widow of 
D. C. Benson, and lives in Seattle, Washing- 
ton. The father was bom in Vermont in 1819, 
and when a boy removed with his parents to 
the state of New York. When about sixteen 
years of age the family became residents of 
Will county, Illinois, where he attained his 
majority and was married to Miss Nancy J. 
Beebe. He then settled upon a farm, remain- 
ing a resident of Will county until 1850, when 
lie removed to Kankakee countv, where he en- 



gaged in general agricultural pursuits until 
1869. In that year he removed to Chicago, 
where he conducted a real-estate business, re- 
maining a resident of that city up to the time 
of his death, which occurred in 1893. His po- 
litical allegiance was given to the republican 
party and he was an active worker in the Con- 
gregational church. He always stood for high 
ideals and in his life exemplified the principles 
in which he believed. His wife was born in 
Vermont, in 1822, and removed from the 
Green Mountain state with her parents to Will 
county. Illinois. She is still living in her 
eighty-sixth year, making her home with her 
daughter, Mrs. Chamberlain, in Chicago. 

Merrill S. Kile was reared under the paren- 
tal roof and acquired his education in the com- 
mon schools of Illinois. He early became fa- 
miliar with the work on the farm and on at- 
taining adult age adopted an agricultural 
career, being satisfied with the life to which 
he had been reared, his boyhood and youth 
bringing him practical experience in the work 
of field and meadow. In 1867, at the age of 
twenty-two years, he purcha.sed a farm of nine- 
ty-one acres in Kankakee county, Illinois, and 
during the following year he was married. He 
then located in his new home but after a year 
sold his farm and invested in another tract of 
land of one hundred and seventy a<?res, -on 
which he resided until 1874. In that year he 
again sold out and came to Iowa to enjoy the 
greater opportunities afforded here. On reach- 
ing this part of the state he chose a location in 
the town of Menlo, Guthrie county, where he 
opened a store and for twelve years was en- 
gaged in merchandising, the new enterprise 
proving a profitable one. In 1889 he bought 
an interest in the Exchange Bank of Menlo 
and liecauie vice president of that institution 
])ut in 1892 he severed his connection with it 
and came to De Soto, where he organized the 
Exchange Bank, with which he has since been 
connected. He established this upon safe, con- 
servative lines and the business has gradually 
developed until it is now one of the strong 
iiioneved institutions of the county. In 1889 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



he and his son, Franklin M., purchased a half 
interest in the De Soto Brick & Tile Works 
and not long afterward Franklin M. KUe was 
made general manager of the plant. With the 
addition of more capital and the new manage- 
ment the business took on a new impetus for 
growth and development. In fact it has great- 
ly increased until it stands today as one of the 
leading industries of Dallas county and is a 
source of gratifying profit to the stockholders. 
In connection with his banking and manufac- 
turing interests, Mr. Kile also owns a farm of 
two hundred and forty acres in Adair county, 
six miles south of Menlo. His property is a 
visible evidence of his life and thrift, industry 
and careful management and his record proves 
what may be accomplished by one who has 
laudable ambition and determination to per- 
severe in the course marked out. 

Mr. Kile was married in 1868 to Miss Helen 
A. Martin, a daughter of Amasa and Marian 
F. (Wallace) Martin, of Kankakee county, 
Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kile have been 
born two children: Franklin M., who is now 
part owner and general manager of. the De Soto 
Brick & Tile Works, and is vice president of 
the Exchange Bank of De Soto; and George 
M., who is cashier of the bank and a stock- 
holder in the Brick & Tile Works. The elder 
son married Miss Lela B. Hoch, and has one 
daughter, Frances C, while George M. Kile 
wedded Vere D. Blackman. 

In his fraternal relations Merrill S. Kile is 
connected with the Knights of Pythias and 
in his political views he is a republican but the 
honors and emoluments of office have no at- 
traction for him, as he prefers to give his un- 
divided attention to his varied business inter- 
ests. He is a splendid representative of our 
best type of American manhood and chivalry. 
By perseverance, determination and honorable 
effort he has overthrown the obstacles which 
barred his path to success and reached the go:iI 
of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad 
mind and public spirit have made him a direc- 
tor of public thought and action in his com- 
munity. He is pre-eminently a man of affairs 



and his labors contribute largely to the busi- 
ness development of De Soto, as well as to in- 
dividual prosperity. 



M. W. GRIBBEN. 



To own a farm of Iowa's rich and produc- 
tive land is to gain a place among the sub- 
stantial citizens, for the soil is very fertile and 
productive and a man of business enterprise, 
careful management and firm purpose can al- 
ways gain success in farming. ^Mr. Gribben 
now owns and cultivates three hundred and 
sixty-six acres of land on section 5, Sugar Grove 
township, where he makes his home and he 
likewise has another tract of eighty acres in 
Beaver township. All this is well improved 
and valuable land and he is justly classed with 
the leading agriculturists of his community. 

His father, Charles Gribben, was a native of 
Ireland and was reared and married there. He 
afterward came to the United States, locating 
in New Jersey, while subsequently he made his 
home in Orleans county. New York, where he 
followed the occupation of farming and reared 
his family. In fact he continued to reside 
there until called to the home beyond. 

M. W. Gribben was the fifth in order of birth 
in a family of nine children, all of whom 
reached mature years and became heads of 
families. His natal day was July 27, 1840, his 
birth occurring in Orleans county, New York. 
There he was reared and to some extent at- 
tended the public schools but has greatly pro- 
moted his knowledge through the lessons 
gained in the school of experience. He con- 
tinued a resident of the Empire state until 1876, 
when he made his way westward to ^Michigan, 
locating in the lower peninsula. In 1877 he 
came to Dallas county, settling at Minburn, 
where he was engaged in the grain business. 
He purchased a warehouse and continued in 
the grain trade until 1890, when he sold out. 
During that period he did much to improve 
the town and make it an enterprising, thriving 




M. W. GRIBBEN 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



555 



village. In 1890 he located on his farm, after 
purchasing one hundred and ninety-four acres 
of land, to which he has added from time to 
time as opportunity has offered until he now 
owns four hundred and forty -six acres. When 
he took up his abode on this place it was but 
slightly improved and for one summer he lived 
in a log cabin. He then built a commodious 
and comfortable residence, also a bam and he 
now has two sets of good farm buildings on 
his place. He is engaged in stock-raising, an- 
nually feeding and shipping two or three car- 
loads of cattle. His business is conducted with 
keen discernment and is most carefully man- 
aged, so that he is now meeting with gratifying 
success. In addition to his agricultural inter- 
ests he is a stockholder in the Savings Bank at 
Minburn. In New York he was engaged in the 
grain business for five years in connection with 
farming. 

In 1884 Mr. Gribben was married in Lucas 
county, Iowa, to Miss Emma Larmer, a native 
of Iowa, who was born in Lucas county and 
became a teacher in Dallas county. They are 
now parents of three children : Ray, who is 
a graduate of the college at Ames, Iowa, and is 
now a teacher in that institution; M. AV., who 
is a student at Ames; and Lynett, at home. 
Mr. Gribben has always been a stanch advo- 
cate of the temperance cause and believes that 
the liquor traffic should be suppressed. He 
formerly voted with the prohibition party but 
now casts his ballot with th^ republican party. 
For two years he served as justice of the peace 
and in 1890 he was elected supervisor, in which 
capacity he served for three years, being chair- 
man of the board for one year. He also served 
as township trustee for twelve years. He has 
been a delegate to county and congressional 
conventions and at all times stands for good 
citizenship, believing in the adoption of those 
principles which work for general improve- 
ment, reform and upbuilding. He and his wife 
are much interested in church work and are 
earnest advocates of Methodism. Mr. Gribben 
belongs to Yates lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; to Perry 
chapter, R. A. M. ; and to Des Moines com- 



mandery, K. T. He is well known in Minburn 
and the county as one of its substantial citizens 
and progressive farmers who owes his advance- 
ment in life entirely to his own perseverance 
and well directed labor. His friends entertain 
for him high regard by reason of his fidelity 
to the trust reposed in him, his devotion to his 
business cares and his faithful performance of 
the duties of citizenship. 



.JAMES H. WOLFE. 



A well developed and highly improved farm 
of eighty acres, situated on section 17, Spring 
Valley township, is the home of James H. 
Wolfe, who, as a veteran of the Civil war, dis- 
plays the same loyalty and patriotism to his 
country and home locality as he did when up- 
on southern battle-fields he followed the stars 
and stripes. His farm is well located within 
two miles of Perry, and he has made his home 
thereon since 1873. 

Born in Fairfield, Ohio, August 15, 1846, 
Mr. W^olfe was there reared to the age of fifteen 
years, and at that early age he offered his ser- 
vices to the government in defense of the 
Union, for the Civil war had been inaugurated. 
He enlisted for service with the Seventeenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry and with the Army 
of the Cumberland went south under General 
Thomas. He participated in a number of im- 
portant engagements, including Mill Springs, 
Kentucky, Stone River, Tallahoma and 
Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19 and 20, 
1863, where nearly forty-nine per cent of Gen- 
eral Brennan's division was killed. After the 
battle of Missionary Ridge he re-enlisted as a 
veteran volunteer and was granted a thirty 
days' furlough and returned to his home in 
Ohio. The regiment later returned to Chatta- 
nooga, - and he participated in the Atlanta 
campaign, helped take Jonesboro, was with 
Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea 
and took part in the fight at Bentonville — the 
last engagement of the war. He then marched 



556 



FAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



with the regiment to Richmond and on to 
Washington, D. C, where it participated in the 
grand review. From the latter place he 
marched on to Parkersburg and down the river 
to Louisville, Kentucky, where he received an 
honorable discharge in July, 1865. During 
the four years that he was at the front Mr. 
Wolfe lost no time on account of illness. He 
was a most loyal soldier, returning home with 
a creditable military record. 

Following the close of the war Mr. AA'olfe re- 
turned to his home in Ohio and then engaged 
in railroading, first working as a fireman on 
the Pennsylvania Railroad, being thus em- 
ployed for two and a half years, after which he 
worked as an engineer for twenty-five years. 
During that period he was with the Pan-Han- 
dle, Burlington and Rock Island roads. He re- 
tired from railroad work in 1892 and having 
several years previously purchased a farm in 
Spring Valley township, Dallas county, Iowa, 
he removed thereon in 1893, and this has con- 
tinued to be his home to the present time. 
Since locating there he has made many im- 
provements upon the place, has built to and 
remodeled the house, which is a very comfort- 
able country residence, has built a barn and 
substantial outbuildings, planted fruit and 
shade trees, and altogether has made it a model 
property. He is here engaged in general agri- 
cultural pursuits, and the crops which he an- 
nually harvests bring to him a gratifying in- 
come. 

Mr. Wolfe was married in Perry, October 
18, 1876, to Miss Irene Smith, a native of In- 
diana, where she was also reared and educated. 
They have become the parents of two sons, 
but the elder, Volney, died in September, 1890, 
when in his fifteenth year. The surviving son is 
Frank, who was educated in the Perry schools 
and also had the advantage of a collegiate 
course and is now assisting his father in the 
operation of the home farm. 

Mr. Wolfe has always been a stalwart repub- 
lican, casting his first presidential ballot in 
1864 in support of Abraham Lincoln, and he 
has supported each candidate of the party 



since that time. Although he keeps well in- 
formed on the political questions and issues of 
the day, he has iiever been active as an office 
seeker. Mr. Wolfe is a Master Mason, belong- 
ing to Perry lodge, but he first became associ- 
ated with the order at Grand Junction in 1876. 
He is popular with his Masonic brethren. He 
is numbered among Dallas county's leading 
citizens and his record as a soldier, as a busi- 
ness man and as a private citizen has been so 
honorable that he has gained the good will and 
confidence of all with whom he has been 
broueht in contact. 



W. H. MURPHY. 



\V. H. Murphy owns and cultivates a large 
farm in this countj'. He is a native son of 
Warren county, Illinois, where he was born 
January 31, 1839. His parents were Seth C. 
and Irene (Davidson) Murphy, both natives 
of Kentucky, who removed to Illinois' before 
the Black Hawk war. They spent the remain- 
der of their lives in that state and passed away 
upon their home place. To their union were 
born five children, of whom three are now liv- 
ing: Mrs. Lou Ann Reynolds, who is living 
in Nebraska with her son, H. P. ; W. H., the 
subject of this review; and S. S., at present in 
California. 

Mr. Murphy received his elementary educa- 
tion in the common schools but acquired a far 
more valuable training in the practical details 
of his father's farm. Here he displayed cour- 
age, energy and thrift. With a character made 
up of such cjualities we are not surprised to 
find that his patriotism was aroused when the 
south attempted to overthrow the Union. He 
accordingly enlisted in the Sixty-sixth Illinois 
^"oluntcer Infantry in 1861, and re-enlisted 
in Deceml)er, 1863, in the same company 
and regiment. On the farm he never tried 
to shirk his work and in the army he dis- 
played the same characteristic. Not once 
did he shun a hard battle but took part 
in sixteen engagements, where the fighting was 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



557 



very severe, and came off without a scratch. 
He was considered a valuable soldier and re- 
ceived his honorable discharge in July, 1865. 
He then returned to Illinois, where he re- 
msiined six months, removing thence to Dallas 
county, Iowa, where he has since lived. He is 
the owner of one hundred and thirty-eight 
acres and his wife has three hundred and ten 
acres, which she inherited from her first hus- 
band, D. M. Starbuck, one of the pioneers of 
the county. This is among the finest farm 
land in Washington township, known as the 
Green Valley Stock Farm. Mr. Murphy is 
now renting his land but still living upon his 
farm. 

Mr. Murphy has been twice married. His 
first wife bore the maiden name of Mary Par- 
ish and to their union was born one child, Ira 
Vester, who is now living in this county. The 
wife and mother died Augiist 19, 1863, and 
Mr. Murphy was afterward married to Mrs. 
JMai-tlia (Warford) Aringtoa. on the 20th of 
December, 1870. Airs. Murphy has been mar- 
ried three times. Her first husband was D. M. 
Starbuck and her second husband was T. J. 
Arington, who died three months after their 
marriage. Mrs. Murphy was a correspondent 
for the Perry Chief for several years and 
sketches of her parents appear in another part 
of this volume. There were no children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, but they have adopt- 
ed one and partly reared two other children, 
for whom they have taken great pains, both in 
making them a good home and in giving them 
the necessary advantages. 

In his political convictions Mr. Murphy is 
a prohibitionist and has given much time and 
attention to the cause of this party. He and 
his wife are members of the Christian church 
in which they are both active workers. For 
twenty-nine years Mrs. Murphy was a Sunday- 
school teacher and Mr. Murphy is at present 
one of the church elders. It will be readily 
seen that this worthy couple have not confined 
themselves to their four walls or to the limits 
of their farm but have taken an active interest 
in the affairs of their township and county and 



have always been ready to assist in any meas- 
ures which would promote the growth of the 
same. The 17th of October, 1906, was the 
fiftieth anniversary of Mrs. Murphy's arrival 
on the old homestead and the day was fittingly 
celebrated, proving a most interesting occasion 
to all who were present. Mr. and Mrs. Mur- 
phy are indeed worthy pioneers of the county, 
having watched its development from an early 
period in its progress, while at all times he has 
borne his full share in the work that has trans- 
formed this from a wild region into one of the 
leading counties of the state. 



JAMES C. FORSYTH. 

James C. Forsyth is one of the enterprising 
merchants of Redfield, where he is conducting 
a drug store, and other business interests com- 
bine to make him one of the leading and enter- 
prising citizens of the town, his alert and ener- 
getic spirit enabling him to carry forward to 
successful completion whatever he undertakes. 
He was born in Henry county, Illinois, on the 
26th of March, 1861, his parents being 
Robert C. and Betsy (Butter) Forsyth, whose 
family numbered nine children. The father, 
who is the senior member of the firm of Rob- 
ert Forsyth & Company, was bom in Ayrshire, 
Scotland, June 2, 1832, a son of James and 
Margaret (Crawford) Forsyth. The grand- 
father engaged in weaving with a hand loom, 
manufacturing some of those shawls and plaids 
which have made Scotland famous. He and 
his wife spent their entire lives in that coun- 
try and there reared their family of ten chil- 
dren, of whom Robert was the youngest. When 
he was four years of age Robert Forsyth ac- 
companied his parents on their removal to 
Dundee, where he was reared and educated. 
\Mien about fourteen years of age he was ap- 
prenticed to learn the apothecary's trade, 
which in that country carries with it the power 
til diagnose cases of sickness among the county 



J58 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



poor. It was his intention to eventually be- 
come a physician, but his love for the sea led 
him to ship before the mast when he was 
seventeen years of age and many years passed 
before he resumed active connection with the 
drug business. Ten years were devoted to a 
?ea-faring life, but he derived little financial 
profit therefrom. He then decided to leave the 
sea and about that time, in August, 1857, he 
married Miss Betsy Butter. The following 
year Robert C. Forsyth emigrated to Canada 
and soon afterward came to the United States, 
eventually arriving at Rock Island, Henry 
county, Illinois, where his sister, Mrs. Margaret 
Ferguson, lived. During the twenty-three 
years following Mr. Forsyth's arrival in Amer- 
ica, he di\dded his time between coal mining 
and farming, spending eight years at Rock 
Island and the remaining fifteen years in Powe- 
shiek county, Iowa. He afterward lived for a 
time in Keokuk countj^, Iowa, and then went 
to Appanoose county, selecting Mystic a.s his 
location. There he has since remained and has 
long figured as one of its prominent and hon- 
ored business men. While in Poweshiek coun- 
ty he again engaged in the operaition of coal 
mines but was not successful in that venture. 
At What Cheer, Iowa, he opened a drug store 
and for the first time found play for the abil- 
ity which he had acquired as an apprentice in 
early life. He was joined in his business in- 
terests there by his son James, under the firm 
name of Robert Forsyth & Son, but the former 
retired from the store in What Cheer to as- 
sume the management of another drug store 
in. Mystic which he and our subject had for- 
merly established. In his commercial ventures 
Robert Forsyth has met with success and is 
now a prosperous merchant. His has been a 
varied career, and broad experience has come 
to him through his sea-faring life and difi'erent 
ventures in his native and in his adopted land. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth are members of 
the Presbyterian church and Mr. Forsyth is 
also an exemplary representative of the Ma- 
sonic and Odd Fellows fraternities. He is an 
interesting talker and a congenial companion 



and wherever he has gone he has won a host 
of warm friends. 

James C. Forsyth, the immediate subject of 
this review, was reared to farm life under the 
parental roof and is indebted to the public 
schools for the educational privileges that he 
enjoyed. He entered upon his business career 
as an employe of his father's drug store at 
What Cheer when twentj'-one years of age and 
after twenty months was admitted to a partner- 
ship. On the 5th of May, 1891, he passed the 
required examination and was duly registered 
as a pharmacist, since which time he has given 
his undivided attention to this line of mer- 
cantile activity. In January following he pur- 
sued a short course in the Highland Park 
Pharmaceutical College in Des Moines, Iowa. 
He continued in business with his father at 
What Cheer until 1897, when he disposed of 
his interests there and came to Redfield, where 
he arrived on the 1st of April. He then estab- 
lished the store of R. Forsyth & Company, be- 
ing a partner of his father in the enterprise, 
and acting as manager at this point. He re- 
tains property interests at What Cheer but his 
mercantile interests are all now centered in 
Redfield, where he is now conducting a well 
equipped store in which he is meeting with 
creditable and gratifying success. He owns a 
handsome residence in the suburbs of the town 
and is a breeder of thoroughbred Chester 
White hogs. 

On the 4th of October, 1887, was celebrated 
the marriage of James C. Forsyth and Miss 
Mary Zabilka, of Mahaska, county, Iowa. Unto 
them have been born seven children, five of 
whom are yet living: George W., Franklin, 
Edith, Robert (2) and Clara. Robert (1) and 
William died in infancy. Mr. Forsyth is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and has 
taken the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry in 
Tyrian chapter. No. 37. He is likewise a mem- 
ber of Leola lodge, No. 202, I. 0. 0. F., of 
What Cheer, Iowa, and of Redfield camp. No. 
398, M. W. A. His political allegiance is 
given the republican party. All of his life has 
been pa-ssed in the middle west and while his 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



559 



career has been uneventful in some respects 
he belongs to that class of substantial and rep- 
resentative citizens who constitute tlie real 
strength of the nation by reason of their busi- 
ness activity, their loyalty in citizenship and 
their honor and integrity in private life. 



PATRICK NASH. 



The subject of lhi.'< sketch wa-< born in Coun- 
ty Limerick, Ireland, ^larch 17, 1831, his par- 
ents being Morris and Margaret (Grady) Nash. 
The Nash family can be traced back to an his- 
torical and powerful clan who were identified 
with the great chieftains of Irish hi-tory. Five 
generations of the Na.?h family were born in 
the same house, Patrick Nash being one of the 
fourth generation while his brother's children 
represent the fifth. Morris Nash, the father 
of the subject of this sketch, was a man of 
strong personality and of deep religious faith, 
a farmer by occupation luid patriotically at- 
tached to his native land, in fact so loyal was 
he to Irish interests that when the iniquitous 
penal laws of England were in force, which 
laws excluded Catholics from political life, 
forbade them to endow a school or college for 
the education of their children, thus depriving 
them of every free man's right, he refused, 
with thousands of others of his countrymen 
to pay a cent of taxes to the English govern- 
ment until the odious double land taxation 
laws were removed and the Irish people were 
protected by equal laws and obtained justice 
from the P^nglish government. The refusal of 
the people to pay these unjust taxes led to 
the introduction in the British house of com- 
mons of the Emancipation Act in 1829. This 
act was pa.ssed, not on the grounds of tolerance 
or ju.stice, but becau.-^e, if emancipation were re- 
fused England must face a civil war. For the 
delivery, therefore, from the penal slavery to 
which the Catholics were subjected they have 
(o thank tliose standi patriots and defenders 



of their country who got their rights when 
they were able to take them. 

To Morris Nash and Margaret Grady were 
born seven children, but only two are now 
living: Patrick, of Perry, who was the fourth 
in order of birth; and Morris, who is living 
on the old home farm in Ireland. Morris 
Nash, Sr., died in the year 1884, having at- 
tained the age of eighty-four years, while his 
wife passed away at a much earlier date. 

Patrick Nash's earlier years were spent with 
his father on the old home farm where his 
earlier training was of great benefit to him 
in after years, when he was compelled to face 
the world alone in a new country among 
strangers. A\'hen he was twenty-one years of 
age, having passed through the great famine 
of 1848, he resolved with thousands of others 
of his countrymen to leave his native land and 
free hinxself from the oppressive hand of 
the English government which had enacted 
laws that made education a crime and Cath- 
olic worship a felony. Taking passage on a 
sailing vessel, March 10, 1851, after a most 
tedious and stormy voyage he landed in New 
York city. May 21 of the same year. Having 
spent two or three weeks in the city he was 
directed to Columbia county. New York, where 
he found employment as a farm hand for 
Sanuiel J. Tilden and Ijrothers, witli whom 
he remained for about two years. His next 
move was to Columbus, Ohio, where he also 
remained for about two years. 

It was here that Mr. Nash met Miss Mary 
Marshall, to whom he was married on the 29tli 
of March, 1854. Mary Marshall was born in 
Limerick county, Ireland, March 23, 1833, 
l)cing the third daughter of a family of five 
daughters and two sons of William and Bridget 
Marshall. Shortly after Mr. Nash was married 
he removed to Galesburg, Illinois, where he re- 
mained for eleven years. During this time, by 
thrift, energy and perseverance, he and his 
faithful wife had saved enough to purchase 
forty acres of land and henceforward he was 
ma.ster of his own household. In the meantime 
A\"il]iaui Marshall and wife crossed the Atlantic 



560 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and continued on their western journej^, going., 
to Galesburg, Illinois, where they made their 
home with their daughter, Mrs. Nash. 

In the year 1872 Patrick Nash sold his land 
in Illinois and removed to Dallas county, Iowa, 
where he purchased about two hundred acres 
of land, five miles south of Perry. By careful 
farming, strict economy and business integ- 
rity, he was able to add to his first investment 
from time to time, until he was the possessor 
of three hundred and twenty acres of as well 
kept, and as fine a farm as was, or is, in Dallas 
county. Besides cultivating this large farm he 
was an extensive breeder of fine hogs and 
blooded cattle. Year by year many carloads 
of fat stock left this farm, which always 
brought top-notch prices, proving that they 
were of the finest grade and quality. In the 
year 1892 he retired from the farm and re- 
moved to Perry, where he has since lived in the 
enjoyment of a well earned rest. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Nash six children were 
born : John H., who died at the age of seven 
years; Hannah, who died at the age of nine 
years; William L., who died when forty-six 
years of age; Harry A., who is in the insurance 
business and connected with various business 
enterprises in Perry, Iowa; Margaret, the wife 
of Barney O'Brien, of Perry, Iowa; and Maiy 
E., the wife of Cornelius Graney, also of Perry. 
Mr. Nash's faithful and loving wife was sum- 
moned to the great beyond on the 11th day 
of April, 1907. 

Patrick Nash has alwaj'S taken a deep and 
helpful interest in community affairs and has 
served in many responsible positions in this 
community. He is a man of strong religious 
convictions, being a member of the Roman 
Catholic church, and was a potent factor in 
earlier days, and still makes his influence felt 
by his generous contributions toward his 
church, which he dearly loves. In politics Mr. 
Nash is a man of broad \'iew3, but usually 
leans toward democracy. He has lived in this 
county for more than a third of a century, dur- 
ing which time many changes have occurred, 
while the country has steadily advanced along 



lines of improvement and upbuilding. In his 
business life he made good use of his opportu- 
nities, has utilized his possibilities to the best 
advantage and as the years have passed by he 
has gained a place among the honored self- 
made men who owe their prosperity entirely to 
their energy, their integrity and their labors. 



ANDREW APPENZELLER. 

Andrew Appenzeller is one of the worthy 
citizens that Germany has furnished to Dallas 
county and he dates his residence here from 
1876, during which time he has been closely 
identified with agricultural labors. He was 
born in Wurtemberg, Germanj-, January 2, 
1854, and was there reared to the age of four- 
teen years, while his education was also re- 
ceived in the schools of the fatherland. Upon 
his emigration to the new world he first located 
in Whiteside county, Illinois, where the family 
home was established, and remained under the 
parental roof until twenty-three years of age. 
His father's death occurred in that county in 
January, 1885, while his mother passed away 
in February, 1901. Andrew Appenzeller was 
the fourth of twelve children, of whom three 
died in infanc5^ The others, six sons and 
three daughters, are living. 

After coming to the United States with his 
parents, Andrew Appenzeller contributed all 
his earnings to the support of his father and 
mother, who were people of limited means, 
until twenty-three years of age, or the time 
when he came to Iowa. It was in 1876 that 
Andrew Appenzeller made his way to Dallas 
county and his first work here was at farm 
labor, being employed by T. Scott for twenty- 
seven months, after which he operated rented 
land for two years. Wishing then to establish 
a home of his own, he returned to Illinois and 
there on the 27th of December, 1881, was 
united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bristle, 
a native of Germany, where she was reared to 
the age of sixteen years. Mrs. Appenzeller's 




]MR. AND :\IPv8. ANDREW APrENZEIJ.ER 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



563 



father was Jlathias Bristle. Her mother's 
maiden name was Annie Arnold. Both parents 
were born and always lived in Germany. The 
father was eighty-six years old at the time of 
his death. He was the father of twenty-four 
children, by two wives. By Mrs. Appenzeller's 
mother sixteen were born. Three of Mrs. Ap- 
penzeller's sisters came to the United States; 
they are farmers' wives and live in the state of 
Illinois. Mrs. Appenzeller's father was a 
farmer. 

Returning to Iowa the young couple began 
their domestic life upon a farm in Dallas 
county and through their combined efforts 
they eventually saved a sum of money sufficient 
to purchase a tract of one hundred and twenty 
acres, which forms a part of the present place 
of residence. After purchasing this land he 
sold eighty acres of it but in 1890 bought it 
back again. Here Mr. Appenzeller erected a 
small house and made other improvements 
upon th« place, while in course of time he add- 
ed forty acres to his original tract and now has 
one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of 
which has been placed under a high state of 
cultivation and is improved with substantial 
buildings. In 1897 Mr. Appenzeller built a 
new house. In addition to this farm he also 
owns one hundred and sixty acres in South 
Dakota. In connection with operating the home 
farm Mr. Appenzeller also devotes a portion of 
his time to the raising of good grades of cattle, 
horses and hogs, and this branch of his business 
returns to him a good annual income. 

After a happy wedded life of seventeen years 
Mr. and Mrs. Appenzeller were separated by the 
death of the wife, for she was called to her final 
rest in the fall of 1898, her remains being in- 
terred in the Perry cemetery. The five children 
of this marriage, all of whom survive, are: 
John Henry; Anna Marie, who is acting as 
her father's housekeeper; Frank, William F. 
and Ida Alice, all at home. 

Politically Mr. Appenzeller has been a life- 
long republican and cast his first presidential 
vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. He 
served as highway commissioner for several 



years and also served on the school board, but 
has never been active as an office seeker, pre- 
ferring to devote his time to his private affairs. 
He was reared in the Lutheran faith and holds 
membership with the church of that denomina- 
tion at Bouton, to which his wife belonged and 
his children are also members. He is now 
serving as an elder in the church and has fre- 
quently served as a delegate to the conferences 
of the church. He is a man of exemplary 
habits and strict integrity, in manner unassum- 
ing, and all who know him entertain for him 
the highest regard and esteem. 



CHARLES E. VANDEVER. 

Not only has Charles E. Vandever seen Dal- 
las county grow from a wild country with only 
a few white inhabitants i.. a rich agricultural 
district containing thousands of good homes 
and a number of growing towns, inhabited by 
an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and 
progressive people, but he has participated in 
the slow, pei-sistent work of development which 
was necessary to produce a change which has 
been so complete that it now stands in the 
foremost ranks of the leading counties of the 
state of Iowa. 

Mr. Vandever is a native son of Dallas coun- 
ty, his birth having occurred on a farm in 
Washington township, February 28, 1857. 
He is a son of Elias and Melissa (Grove) Van- 
dever, the former a native of New -Jersey, born ' 
in 1835, and the latter born near Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where she was reared. Tlie father was 
reared in his native state and as a young man 
went to Ohio, settling in Hamilton county, 
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 
1856 he continued his journey westward, lo- 
cating in Dallas county, Iowa, where he pur- 
chased a farm in Washington township and 
reared his family of three children, the two 
sisters of our subject being: Fanny, who be- 
came the wife of A. L. Sutherland and died in 
1905, leaving four children; and Ladora, wlio 



564 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



was also married and is now deceased. The 
father passed away February 27, 1880, and is 
still survived by the wife and mother, who now 
makes her home with her son. She is a faith- 
ful and consistent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church at Perry. 

Charles E. Vandever was reared to manhood 
on the home farm, assisting his father in the 
operation of the property during the period 
of his boyhood and youth, while during the 
winter months he pursued his studies in the 
district schools near his father's home. He re- 
mained under the parental roof until the death 
of his father, after which he carried on the 
farm during the succeeding two years. He 
then purchased one hundred and twenty acres 
of his present farm and located thereon. He 
built a good two-story frame residence, and 
also erected a barn and other outbuildings for 
the shelter of grain and stock, tiled and fenced 
the land, put out an orchard and made the 
farm a model property. He has since added 
to his original holdings until the place now 
embraces two hundred acres, all of which is 
cultivable. He is here engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising, making a specialty 
of the raising of horses and hogs. In addition 
to his farm property, Mr. Vandever also owns 
a good residence in the village of Perry and a 
number of vacant lots there. 

Although reared in the faith of the demo- 
cratic party, Mr. Vandever now gives his sup- 
port to the republican party. He has been 
supervisor for nine years and has also served 
on the school board. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellows lodge and the Modern 
Woodmen camp at Perry. Mr. Vandever is 
thoroughly familiar with the pioneer conditions 
which here existed during the period of his 
boyhood and youth. He has broken the prai- 
ries with ox teams and can remember when 
the Indians were more numerous in this dis- 
trict than the white settlers. He has seen the 
town of Perrj' laid out and grow into a thriv- 
ing and prosperous little village. In viewing 
this county today one would scarcely realize 
the conditions that here existed fifty years ago, 



and in the work of development and progress 
that has been carried on to the present time 
Mr. \"andever has taken an active and help- 
ful i)art and therefore deserves to be classed 
with the honored pioneei"s of the county. 



EDWIN H. BURCHFIELD. 

Edwin H. Bxirchfield owns and operates a 
farm of two hundred and forty acres, in the 
midst of which stands an attractive country 
residence. He was born in Allen county, In- 
diana, January 14, 1856, a son of John S. 
Burchfield, who was born in Allegheny, Penn- 
sylvania. . He was twice married, his second 
union being with Jane Reynolds, a native of 
the Keystone state, and it was by this marriage 
that the subject of this review was born. Fol- 
lowing his second marriage, the father removed 
to a farm which he purchased in Allen county 
and there two sons were added to the house- 
hold. In 1869 he removed with his family to 
Dallas county, first purchasing forty acres of 
land, to which he later added and there his 
last days were spent, his death occurring in 
1875. His wife still survives and makes her 
home on the old homestead farm. 

Edwin H. Burchfield was a youth of fourteen 
years when he came with his parents to Dallas 
county. He acquired his education in the dis- 
trict schools near his father's home and during 
the spring and summer seasons worked with 
his father on the home farm. He remained 
with his father until the latter's death and 
then in connection with his brother, P. R. 
Bui'chfield, purchased eighty acres of land. 
After being engaged in business together for 
six or seven years Mr. Burchfield purchased his 
brother's interest and later added to his hold- 
ings, so that he now owns two hundred and 
forty acres of well improved land, located on 
sections 7 and 8, Lincoln township. He has 
built to and remodeled the house, has built i 
granary and other outbuildings and has made 
all modern improvements upon the place. He 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



565 



has set out an orchard, has fenced and tiled the 
land and in addition to raising the varions 
cereals adapted to the ssoil and climate, is en- 
gaged in raising Duroc Jersey hogs and Aber- 
deen Angus cattle. 

Mr. Burchfield was married in Guthrie 
county, March 29, 1892, to Miss Isabella Mar- 
tin, who was born in Linn county, where she 
was also reared. They are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. The political 
faith of Mr. Burchfield accords with the prin- 
ciples and policy of the republican party but he 
has never sought or desired public office. The 
history of the pioneer settlement of Dallas 
county would be incomplete without the record 
of this gentleman, for he has resided here from 
its earliest founding, dating his residence from 
1869, and during these years he has been a 
prominent factor in its advancement and sub- 
stantial upbuilding and now ranks with the 
honored pioneers of this section of the state. 



J. W. FORESTER. 



J. W. Forester is a self-made man who from 
the age of sixteen years has fought the battles 
of life bravely and well and has come off con- 
queror in the strife. He has not only made 
for himself a creditable place in the world but 
at the time of the Civil war he espoused the 
cause of the Union and fought valiantly in its 
defense. For many years he was closely as- 
sociated with farming interests in this county 
but is now living retired, occupying a plea.sant 
home in Adel. 

Mr. Forester is a native of Henry county, 
Indiana, and a son of David and Maria (Red- 
burn) Forester. The father, who was descend- 
ed from English stock, died when his son, our 
subject, was but two years of age. The mother, 
a native of Maryland, died in Dallas county, 
Iowa, about 1886. After the death of her hus- 
band she removed with her children to Bureau 
county, Illinois, where in 1852 she married 
Peter Ellis, a farmer. The following year they 



came to Dallas county, making the trip with 
teams. Grading was then in process for the 
construction of the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad and Mr. Forester of this re- 
view remembers seeing work done for that line 
when on his way through Illinois. A colony 
of twenty people came to Iowa at that time. 
For forty miles they traveled without a house 
in sight before they reached their destination. 
They located on South Coon river in Adams 
township, then a part of Adel township, and 
Peter Ellis, who had served in the Black Hawk 
war, secured a tract of land with a warrant 
which had been given him by the government 
in recognition of his military aid. In addition 
to his fa.rm work he was a local preacher of the 
Methodist faith and ever quickly r&sponded to 
a call for his services from various churches 
in this part of the state. His educational priv- 
ileges were limited but he possessed a native 
eloquence and force that made him a power 
in the pulpit, causing his labors to become a 
strong element for good among those who 
heard him. He died in 1881. By her fir.st 
marriage the mother of our subject had two 
children, while five were born of the second 
marriage. Four of the number are still living 
and those now residing in this state are: San- 
ford Ellis, who resides on the old family home- 
stead and Mrs. Florence Hubbard, of Council 
Bluff's, Iowa. 

Mr. Forester of this review accompanied his 
mother and step-father on the removal to this 
state and aided in the arduous task of develop- 
ing a new farm from wild, unbroken land. At 
the age of sixteen years he started out in life 
on his own account and has since been depend- 
ent entirely upon his own resources. In 1862 
he oft'ered his services to the government in de- 
fense of the LTnion, enlisting in Adel as a mem- 
ber of Company A, Twenty-third Iowa Volun- 
teer Infantry, with which he remained for 
three years in actjve field ser\'ice. He took 
part in seven distinct and important engage- 
ments, including the siege of Vicksbnrg, the 
campaign against Mobile and two campaigns 
into Texas. He was mustered out at Galves- 



566 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ton as second sergeant in 1865 and received an 
honorable discharge at Davenport. 

While in the army Mr. Forester saved his 
earnings and purchased eighty acres of prairie 
land in Adel township. After returning home 
he engaged in farming, first cultivating rented 
land until he could build upon his own farm. 
His first home was a frame structure, fourteen 
by eighteen feet. From early morning until 
late at night he was in the woods getting out 
timber and then clearing the land for culti- 
vation. He made farming his life work and 
from a humble beginning steadily advanced 
until he had acquired a very gratifying and 
desirable competence. He is now the owner of 
two hundred and thirty acres of rich and pro- 
ductive land in two well improved farms in 
Adams township, from which he derives an ex- 
cellent income. Ten years ago he retired from 
active business life and has since lived in Adel 
in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly 
earned and richly merits. 

In August, 1865, Mr. Forester had been 
married to Miss Adeline E. Douglas, who was 
born in Indiana, November 7, 1842, a daugh- 
ter of James and Catherine A. (Ricks) Doug- 
las, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The 
father was a carpenter and millwright and 
came to Dallas county in 1853. A son of the 
family, William H. Douglas, is now living on 
a farm at Van Meter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Forester have been born a daughter and four 
sons: Carrie, now the wife of Leonard Lister, 
a resident of Mi.ssouri; John E., who operates 
his father's farm; Willis V., a railroad engi- 
neer in Texas; Guy S., a braJceman on the rail- 
road in Oklahoma; and Ray, who married Ger- 
trude Grimes and lives on one of his father's 
farms. In 1905 Mr. and Mrs. Forester spent 
the winter in California. They are devoted 
and faithful members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. 

In politics Mr. Forester is a "stand-pat" re- 
publican and has held minor township offices, 
including those of trustee and school director. 
He maintains pleasant relations with his old 
army comrades through his affiliation with the 



Grand Army post, while his wife is a member 
of the Relief Corps. At the time of their mar- 
riage they started out without pecuniary assist- 
ance and they have made all that they now pos- 
sess, feeling a just pride in what they have ac- 
complished. Mr. Forester has led a busy and 
useful life, ably assisted by his wife, and they 
are now comfortably situated in life in a pleas- 
ant home amid many friends in Adel. 



RICHARD McCORMICK. 

Richard McCormick is the owner of exten- 
sive landed possessions in Dallas county, having 
on section 11, Dallas township, a tract of three 
hundred and fifty-five acres, on which are two 
complete sets of farm buildings, and here he 
carries on gen.eral agricultural pursuits and 
stock-raising. Mr. McCormick was born in 
Oneida county, New York, June 3, 1842, a son 
of James McCormick, who died when the son 
was but a small child. The mother was again 
married about 1847 and removed to a farm in 
Cook county, near Chicago, Illinois. 

Mr. McCormick was reared to farm life in 
Cook county and was there educated. He 
helped to clear a farm of eighty acres and re- 
mained in that county until he had reached 
the age of twenty-one years. He then removed 
to Champaign county, Illinois, and it was dur- 
ing his residence there that he enlisted for serv- 
ice in the Civil war, in July, 1861, becoming 
a member of Company F, Twenty-sixth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry. He went south with 
the regiment and participated in more than 
fifty battles and skirmishes, among the num- 
ber being the famous battles of Corinth, luka. 
Black River, Vicksburg and others. He vet- 
eranized at Scottsboro, Alabama, and returned 
home on a furlough, having been ill in a hos- 
pital after the battle at Black River. He was 
mustered out of service at Springfield, in June, 
1865, returning home with a most honorable 
military record. Mr. McCormick was promoted 




J\JR. AND MRS. RICHARD .McCOR.MlCK 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



569 



to first lieutenant and was discharged with that 
rank. 

Following his return from the war he was 
employed at the Rock Island station in Chi- 
cago for a time and later went to Champaign 
county, where in 1867, he was united in mar- 
riage to Mrs. Lida Brownfield, a widow, who 
had one daughter by her former marriage, 
Nancy Ann, now the wife of George Hawn, a 
resident of Dallas county. Following his mar- 
riage Mr. McCormick located on a farm in 
Champaign county and from time to time added 
to his landed possessions until he owned one 
hundred and twenty-six acres, on which he re- 
sided until 1891, when he traded that property 
for his present property in Dallas county. 
When he removed here he remodeled the house 
which stood on the place and has since erected 
a second residence and two sets of farm build- 
ings. He has three hundred and fifty-five acres 
of well improved land, which is devoted to gen- 
eral agricultural pursuits and stock-raising and 
feeding. He has beautified his place by many 
ornamental and shade trees and has also set 
out much fruit. He has tiled and fenced the 
land and altogether has a valuable property. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs.- McCormick has 
been blessed with four sons and four daughters, 
namely: Robert R., who is a resident farmer 
of Dallas township, is married and has four 
children — Mabel, Clarence^ Myrtle and Ethel. 
Daniel, who is married and resides on a part 
of his father's farm, also has four children. 
Geoi'ge, who is married and follows farming 
in Boone county, this state, has two children. 
James is a student at Champaign, Illinois. Mrs. 
Anna Johnson, a widow, resides in Champaign. 
Sarah Ellen is the wife of Charles Stewart, a 
farmer of Greene county, and they have one 
child. Earl. Mrs. Julia M. Nation resides on a 
farm in Dallas township. Mary Louise is the 
wife of Burt Collins, also a farmer of this town- 
ship, and has one child, Cecil. 

Mr. McCormick is a stanch believer in the 
principles and policy of the republican party 
but is not active as an office seeker, his private 
business interests making full claim upon his 



time and attention. He has, however, served 
as a member of the school board. Both he and 
his wife are members of the United Brethren 
church, while Mr. McCormick belongs to Red- 
field post, G. A. R., at Perry. 

The family home is pleasantly situated with- 
in one and a half miles of Dawson and it is 
noted for its gracious hospitality. Although 
Mr. McCormick is one of the later arrivals in 
the county he is numbered among the substan- 
tial citizens of this section of the state and 
through his honorable business dealings has 
won the good-will of all with whom he is 
brought in contact. 



HENRY P. THOMPSON. 

Henry P. Thompson is the owner of a well 
improved farm of eighty acres, situated on sec- 
tion 5, Lincoln township. He was born in Ohio, 
October 11, 1829, and in his youth was taken 
by his parents to Canandaigua county. New 
York, and later to Hillsdale county, Michigan, 
where they lived for a few years. Subsequently 
the family removed to Valparaiso, Indiana, 
where the father passed away at a comparatively 
early age. 

Henry P. Thompson was quite young when 
his father died, so that he was dependent upon 
his own resources from an early age. He ac- 
companied his parents on their various remov- 
als and when starting out in life on his own 
account was employed at farm labor by the 
month. After he had accumulated a compe- 
tence sufficient to enable him to engage in 
business on his own account he rented land in 
Indiana and further established a home of his 
own by his marriage in Valparaiso, in 1856, to 
Miss Cordelia White, who was born in Ohio. 
They began their domestic life on a farm and 
there several children were born to them. In 
1876 Mr. Thompson removed with his family 
to ]\Iissouri but only remained there for one 
year, and in 1877 came to Iowa, settling on a 
farm in Polk county. After a residence there of 



570 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



several years he made his way to Dallas 
county and for a number of years operated 
rented land in various sections, and then pur- 
chased a tract of eighty acres in Boone town- 
ship, but later disposed of this and removed 
to Waukee, where he conducted a boarding 
house for two years. He once more resumed 
farm labor, operating a rented tract in Dallas 
township for a period of five years, subse- 
quent to which time he purchased his present 
homestead property in 1896. Since taking 
possession of this farm he has made many im- 
provements, including good barn, fences and 
substantial outbuildings and he has also remod- 
eled and built to the house, so that he now has 
a well improved and attractive place. In ad- 
dition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil 
and climate he is also engaged in raising and 
feeding stock, making a specialty of hogs. He 
follows practical methods in the pursuit of his 
labors and is now a successful agriculturist. 

After a happy wedded life of more than 
thirty-five years Mi-s. Thompson was called 
from this life, her death occurring in 1891. 
She was a kind neighbor and friend and was 
devoted to her home and family. The five 
children, two sons and three daughters, of this 
marriage, still survive, namely: Ezra, who is 
married and resides on a farm near Berkley; 
Charles E., who wedded Hattie Gregory and is 
a.ssisting his father in the management of the 
home farm, having also installed a gasoline en- 
gine and feed mill, with which he does work for 
the neighborhood; Alice, the wife of Harry 
Jones, a bu.siness man of Dana, Iowa; .le.ssie, 
a young lady at home; and Nellie, the wife of 
A. P. Smith, a farmer of Lincoln township. 

Politically both Mr. Thompson and his sons 
are republicans, the father having cast his first 
presidential ballot in 1856 in support of John 
C. Fremont. Aside from serving on the school 
board he has never held office. He holds mem- 
bership Avith the Methodist Episcopal church 
at Prairie Center and is one of its trustees and 
president of the board. His worth is recog- 
nized by his fellowmen and his friendship 
prized by many with whom he is associated. 



Starting out in life at an early age, Mr. 
Thompson has overcome the difficulties and 
obstacles in his path and has gradually worked 
his way upward to success. 



LEWIS C. HALLING. 

Lewis C. Hailing, a prominent farmer and 
an old settler of Iowa, dates his residence in 
Dallas county from the year 1882 and on his 
present farm of two hundred acres from the 
year 1894. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, 
August 30, 1851, being a son of William Hal- 
ling, a native of Germany. His father followed 
the pursuit of agriculture in the fatherland and 
was there married. His first wife passed away 
and he was married a second time — -to Fred- 
ericka Niemier. In 1849 Mr. and Mrs. Hailing 
decided to start for the new world, where they 
felt that larger opportunities awaited them. 
Having landed in New York, they went by 
boat to St. Louis, where they remained for two 
years and then removed to Muscatine county, 
Iowa, where they began life on a farm and 
where they built up a home. They were the 
parents of nine children, eight of whom grew 
ti) maturity: Lewis C. ; William, of Muscatine 
county; Christian, who died at the age of 
twenty-eight years ; Henry, in Lincoln town- 
ship; and Mrs. Mary Tunison, Mrs. Louisa 
Gray, George, Edward and Frederick, all of 
Muscatine county. The mother is still living 
in Muscatine at the age of eighty-three years, 
while her husband passed away in the spring 
of 1907, at the age of ninety-three. 

Lewis C. Hailing was the eldest son of the 
family and was reared on his father's farm 
and educated in the Muscatine schools. So 
valuable were his services to his father that he 
remained with him until he had attained his 
twenty-fourth year. He then worked by the 
month for farmers in that vicinity, but at the 
end of five years rented a farm, where he broke 
the ground and in which he took great interest 
for the next year. He subsequently removed 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



571 



to Dallas county, where he again rented land 
and farmed for three years. His purpose up io 
this time was to lay up what money he could 
and to keep out of debt. He determined not 
to buy a place until he could pay for it, and at 
the end of three years on his farm he found 
himself in a position where he was well able 
to purchase eighty acres on section 11 of Lin- 
coln township. He built a home upon this new 
land, impi-oved the farm and took great pride 
in adding all improvements. For ten years he 
labored in this way to bring the place to a point 
where it would yield him the crops of which he 
felt it was capable. In 1894 he bought and 
traded for the two hundred acre farm where he 
now resides on section 10. He has never held 
any land which has not been better for his hav- 
ing lived upon it, for he believes in progress 
and has always been strictly up-to-date in all 
the details of agriculture. To those who knew 
this place when he bought it, it must hardly 
seem possible that it is the same place today. 
He has greatly improved every part of the land, 
has tiled it and has brought every inch of it 
under cultivation. He raises Durham and 
Aberdeen Angus cattle and Poland China hogs 
and feeds out all his grain, marketing two to 
four carloads of fat cattle a year. 

Mr. Hailing was married, on February 23, 
1880, to Ada Pierce, a native of Michigan and 
a daughter of Alva Pierce, who settled in Mus- 
catine county, Iowa, but who moved back to 
Michigan after several years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hailing are the parents of four children, three 
sons and one daughter; Ira and Alva, who are 
dry farming in Colorado; and Harvey and 
Lois, who arc at home. Tra, the eldest of 
the family, is a graduate of Perry College and 
taught school for three years. He was born 
July 5, 1882; Alva, February 23, 1885; Har- 
vey, April 23, 1891; and Lois, September 5, 
1893. 

]\Ir. Hulling has ])ecn a life-l'uig (leiiiDcvat 
and has voted that ticket on all national affairs. 
Locally he reserves the right to cast an inde- 
pendent ballot. He has never .sought for public 
ofhcc but has preferred to give his time and 



attention to his farm and his family. He is a 
member of the Highland Nobles of Perry. 
While he has very deep religious convictions', 
neither he nor his family are members of any 
church but attend them all and are interested 
in whatever good they may be doing. Mr. Hal- 
ling is just in his prime and has so managed 
his affairs that he is in an independent and 
comfortable position. The hardest work on his 
faiTn has been done and he can now work more 
leisurely and look forward to a pleasant old 
age. He has already seen the county grow to 
its present condition and .•Jees a large improve- 
ment for it in the immediate future. His ster- 
ling character has made him well known 
throughout the northwestern part of the 
county, where he has a large circle of friends 
v.'ho speak in the highest terms of Mr. Hailing 
and his character. 



LEONARD R. BROWN. 

Leonard R. Brown, one of the progressive 
and public-spirited citizens of Dallas county, 
resides in Dawson, Dallas township, and is the 
owner of three hundred and twenty acres of 
land, which he rents. Mr. Brown was born 
March 29, 1862, in Mason county, Illinois, a 
son of R. C. and Hannah (Vanlaningham) 
Brown. The father was a native of the Buck- 
eye state and became an early settler of Mason 
county, Illinois, where he was married and 
lived until 1874, when he came to Dallas 
county, this state, and opened up a farm, where- 
on he made his home for several years but 
later took up his abode in Lincoln county, 
Nebraska. 

Leonard R. Brown was reared to farm life 
in Dallas county and during the period of his 
boyhood and youth pursued his studies in the 
district schools. He remained with his father 
until he had reached mature years and then 
established a home of his own by his marriage, 
in 1882, to Miss Sarah Carnes, who was born 
ill Boone county, Iowa, a daughter of Jame.^! 



572 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Carnes, one of the early settlers of Lee county, 
this state. 

Following their marriage the young couple 
took up their abode on a farm which Mr. 
Brown had purchased, but after a residence 
of five years thereon he removed to Dawson 
and engaged in the grain trade, first represent- 
ing a firm in Kansas City. He later built an 
elevator and engaged in business on his own 
account, conducting the same for seventeen 
years. During this time he met with gratify- 
ing success and accumulated a competence that 
enabled him to invest in land, being now the 
owner of two tracts of one hundred and sixty 
acres each. In July, 1906, he disposed of the 
grain business. For about five years he also 
engaged in raising shorthorn cattle, but now 
gives his entire time to agricultural pursuits. 
He has always been a very active business man 
and his sound judgment and close application 
have been his most salient characteristics. 

As an active worker in local political ranks 
Mr. Brown supports the republican party, and 
was an active worker in the last' campaign. He 
has served on the school board and for one 
year filled the office of justice of the peace, 
while on several occasions he has been a dele- 
gate to county conventions. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown have become the parents 
of two daughters and a son: Florence, the 
wife of H. C Randolph, a farmer of Dallas 
township, by whom she has one daughter, 
Violet ; Bertha, the wife of Harry Stahl, of Des 
Moines, by whom she has a daughter, Helen ; 
and Harry, a student in the schools at Dawson. 
Both Mr. Brown and his wife are prominent 
in fraternal circles. He is a Master Mason, be- 
longing to the lodge at Perry and he also affil- 
iates with the Odd Fellows and both he and 
his wife are identified with the Rebekahs, in 
which ?he has served through all of the chairs 
and is now a past grand. Mr. Brown is also a 
charter member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America, in which he has filled all the offices. 

Mr. Brown is well known not only in Daw- 
son, but in various sections of the county, and 
he is justly accorded a place among the promi- 



nent and representative citizens of Dallas coun- 
ty, for he belongs to that class of men whose 
enterprising spirit is used not alone for their 
own benefit but for the advancement and pro- 
motion of the community. 



WILLIAM ALLEN NELSON. 

William Allen Nelson, one of the extensive 
and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of Dal- 
las county, was born September 27, 1845, in 
the state of Indiana. His father, Allen Nel- 
son, was twice married and by the first union 
had two children. After the death of his first 
wife he wedded Elizabeth Davis, by whom he 
had five children, of whom our subject was the 
youngest. When William Allen Nelson was 
but six months old his parents removed to Knox 
county, Illinois, his father's death there occur- 
ring a year later. 

Mr. Nelson, whose name initiates this review, 
acquired a common-school education and when 
but twelve years of age began to work for 
neighboring farmers. A few years later, how- 
ever, he and his brother began farming on their 
own account on thirteen acres of rented land. 
Though many would consider this a rather 
>niall and unpropitious beginning, prosperity 
attended their labors. At the time that 
William A. Nelson attained his majority 
he came to Dallas county, Iowa, and 
has ever since been identified with the 
interests of this region. He had saved 
enough money to enable him to purchase ten 
head of oxen, for which he paid one hundred 
and twenty-five dollars per yoke, and had a 
cash capital of two hundred dollars remaining. 
He bought his oxen and wagon in Cambridge, 
Illinois, and drove across the country to his 
new home in Dallas county. Here he at once 
began breaking prairie upon a quarter section 
of land, which he purchased for eight hundred 
dollars, making a payment of two hundred dol- 
lars. The work of improvement and develop- 
ment has been carried continuously forward, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



573 



until today he ha-s the finest farm in the county. 
The first season after he came to Iowa the 
grasshoppers ate up all his crops. He accord- 
ingly spent the following winter in traveling 
through Missouri but could find no more 
promising location and, undaunted, he re- 
turned to Iowa, planted his second crop and 
reaped an abundant harvest. Success is not the 
result of a combination of fortunate circum- 
stances but is the legitimate outcome of earnest 
labor, perseverance and capable management, 
and it is these qualities that have won Mr. 
Nelson his prosperity. He is now the owner 
of six hundred and ten acres of valuable land, 
the entire tract being improved and under a 
high state of cultivation. He has labored un- 
tiringly to bring about this result and he per- 
sonally broke the sod on three-quarters of a 
section. In addition to his extensive agricul- 
tural interests Mr. Nelson is also a large stock- 
raiser and feeder, and altogether is one of the 
leading and prosperous citizens of the county. 
His residence is one of the finest in Dallas 
county, being a large modern frame structure, 
heated by steam and supplied with water 
throughout. It stands on a natural building 
site and is one of the chief attractions of the 
landscape for miles around, being surrounded 
by a beautiful and well kept lawn. The inte- 
rior appointments are in keeping with the out- 
ward appearance of the home, which is taste- 
fully and richly furnished and is pervaded 
throughout by an air of culture and refine- 
ment. 

On the 30th of May, 1869, Mr. Nelson was 
united in marriage to Miss Emily Frisby, who 
was of Scotch-Irish lineage and was born and 
reared in McLean county, Illinois, her father 
being a stockman in that locality. Mr. and 
Mrs. Nelson became the parents of five chil- 
dren, four of whom are now living. George 
B., who was born March 16, 1870, is a grad- 
uate of the Dexter high school and is now en- 
gaged in farming with his father. He is also 
the inventor of a straw stacker. Jennie F., 
who was born July 14, 1871, is now deceased. 
Dora A. is the wife of Ford Price and lives 



at Webster Oity, Iowa. Pearl C. and Mark 
H., born in 1876 and 1882 respectively, are 
still at home. 

In his political views Mr. Nelson is a demo- 
crat and has held several township offices. Both 
he and his wife support the Christian church 
and are highly esteemed throughout the entire 
community by reason of their good qualities 
of heart and mind. Mr. Nelson and both of 
his sons are members of Wiscotta lodge. No. 
158, A. F. & A. M., of Redfield, and Tyrian 
chapter, No. 37, R. A. M., of Adel, Iowa. 



ANTHONY MABBITT. 

Anthony Mabbitt, one of the leading and 
prosperous business men of Redfield, was born 
in Madison county, Iowa, November 17, 1866, 
a son of William and Samantha E. (Boner) 
Mabbitt. The father was born in Indiana on 
September '6, 1833, being reared and engaging 
in farming in that state until 1864, when he 
went to Madison county, Iowa. Here he pur- 
chased about three hundred and thirty acres of 
land, which he successfully operated until 1893, 
after which he came to Redfield, Dallas county, 
and in partnership with W. S. Eppard pur- 
chased the Redfield grist and sawmill. He gave 
his attention to the management of this enter- 
prise for a short time. After the firm of Mab- 
bitt & Eppard became owners of the mill it 
was completely remodeled and refitted with 
modern machinery and all the equipments nec- 
essary for the successful conduct of the busi- 
ness. William Mabbitt lived largely retired in 
Redfield, although his attention was more or 
less given to business affairs in which he had 
made investments. He was a man of sterling 
integrity and was endeared to all who knew 
him by reason of his genuine personal worth 
and upright life. Mr. Mabbitt was also promi- 
nent in local political circles, serving for one 
term as mayor of Redfield and always giving 
his aid in every way possible for the growth 
and material prosperity of the town. In re- 



574 



PAST AiS^D PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ligious belief he was a devoted member of the 
Christian church and in his daily life exem- 
plified the teachings of this denomination. He 
was twice married, his first wife being Miss 
Susannah Carroll, by whom he had five chil- 
dren, two of whom are still living: Emery, a 
resident of Wyoming; and Columbus, living 
in South Dakota. By his second marriage Mr. 
Mabbitt became the father of eleven children, 
six of whom survive: Marcus L., of Madison 
county, Iowa; Anthony, of this review; John 
W., also living in Madison county, Iowa; 
Lydia, the widow of H. A. Leeper, of Redfield, 
Iowa; Charles and Arthur, both residing in 
Redfield, Iowa. William Mabbitt had sixteen 
children, twenty-one grandchildren and four 
great-grandchildren. 

Anthony ]\Iabbitt was reared under the pa- 
I'entai roof and acquired his education in the 
common schools. After he had attained his 
majority he carried on agricultural pursuits 
on the home farm for three years, receiving a 
share of the crops. He afterward rented other 
farms which he conducted for two years and 
in 1893 came to Redfield in company with his 
father. For the following two years he worked 
in the mill as a helper, thereby becoming fa- 
miliar with the business in principle and de- 
tail. In 1895 he was made manager of the 
mills and in 1897 took entire charge of them, 
conducting the business and operating the 
mills for a percentage of the profits. He is 
still successfully engaged in this enterprise, 
which under his capable management has be- 
come a prosperous concern. He is also con- 
nected with the draying business in Redfield 
and thus his interests extend over a wide field, 
making him a representative and leading busi- 
ness man of the community. 

On June 24, 1890, Mr. Mabbitt was united 
in marriage to Miss Sarah E. F. Epper, a 
daughter of William Smith Epper, of Madi- 
son county, Iowa, who came to that county 
from Virginia. He felt that he would be 
pressed into the Confederate service if he re- 
mained in the south, and as his sympathies 
were with the northern cause he left his estate 



in Virginia and came to Iowa. Mr. and Mr.<. 
Mabbitt became the parents of three children 
who are yet living: Ethel Florence, Clarence 
Willard and Harry. One ciiild died in infancy. 
The mother is a member of the Christian 
church, and presides with gracious hospitality 
over her pleasant home. 

Mr. Mabbitt votes with the democratic party 
and has frequently served as a member of the 
town council and also as a member of the 
school board for one term. Fraternally he is 
connected with Redfield lodge, No. 135, I. 0. 
O. F. ; Redfield lodge, No. 346, K. P. ; and Red- 
field cam]), No. 3498, M. W. A. He is public 
spirited, giving his co-operation to every move- 
ment which tends to promote the moral, intel- 
lectual and material welfare of the community. 



M. W. THORNBURG, M. D. 

Dr. M. W. Thornburg, one of the prominent 
physicians and surgeons of Dallas county, was 
born in Randolph county, Indiana, May 28, 
1859, a son of Henry C. and Eleanor J. (Gil- 
more) Thornburg. The father was born in 
Tennessee in 1816 and was brought by his 
parents to Indiana when but a year old. They 
settled in Wayne county and there Henry C. 
Thornburg was reared to manhood. He then 
located on a farm in Randolph county, where 
he resided until 1876, when he came west to 
Iowa, purchasing a farm of two hundred acres 
in Lincoln township, four miles north of Lin- 
den. This remained his home imtil the time 
of his (leath in January, 1886. He was a life- 
long republican and for many years was 
trustee of his township in Indiana. There be- 
ing at that time but one trustee to a town- 
ship, the office was therefore one of importance 
and Mr. Thornburg filled the same in an ac- 
ceptable and capable manner. He was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church during 
his mature years and was also an ordained 
jninister. He never accepted a charge, how- 
ever, but preached locally for various churches 




DR. M. W. I^IIORXBURG 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



577 



for many years in the absence of regular pas- 
tors. In his fraternal relations he was a Mason 
and was one of the well known and representa- 
tive citizens of Dallas county. By his first wife, 
who died early in the '60s, Mr. Thornburg had 
ten children, nine of whom survive: Sarah, 
the wife of S. H. Lumpkins, a resident of 
M'estern Nebraska ; Louisa, the wife of William 
Mosier, living in Lincoln township, Dallas 
county; Jonathan, who resides in Linn town- 
ship, Dallas county, being ex-county treasurer 
of the county; Paulina, the wife of Edward 
Parker, of Blountsville, Indiana; John S., of 
Lincoln township, Dallas county; Dennis G., 
a resident of the same place; Mary L., the wife 
of P. J. C. Bird, living in Blountsville, Indi- 
ana; M. W., the subject of this review; and 
Elmer E., who noY' resides in western Ne- 
braska. The deceased daughter, Nancy, lived 
to be the grandmother of several children. For 
his second wife, H. C. Thornburg chose Han- 
nah Garrett, who still survives him and makes 
her home in Farmland, Indiana. She became 
the mother of two children : Henry G., resid- 
ing on the old homestead in Lincoln town- 
ship; and Jennie, a graduate of Cornell Col- 
lege, who is now assistant librarian at that in- 
stitution. 

M. W. Thornburg remained under the par- 
ental roof until he had attained his seven- 
teenth year, when he began his business career 
as a farmer, carrying on agricultural pursuits 
from 1876 until 1883 as a renter. In 1883 he 
entered the Stuart high school and was grad- 
uated in 1885. The following winter he en- 
gaged in teaching school, and in the spring of 
1886 began attending the Iowa State College, 
at Ames, from which he was graduated in the 
class of 1889, with the degree of B. S. In the 
fall of 1888, during a vacation period, Mr. 
Thornburg entered the medical department of 
the State University and thus took up the work 
of two colleges at the same time. He attended 
the lectures at the university through the fol- 
lowing winter and in the .spring of 1889 took 
up his studies at Ames and was graduated from 
that institution in the fall of the same year. 



In the winter following he again attended med- 
ical lectures at the State University and in the 
fall of 1890 went to New York city, entering 
Bellevue Medical College and completing the 
course in the spring of 1891. On the 6th of 
July of the same year he came to Redfield and 
began the practice of his chosen profession, 
having in the intervening years gained an ex- 
tensive and profitable patronage, which num- 
bers him among the prominent medical prac- 
titioners of Dallas county. He has ever kept 
abreast with the progress made in his profes- 
sion by post-graduate work, taking a course at 
Ames in 1887 and another at the Post Graduate 
Medical School of Chicago, in 1898. In the 
line of his chosen calling he is connected with 
the Dallas County Medical Society, the Iowa 
State Medical Society and the American Med- 
ical Association. The state of Iowa with its 
pulsing industrial activities and rapid develop- 
ment has attracted within its confines men of 
marked ability and high character in the vari- 
ous professional lines and in this way progress 
has been conserved and social stability fostered. 
He whose name initiates this review has gained 
recognition as one of the able and successful 
physicians of the state, and by his labors, his 
high professional attainments and his sterling 
characteristics has justified the respect and con- 
fidence in which he is held by the medical 
fraternity and the local public. 

On September 20, 1839, Dr. Thornburg was 
united in marriage to Miss Louise Redfield, a 
daughter of Jay Ward Redfield, a member of 
the Redfield family who at one time owned all 
the land around Redfield and who were the 
founders of the town. Unto our subject and 
his wife were born two children — Maurice and 
Helen. 

In his political views Dr. Thornburg is a re- 
publican and is at present serving as a member 
of the town council and also of the school board, 
the interests of his home community ever find- 
. ing in him a stalwart champion. Fraternally 
he is connected with the Masons, the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Pj'tliias. Genial in disposition, unobtrusive and 
unassuming, he is patient under adverse crit- 
icism and in his expressions concerning brother 
practitioners is friendly and indulgent. 



ALBERT C. FAGEN. 



Albert C. Fagen is one of the extensive land- 
owners of Dallas county, having four hundred 
acres of valuable and well improved farm land, 
situated on sections 16 and 21, Dallas, town- 
ship, while in addition to this he also owns 
one and one-half acres in city lots in Des 
Moines, Iowa. He has spent his entire life in 
this state, having been born in Polk county, 
December 11, 1855, a son of Herman Fagen, 
who was born in Ohio in February, 1832. His 
father, Hezekiah Fagen, came to this state 
when a youth of sixteen years and in 1846 lo- 
cated in Polk county, where he operated a 
grist and sawmill and helped to open up and 
improve that section of the state. He was mar- 
ried in Polk county to Ellen Likes, who was 
a native of the Buckeye state, The father of 
our subject spent the greuter part of his life 
in Polk count}', where he was engaged in farm- 
ing until his death, which occurred in 1899. 
He is still survived by his widow. 

Albert C. Fagen is the eldest in a family 
of five sons and five daughters, of whom three 
sons and four daughters are living. He was 
reared in Polk county and attended the com- 
mon schools of that section and also attended 
school in Des Moines. He remained with his 
father until he reached mature years, during 
which time he assisted in the operation of the 
homestead farm. He was married there in 
1880, to Miss Nina Elliott, who was also a na- 
tive of Polk county, and a daughter of John 
Elliott, one of its earliest settlers, removing 
thence from the state of Illinois. 

Upon starting out in life on his own account 
Mr. Fagen first rented a tract of land, which he 
operated for several years, and during this time 
he acquired a sum of money sufficient to justi- 



fy the purchase of land and he then bougbt 
eighty acres in Des Moines township, residing 
thereon for two years, subsequent to which time 
he -sold that property and bought eighty acres 
of his present holdings in Dallas township. 
As time passed and his financial resources in- 
creased he added to his original purchase until 
he now owns four hundred acres, situated on 
sections 16 and 21, Dallas - township. Since 
locating here he has tiled and fenced much 
of the land, has built to and remodeled the 
house, has erected many outbuildings and set 
out an orchard, besides many shade and orna- 
mental trees, so that his farm is now one of 
the attractive as well as the most productive 
and valuable in the county. In addition to 
carrying on general agricultural pursuits he 
also gives much of his time to the raising and 
feeding of stock and this branch of his business 
is proving a profitable source of income to him. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fagen has 
been blessed with thirteen children, of whom 
two, Mary and Harmon, died in infancy. The 
surviving members are: Guy; Joe; Frank; Al- 
bert ; Glen ; George ; William ; Johnnie ; Edna, 
the wife of Austin Robinson, a farmer of Dallas 
township: Grace, a young lady at home; and 
Hazel. 

Mr. Fagen supports the men and measures 
of the republican party and has served as 
township ti'ustee and as highway commissioner. 
He is a member of the school board and has 
served as a delegate to county conventions. Mr. 
Fagen is a charter member of the Odd Fellows 
lodge of Dawson and also affiliates with the 
IModern Woodmen of America, w'hile his wife is 
a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. 
Fagen has spent his entire life in this state and 
can remember when the Indians were as num- 
ei-ous as the white settlers. He has seen Des 
Moines grow from a mere hamlet to a pros- 
perous and thriving city and in the agricultural 
development of this section of the state he has 
borne his full share. He is numbered among 
the honored pioneers of the county and com- 
mands the re-spect and esteem of all with whom 
he is associated. All that he today possesses 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



bli) 



has been won through his energy and perse- 
verance and the assistance of his estimable wife, 
for when he started out upon his own account 
he rented land and today he is one of the ex- 
tensive landowners of the county. 



JAMES PETERS. 



James Peters is classed among the well-to-do 
and extensive farmers and stock-raisers of Dal- 
las county, owning a tract of land comprising 
five hundred and twenty acres, known as the 
Standard Stock Farm, and located on section 
17, Dallas township. Mr. Peters is a native 
of Michigan, born in Ypsilanti, February 9, 
1858, a son of John Peters, who was an early 
settler of that state. He removed from that 
state to Ohio, and subsequently removed to Il- 
linois, while in 1877 he located in Warren 
county, Iowa, where he spent his last years. 
He is still survived by his widow, who bore 
the maiden name of Eliza Donley, and their 
marriage was celebrated in the Keystone state. 
Mrs. Peters now makes her home in Perry, 
Iowa. 

James Peters was reared on the home farm, 
accompanying his i>arents on their various 
removals. He acquired his education in the 
common schools and remained with his father 
until he reached years of maturity, when, in 
1879, he started out in life on his own account 
and came to Dallas county, operating rented 
land here for several years. He then purchased 
a tract of eighty acres in Washington town- 
ship, and after building a home and improving 
and cultivating that place for several years he 
sold it and moved to Dallas township, owning 
a place of two hundred acres. After improving 
that tract and making his home on it for nine 
years he disposed of it and removed to Guthrie 
county, where he purchased four hundred and 
forty acres, but after a residence of five years 
there returned once more to Dallas county and 
now owns five hundred and twenty acres. He 
has made many improvements since locating 



here and now has a fine country residence and 
many sheds, barns and other outbuildings for 
tiie care of his stock and grain, and he has also 
erected a set of buildings for his son, who as- 
sists him in the management of the farm. In 
addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted 
to soil and climate, Mr. Peters also raises large 
numbers of stock, feeding and fattening from 
twelve to seventeen carloads annually. The suc- 
cess which he today enjoys is due entirely to 
his own eff'orts, for he started out in life empty- 
handed and through his own enei'gy, economy 
and perseverance he has gradually worked his 
way upward until he is now the owner of a 
valuable farm property. 

Mr. Peters established a home of his own by 
his marriage, on the 13th of July, 1881, to 
Miss Mary Snyder, who was born in Henry 
county, Illinois, December 21, 1861, a daugh- 
ter of James Snyder, who removed to this state 
from Illinois. He is now living retired at the 
advanced age of eighty-two years. The mar- 
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Peters has been blessed 
with six children : Frank, who is married and 
has four children, and resides on his father's 
farm; James 0., a young man at home; Harry 
'Wn'nnn: Anna Laura, the wife of M. G. Wil- 
kinson, a jeweler of Pomeroy, Iowa; Lena May, 
who was graduated from the Guthrie county 
high school and Perry Normal College, and 
is now engaged in teaching; and Anna E., a 
young lady at home. 

Mr. Peters gives his political support to the 
repul)lican party but was formerly identified 
with the democracy. He has never sought or 
desired office but has been called to fill several 
township offices, having served as township 
and road supervisor and as district clerk, and 
he is also a member of the school board. The 
family are members of the Methodist church 
at Yale. Mr. Peters is a Master Mason, belong- 
ing to the blue lodge at Yale, while both he 
and his wife are members of the Eastei-n Star 
and he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of 
America. During the three decades of his 
residence in the state he has seen much of the 
wild land converted into valuable tracts, while 



580 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



here and there thriving towns and villages have 
sprung up. He has assisted in much of the 
improvement that has here been made along 
agricultural lines, while as the owner of the 
Standard Stock Farm he is numbered among 
the substantial and progressive citizens of this 
section of the state. 



JACOB RITZMAN. 



Jacob Ritzman is a prominent agriculturist 
and an old settler of Dallas county, Iowa, where 
he has lived since 1872. He was born in 
Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1850, 
and is a son of Michael and Kate (Marks) 
Ritzman, both natives of Pennsylvania. They 
had six children, only two of whom survive, 
Jacob and Gussie. The father of this family 
passed away in 1868 at the age of fifty-five, 
while the mother survived him until 1893, 
when she died at the age of eighty-one. They 
were hard-working, conscientious people and 
took both pride and pleasure in rearing their 
two children. 

Jacob Ritzman received the ordinary educa- 
tional advantages incident to his native county, 
attending the district school in winter and 
working on his father's farm during the sum- 
mer season. He was an ambitious young man, 
anxious to be independent and to make his 
own way in the world. At the early age of 
nineteen, when most boys are just beginning 
to think of college today, Mr. Ritzman came 
alone to Illinois and worked by the month for 
one year in Bureau county. He had from a lad 
been equal to anything that could be done 
with tools and he felt that along this line he 
would be glad to cultivate his talent. He ac- 
cordingly removed to Dallas county, Iowa, and 
worked at the carpenter's trade for nine years, 
but his early life on the farm had made him 
so at home in agricultural pursuits that he 
longed once more for the work in the fields. 
In 1878 he bought eighty acres of land and 
worked it so successfully that he was able to 



add eighty acres more to his original purchase. 
It was a matter of pride with him to have his 
farm one of the best kept in the county and to 
bring it to a condition where its buildings and 
its crops would speak of prosperity. He erected 
a two-story house, which was comfortable in 
every particular, good barns, corncribs and all 
the necessary outbuildings. He refenced his 
entire farm, laid three miles, of tiling on the 
place and put it in a condition where it yielded 
him abundant crops. In addition to general 
farming he raises superior grades of shorthorn 
cattle and Poland China hogs, feeding out his 
grain to two or four carloads of cattle a year. 
A person cannot pass Mr. Ritzman's farm with- 
out the feeling that he lives at home. The 
place is inviting in every detail, for his house, 
barn and buildings are all modern and up»to- 
date, and the landscape gardening is a model 
for other agriculturists to copy. Mr. Pvitzman 
has surrounded his place vrith beautiful shade 
trees, has set out a splendid orchard and has 
designed all of his own building-s, which ac- 
counts for their unusual artistic feature.?. 

Mr. Ritzman was married on January 20, 
1886, to Molly Rankin, a native of Muscatine 
county and a daughter of Burrough Rankin. 
It was while on a visit to Dallas county that Mr. 
Ritzman met Miss Rankin, so that their court- 
ship was decidedly a romance. Their union 
has been blessed with one child, Clifford, born 
November 22, 1887. He is at home and takes 
great delight in assisting his father in carrying 
on the home farm. 

Mr. Ritzman has been a life-long republican 
so far as national affairs are concerned, but has 
always cast an independent local ballot. He 
has never sought either the offices or the honors 
of his party but has preferred to devote his time 
to his farm and to his family, to whom he is 
unusually devoted. Mrs. Ritzman is a mem- 
ber of the Christian church, which has always 
received her generous and' hearty support. To 
those who have known the details of Mr. Ritz- 
man's life it is a matter of amazement and sur- 
prise that he has been able to accomplish so 
much. Beginning empty-handed, he has 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



583 



worked his way step by step to his present posi- 
tion and can look back with satisfaction upon 
a Ufe well spent. Too often the farmer becomes 
simply the farmer, but j\Ir. Ritzman has gained 
so much from the beauty and the good of life 
that he is remarkable in more than one way. 
It has been said that the man who can do things 
is the happiest man in the world, and Mr. Ritz- 
man has certainly proven his ability to do well 
whatever he has undertaken. 



JOEL D. LISLE. 



A well developed and highly improved farm 
of two hundred and forty-five acres, situated 
on section 19, Dallas township, is the property 
of Joel D. Lisle, who came here in 1871. He 
is engaged in farming and stock-raising, feed- 
ing and fattening several carloads of stock for 
the market each year. Mr. Lisle was born in 
Belmont county, Ohio, May 14, 1852, a son 
of John Lisle, who was likewise born in that 
county, and is mentioned in the sketch of 
George Lisle, elsewhere in this work. 

Joel D. Lisle was reared and educated in the 
county of his nativity and upon starting out 
upon an independent business venture he 
came to Dallas county in 1871, locating on a 
tract of land belonging to his father, who owned 
one thousand acres in this county. He oper- 
ated that tract until 1877 and then located 
on the farm which is today his home. He, 
however, began here with one hundred and 
sixty-five acres, but has since added to his orig- 
inal holdings until he now has two hundred 
and forty-five acres. He has laid many rods 
of tiling, has fenced the land, erected a modern 
and up-to-date two-story country residence, has 
built two large bams and set out fruit and 
shade trees. Altogether his is one of the most 
valuable and well kept farms of this section of 
the county. He engages in raising the vari- 
ous cereals adapted to the soil and climate and 
also raises stock for the market, feeding from 
one to two carloads of hogs and three carloads 



of cattle annually. Both branches of his busi- 
ness are proving a profitable source of revenue 
to him and he is thus numbered among the 
progressive and enterprising citizens of his sec- 
tion of the county. 

Mr. Lisle further established a home of his 
own by his marriage, on the 27th of Septem- 
ber, 1877, to Miss Malinda Hicks, who was born 
m Belmont county, Oliio, and with her father, 
James Hicks, removed to a farm near Knox- 
ville, Iowa, about 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Lisle 
have a daughter, Ina P., who is a young lady 
at home, and they also lost a son, Roy, who 
died at the age of two years. 

Mr. Lisle gives his political support to the 
republican party and is now serving as town- 
ship trustee. His wife is a member of the 
^Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Lisle is well 
and favorably known in various sections of 
the county and as one of its pioneer settlers 
deserves mention in this volume, for his life 
has been passed in conformity with the most 
honorable principles and his success has been 
SI) worthily won and is so richly merited that 
all rejoice with him in what he has accom- 
plished. 



FRANK McBROOM. 



Frank McBroom, secretary and treasurer of 
the Redfield Brick & Tile Works, was born in 
Polk county, Iowa, November 18, 1863, a son 
of Henry 0. and Harriet (Salisbury) 'Mc- 
Broom, the former of Scotch-Irish and the 
latter of English descent. The father was born 
in Ohio and came to Iowa about the year 1851, 
locating in Polk county, near Des Moines. He 
here followed farming up to the time of his 
death, which occurred in 1856, and was recog- 
nized as one of the leading and influential men 
of his community. 

Frank McBroom lived at home until he 
reached his majority, when he went west, re- 
siding in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 1884 until 
1900. Here he was variously employed, acting 



584 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



for some years as assistant superintendent and 
purchasing agent for one of the Salt Lake 
street railroads. In 1900 he removed to Okla- 
homa, where he was engaged for about five 
j'eai-s in the real-estate business. He also fol- 
lowed farming and other pursuits until 1905, 
when he returned to Des Moines and carried 
on real-estate interests there. In January, 
1907, he purchased an interest in the Redfield 
Brick & Tile Company, being connected with 
the firm in the capacity of secretary and treas- 
urer. AA'hile Mr. McBroom i.s not a practical 
tile and brick man, he is giving his extensive 
business experience to the conduct of this im- 
portant enterprise, being regarded as a valua- 
ble factor in its successful control. 

Mr. McBroom was united in marriage to 
Miss Hattie L. Kingman, of Des Moines, and 
unto this marriage has been born one child, 
Leland A., who is now attending the West 
high school at Des Moines. In his political afhl- 
iations Frank McBroom is a republican, while 
fraternally he is a Mason, being connected with 
Oklahoma lodge, No. 3. Tireless energy, keen 
perception, honesty of purpose, a genius for 
devising the right thing at the right time, 
joined to every -day common sense, guided by 
resistless will power, are the chief characteristics 
of the man. He is regarded as a representative 
and entei-prising business man and wherever 
known is held in the highest esteem. 



EDWARD F. LEE. 



Edward F. Lee, residing on a well improved 
farm of one hundred acres in Dallas township, 
is numbered among the honored veterans of 
the Civil war and is one of the oldest settlers 
of Dallas county, having resided here for al- 
most a half centurj', during which time he has 
given valuable aid in the development and im- 
provement that has been made in this section 
of the state. 

Mr. Lee was born in Elyria, Lorain county, 
Ohio, February 26, 1834, a son of George R. 



and Sarah (Dunn) Lee, the former a native of 
St. Catharines, Canada, while the latter was a 
native of New York state and bore the maiden 
name of Rose, being a widow at the time of her 
marriage to Mr. Lee. The father was reared 
in his native city and there followed the mas- 
on's trade for a time, but later removed to New 
York, being married at Painted Post, that 
state. He subsequently settled in Lorain coun- 
ty, Ohio, where he continued to work at his 
trade and had the contract to build the court- 
house at Elyria. Subsequently he removed to 
Kalamazoo, Michigan, and built the court- 
house and jail in that city. They reared a 
family of seventeen children, of whom our sub- 
ject is now the only survivor. 

The educational advantages of Mr. Lee were 
somewhat limited, for at that early day the 
schools were in a primitive condition. He was 
reared in Lorain county to the age of fourteen 
years, when he went upon the lakes, being thus 
engaged for seven years, and during the last 
year of his engagement he was captain of a 
vessel. For three seasons his vessel carried 
grain from Chicago to Oswego. 

It was in October, 1856, in Lorain county, 
Ohio, that Mr. Lee was united in marriage to 
^liss Maria Kelsey, who was born and reared 
there, and two years later they removed to Dal- 
las county, Iowa, Mr. Lee purchasing one hun- 
dred acres of land on section 9, Dallas town- 
ship, and another tract of twenty acres cov- 
ered with timber. He broke the wild land and 
in course of time placed the laud under a good 
state of cultivation. He lived in a log house, 
which was on the place until after the Civil 
war. 

The business interests of Mr. Lee were in- 
terrupted by the hostilities which existed be- 
tween the north and the south, when, loyal to 
his country's interests, he enlisted as a member 
of Company B, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, joining August 9, 1862. He went 
with hi^ regiment to Davenport and was in 
camp there until the following December. 
From that city they marched to Cairo and on 
to Columbus, Kentucky, thence to Jackson, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



585 



Tennessee, their first engagement being at 
Pai'ker'.s Crossroads on the olst of December, 
1862. Becoming ill from a fever, Mr. Lee 
spent seven or eight weeks in a hospital at 
Corinth, Mississippi, and after his recovery 
went again to the front, serving until the close 
of the wai". He spent some time in Georgia 
and was with Sherman on his celebrated march 
to the sea, later mai'ched to Richmond and on 
to Washington, where he participated in the 
Grand Review and was mustered out of serv- 
ice January 5, 1865. 

Following the close of hostilities, Mr. Lee 
returned to his home and family in Dallas 
county, and resumed his work on the farm. Lie 
has built a good country residence and many 
substantial outbuildings for the shelter of 
grain and stock, has set out a grove, drained 
his laud, and now has a valuable property, 
from which he derives a good income. He has 
always followed farming pursuits and in his 
business affairs has met with very gratifying 
success. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lee have become the parents 
of six children: Walter, a resident of Prairie 
City, Illinois; William E., who lives in Perry, 
Iowa; Homer W., who is a conductor on the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and 
makes his home in Perry; Charles A., who is 
railroad agent at Yorkshire, Iowa; and Ella, 
the widow of H. B. Brown, of Perry. They 
lost one son, Milo A. Lee, who died in 1905, 
leaving a family of three children. 

In politics Mr. Lee is a republican and cast 
his first presidential ballot in 1856 for John C. 
Fremont, while in 1880 he voted for Stephen 
A. Douglas, and in 1864 cast his ballot in sup- 
port- of Abraliam Lincoln, having supported 
each republican candidate since that time. He 
has taken an active interest in political affairs, 
having prior to the war served as township 
clerk and has since acted as assessor. He has 
also served on the township board and as trus- 
tee of the township, and has filled the office 
of constable. Mr. Lee took the United States 
census for Lincoln township in 1880 and Dal- 
las township in 1890. He has acted as a dele- 



gate to various county and congressional con- 
ventions and has been a member of the school 
board, the cause of education ever finding in 
him a warm friend. He is a charter member 
of Redfield post, G. A. R., at Perry, and thus 
maintains pleasant relations with his old army 
comrades. 

Mr. Lee has resided in Dallas county for al- 
most a half century and during that time, with 
the exception of his absence during the wax 
he has been closely allied with its agricultural 
interests. He has seen the county developed 
into an excellent district, with thriving towns 
and villages and in the work of development 
and improvement which has here been carried 
on much is due to the efforts of Mr. Lee. His 
record as a soldier, as an official and as a busi- 
ness man has been so honorable that he has 
gained the confidence and respect of all with 
whom he has been brought in contact, while 
as a pioneer of the county he deserves promi- 
nent mention in a volume of this character. 



J. C. TOWNS. 



J. C. Towns, who successfully operates his 
tract of one hundred and thirty acres on sec- 
tion 14, Linn township, was born in Dallas 
county, Iowa, June 27, 1858, a son of Cyrus 
and Rachel (Duck) Towns, the former a na- 
tive of Maine and the latter of Ohio. The 
father removed to Ohio in an early day and 
subsequently took up his abode in Indiana. 
In 1857, however, he came to Dallas county, 
Iowa, entering a tract of land from the govern- 
ment, whereon he made his home and carried 
on agricultural pursuits until the time of his 
death in 1893. His wife still survives him, 
making her home with her son, J. C, in Linn 
township. This worthy couple were the par- 
ents of nine children, six of whom are yet 
living: Mahala, the wife of Milton Maulsby, 
of Linn township; Marion, a resident of Dallas 
county; Ira, also living in this county; J. C, 



586 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



whose name initiates this review; and Jesse 
and Irving, both residing in North Dakota. 

J. C. Towns acquired his education in the 
district schools of his native county and as 
he was reared on a farm it is not strange that 
he early became familiar with all the duties 
and labors connected with agricultural life and 
that he took up this work as a permanent occu- 
pation. That his choice was a wise one is 
indicated by the fact that he is now the owner 
of one hundred and thirty acres of fine farm- 
ing land on section 14, Linn township, which 
he operates successfully and enei'getically, hav- 
ing brought the tract under a high state of cul- 
tivation. Rich harvests annually pay tribute 
to his enterprise and diligence and he is num- 
bered among the representative agriculturists 
of the county. 

On March 31, 1881, Mr. Towns was united 
in marriage to Miss Lizzie Wagle, who was born 
in Wisconsin in 1862, being a daughter of 
John and Betsy (Call) Wagle, the former a 
native of Ohio and the latter of Maine. Her 
parents removed to Minnesota in 1860 but the 
following year, at the time of the massacre, 
were driven out by the Indians. They then 
took up their abode in Wisconsin but subse- 
quently returned to Minnesota, where they re- 
mained until they were called to their final 
rest. They were the parents of three children, 
as follows: Addie, the wife of Jack Wyckoff, 
living in Guthrie county, Iowa; Mrs. Towns; 
and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. 
Towns are the parents of three children: Roy 
H., who is married and resides in this county; 
Glenn M., who is attending the high school at 
Linden; and Harold C. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Towns is a 
republican. He is always courteous, kindly 
and affable and those who know him personally 
have for him a warm regard, while any move- 
ment or measure instituted to promote the 
growth and prosperity of his native county 
never seeks his aid in vain. He has resided 
in Dallas county for almost a half century 
and has become widely and favorably known 
by reason of his sterling traits of character 



and genuine personal worth. Not only has he 
seen this district develop from a wild country, 
with only a few white inhabitants, to a rich 
agricultural country, containing thousands of 
good homes and acres of growing towns, in- 
habited by an industrious, prosperous, en- 
lightened and progressive people, but he has 
participated in and assisted the slow, persistent 
work of development which was necessary to 
produce a change which is so complete that it 
has come to be popularly referred to as magical. 



HON. JOHN FOX. 



Hon. John Fox, one of the leading, influen- 
tial and honored citizens of Dallas county, well 
deserves mention in this volume. He is the 
present representative of his district in the state 
legislature and is a successful agriculturist, who, 
from his home in Dallas Center, supervises his 
farming interests. He was born in Yorkshire, 
England, January 31, 1841, his parents being 
Benjamin and Ellen (Armitage) Fox, also na- 
tives of that countr}^ The father was born in 
1811 and was a mechanic and stone-cutter. He 
left England for political reasons and in 1830 
came to America. He afterward worked at 
Pittsburg and at Washington, D. C, but sub- 
sequently returned to England, where he was 
married. He continued to reside in his native 
country for some years but later again came to 
the new world, bringing his family with him. 
He settled at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where 
he resided until 1856, when he removed to 
Ohio. For twelve years he lived upon a farm 
in Knox county, Ohio, after which he came 
to Iowa and spent his remaining days in Adel. 
His death occurred in 1884, while his wife 
pa.ssed away in 1885. 

John Fox is one of a family of three children 
who reached mature years. One son, Joseph 
Priestley Fox, died in 1891, while the daughter, 
Nancy Armitage, became the wife of John F. 
Dack, but both are now deceased. Mr. Fox of 
this review was largely reared in Pittsburg 




JOHN FOX 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



589 



and was provided with fair educational privi- 
leges. At the age of thirteen years he was 
obliged to leave school and go to work, but he 
has largely supplemented the knowledge gained 
in school by self-culture and by mental train- 
ing received from his parents. When a boy he 
assisted his father to dress and polish stone. 

After the outbreak of the Civil war he offered 
his services to the government, enlisting in Sep- 
tember, 1831, as a member of Company G, 
Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He joined 
the army as a private and served until January, 
1864, participating in the battles of Donelson, 
Shiloh, luka, Millersburg, Raymond, Jackson, 
Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge, the en- 
gagements that occurred in the rear of Vicks- 
burg, and during the siege and capture of that 
stronghold. He was often in the thickest of 
the fight but sustained no serious wounds. For 
a time he was on detached duty in the medical 
purveyor's department as clerk and served until 
the expiration of his term of enlistment, when 
he was honorably discharged at Vicksburg and 
was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio. 

Mr. Fox then returned to his Ohio home, 
where he lived for two years, when, in 1868, 
he came to Iowa. In 1869 he arrived in Dallas 
county, where his father purchased land near 
Dallas Center. This he leased and at the death 
of his father it came into his possession. He 
afterward sold his interest in this farm to a 
brother and subsequently bought four hundred 
acres of land in Sugar Grove township. This 
was unimproved prairie, but with character- 
istic energy he began its development, break- 
ing the sod and turning the furi'ows preparatory 
to planting the crops, which in due course of 
time would bring forth excellent harvests. 
Year by year he continued the work of the 
fields with gratifying success and carried on 
general farming there until 1903. He also 
bought four hundred acres of land near Wau- 
kee and one hundred and sixty acres at Dallas 
Center, where he now resides. In connection 
with the tilling of the soil he has raised, fed 
and fattened hogs and cattle. He began this 
business in a small way but now ships from 



ten to fifteen carloads annually. He is a man 
of keen business discernment, seldom if ever at 
fault in matters of judgment, and his strong 
purpose and laudable ambition have made him 
one of the foremost agriculturists and business 
men of the county. He helped organize the 
Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, of which 
he was secretary four years. He is also presi- 
dent of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Com- 
pany, having over twelve hundred farmers con- 
nected by phone in one rural system. He has 
ever stood for progress through the establish- 
ment of business enterprises and through the 
prouHition of those interests which benefit the 
county along material, intellectual, political or 
moral lines. 

On the 8th of September, 1868, in Monroe 
CHJunty, Michigan, Mr. Fox was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Ineson, who was born 
and reared in Michigan and is a daughter of 
Timothy Ineson, a native of England and an 
early settler of the Wolverine state. He located 
there about 1835 and was afterward joined by 
his family. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fox have been 
born five children : William R., who is mar- 
ried and is engaged in farming and stock-rais- 
ing; George M., who follows the same business; 
John F., who is married and lives on a farm 
in Sugar Grove township; Joseph Priestley; 
and Mary Ellen, the wife of George Miller, 
a business man of Jefferson, Iowa. 

AVhile Mr. Fox has attained most gratifying 
success in business and is known as one of the 
prominent agriculturists of western Iowa, he 
has, moreover, attained more than local fame 
in political lines. He has been a life-long re- 
publican, casting his first presidential ballot 
for Abraham Lincoln while in the army in 
1864. He has since supported every nominee 
of the party for president and has taken an ac- 
tive interest in furthering the growth of the 
party in this section of the state, working earn- 
estly in the campaign and frequently serving 
as a delegate to county conventions. His opin- 
ions carry weight in the councils of his party 
and he has been honored with a number of 
offices. He has served as postmaster of Dallas 



590 



FAST AND PEESENT OF DALI>AS COUNTY. 



Center for four years, as township trustee for a 
number of years in Sugar Grove township and 
for years was an active and valued member of 
the school board. He was fii'st nominated and 
elected to the state legislature in 1906 and 
served as a member of the committee on banks 
and banking, ways and means, agriculture, 
school and text-books, telegraph, tielephone and 
express, pardons, police regulations, state edu- 
cational institutions and military. He has 
proven himself an able member of the law- 
making body of the commonwealth and save 
through an illness of four days has never failed 
to attend each daily session. He gives to each 
question which comes up for consideration 
earnest thought and study and his support 
therefore is the result of a firm belief :'n justice 
and value of his cause. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fox are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church at Dallas Center and for 
forty years he has been connected with the 
Masons as an exemplary representative of the 
craft. He also belongs to the Grand Army of 
the Republic and is the present commander of 
the post at Dallas Center. He has been like- 
wise a charter member of Dallas Center lodge, 
I. 0. 0. F., but has withdrawn from that order. 
Mr. Fox is well known in Dallas and adjoining 
counties and though his life has been one of 
rather modest reserve than of ambitious self- 
seeking, he has shown himself the peer of 
many of the able men of the state and in polit- 
ical positions his ability has gained him high 
rank, while his enterprise has made him well 
known in agricultural circles. 



ALEXANDER W. TROUT, M. D. 

Dr. Alexander W. Trout, practicing in Perry 
along modern scientific lines, is recognized as 
an able exponent of his profession and the 
liberal patronage accorded him is proof of 
the confidence reposed in him by the general 
public. He was born in Tazewell county, Il- 
linois, September 11, 1844, and is the eldest of 



the three living children of Mathias and Mary 
(Ireland) Trout. The father was born in Ten- 
nessee, in 1811, was a fai'mer by occupation 
and in early life removed to Illinois, becom- 
ing one of the pioneer agriculturists near Pe- 
kin, that state. He was also extensively and 
profitably engaged in the breeding and raising 
of hogs. His political allegiance was given to 
the republican party and his religious faith 
was that of the Christian church, in which he 
was long a faithful member. He died in 1893, 
while his wife, who was born in South Caro- 
lina in 1814, but was reared in Tennessee, 
passed away in 1889. They were married in 
Tennessee and became pai'ents of five chil- 
dren, while those now living are: Alexander 
W. ; Imogene, the wife of William Grant, a 
resident of Creston, Iowa; and Henry L., who 
makes his home in Ottumwa, Iowa. 

Reared in the county of his nativity, Dr. 
Trout acquired his literary education in the 
public schools and, determining upon the prac- 
tice of medicine as a life work, he afterward 
entered the Rush Medical College of Chicago, 
from which he was graduated on the 25th of 
January, 1867. On the 1st of February fol- 
lowing he entered upon the active practice of 
medicine in connection with Dr. Samuel Wig- 
enseller, at Pekin, Illinois. Subsequently he 
removed to Quasqueton, Buchanan county, 
Iowa, where he remained until 1882, when he 
went to Nebraska. After spending about 
twenty months in the latter state he came to 
Perry, where he has since lived. Here he op- 
ened an office and has been successful in the 
practice of medicine and surgery. By reading 
and investigation he keeps in touch with the 
advanced thought of the profession and his 
labors have been attended with excellent re- 
sults, when viewed from both a financial and 
professional standpoint. He is a member of 
the State Medical Association and the Dallas- 
Guthrie Medical Society. 

On Christmas day of 1870 was celebrated the 
marriage of Dr. Trout and !Miss Martha Mc- 
Donough, who was born in June, 1853, and 
who died Jiily 30, 1900. She was a daughter 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



591 



of James and Sarah (Biddinger) McDonough, 
both of whom were natives of Ohio, in which 
state the father died. The mother afterward 
came to Iowa in 1867 and is now living in 
Salem, Oregon, in her eighty-ninth year. Her 
family numbered seven children, of whom five 
still survive, as follows: Mary J., Johnson, 
Susan, Nancy and Sarah. 

Unto Dr. and Mrs. Trout were born two 
children, Erma and Shelley. The family are 
well known in Perry and have a large circle 
of warm friends here. The Doctor is interested 
in community affairs and is a public-spirited 
citizen, who for two terms has served as a mem- 
ber of the city council and has done effective 
work for the welfare of Perry. He is promi- 
nent in Masonry, having been initiated into 
the craft as a member of Empire lodge, No. 2!3, 
A. F. & A. M., at Pekin, Illinois. He also took 
the Royal Arch degree in the chapter at that 
place but was afterward demitted and joined 
the Masonic lodge at Quasqueton. Later he 
transferred his membership to Otley lodge, No. 
299, A. F. & A. M., at Perry, and to Palmyra 
chapter, No. 86, R. A. M., of Perry. He is like- 
wise a member of Gerard commandery, No. 56, 
K. T., at Perry, and he belongs to Za-Ga-Zig 
Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moim's. 
He has been past worthy master of the blue 
lodge, serving as such for seven years in Quas- 
queton, and at the present writing he is high 
priest of Palmyra chapter. He has also been 
eminent commander of Gerard commandery 
and is much interested in the craft, its work 
and its principles. He has a creditable mili- 
tary record, for in March, 1862, when but 
seventeen years of nge, he offered his services 
to the government and for one year was a 
member of Company H, Seventieth Regiment 
of Illinois Volunteers. He was then discharged 
on account of disability, but in November, 1S63, 
he re-enlisted as a veteran of Company D, One 
Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained 
until discharged, November 30, 1864. He was 
twice elected lieutenant l)ut would not accept 
the office and was ever a faithful and valorous 



soldier. In politics he was a democrat until 
1906, but he is now an advocate of the social- 
istic movement. He is a student of the signs 
of the times, keeping in touch with the trend 
of modern thought concerning matters of gen- 
eral interest as well as of professional advance- 
ment. He has made a creditable record as a 
member of the medical fraternity and has met 
with gratifying success in his practice. 



RICHARD A. BARTON. 

Richard A. Barton, a retired agriculturist 
living in Redfield, L^allas county, was born in 
Guernsey county, Ohio, August 27, 1863, a 
son of Benjamin and Sarah (Hviggins) Barton. 
The father was born in the same county, July 
16, 1828, while the grandfather, Richard Bar- 
ton, was a native of Maryland, and when twelve 
years of age left home to follow the sea. At 
the time of his marriage he settled down, locat- 
ing in Guernsey county, Ohio, where Benjamin 
Barton, the father of our subject, was reared 
and married and began active life as an agri- 
culturist. In 1867 he came west to Iowa, 
locating three and a half miles west of Red- 
field, in Guthrie county, and conducting a 
rented farm until 1879, when he purchased 
one hundred and twenty acres in .Jackson 
township, Guthrie county. He cultivated this 
farm successfully up to within three years of 
his death, when he retired and removed to 
Stuart, his death there occurring on June 15, 
1898. He was a republican in politics but 
never an office-seeker, being of a quiet and 
unassuming nature ; but his sterling worth was 
recognized wherever he was known and his 
death was deeply mourned by a large circle 
of friends. In early life he was a member of 
the Campbellite church but later became con- 
nected with the Christian church and in his 
daily life exemplified his belief by acts of kind- 
ness and charity. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin 
Barton became the parents of eight children, 
all of whom survive: Leonard A., of St. Fran- 



592 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



cis, Kansas ; Lucy E., the wife of George Burn- 
ham, also of St. Francis, Kansas; Mahlon P., 
a resident of Panora, Iowa; Priscilla A., the 
wife of James E. Frost, hving in Stuart, Iowa; 
WiUiam W., of Guthrie county, Iowa; Richard 
A., the subject of this review; Redden E., resid- 
ing in St. Francis, Kansas; and Buena V., the 
wife of James Cummins, Hving in Sumner 
county, Kansas. 

Richard A. Barton was reared on the home 
farm, acquiring his education in the public 
schools, and in the summer of 1885 rented 
and farmed his father's land. The following 
year he was married and rented a farm in 
Guthrie county, which he conducted for thir- 
teen years. In 1898 he purchased a farm of 
one hundred and ten acres, two and a half 
miles southwest of Redfield, in Union town- 
ship, locating on this place in the spring of 
1899. In 1903, however, he sold this tract and 
bought one hundred and twenty acres in Linn 
township, four miles north and one mile east 
of Redfield. He also purchased a tract of forty 
acres adjoining the town of Redfield, on which 
he located and resided until the fall of 1906. 
He then sold this land and took a trip to the 
western coast. On his return to Redfield he 
purchased his present handsome town residence, 
and is now living a retired life in the enjoy- 
ment of the fruits of his well directed and 
profitable labor in former yeai-s. 

In 1886 Richard A. Barton was joined in 
wedlock to Miss Anna M. Leeper, a daughter 
of Alexander and Samantha (Boone) Leeper. 
Her father removed from Holmes county, 
Ohio, to Dallas county. Iowa, in 1856, and 
engaged in the furniture business in Wiscotta. 
The following year he returned to Ohio, was 
married and brought his bride to his new home 
in Iowa. Soon after his return to this state he 
gave up the furniture business and engaged in 
farming. That he was very successful in his 
agricultural pursuits is indicated by the fact 
that he acquired some six hundred and ten 
acres of valuable farm lands in Dallas and 
Guthrie counties. About ten years prior to his 
death he retired and took up his abode in 



Redfield, his death there occurring March 12, 
1904, when he had reached the age of seventy- 
six years. His wife survived him until Janu- 
ary 30, 1907, having reached the age of seventy 
years at the time of her demise. Alexander 
Leeper was one of the best known early pio- 
neers of Dallas county and was ranked with 
the representative agriculturists and enterpris- 
ing citizens of his community. Mr. and Mrs. 
Leeper were the pai'ents of nine children, seven 
of whom are living: Josephine, who died in 
infancy; George W., of Union township; Wil- 
liam A., of Colfax township ; Mrs. Barton ; Mar- 
tin B., of Union township; Katherine A., wife 
of U. P. Spillers, of Union township; Cora J., 
wife of W. W. Barton, of Guthrie county; H. 
A., deceased ; and Augusta M., the wife of H. E. 
Stiles, of Los Angeles, California. 

Richard A. Barton gives his political sup- 
port to the republican party, and his wife is 
a member of the Christian church. They are 
highly esteemed throughout the entire com- 
munity by reason of their genuine worth and 
have won the admiration and respect of all 
with whom they have come in contact. 
Through the successful conduct of agricultural 
interests he won the competence that now en- 
ables him to live retired, without recourse to 
further labor, in his beautiful home in Red- 
field. 



W. D. WESTCOT. 



W. D. Westcot is one of the prominent agri- 
culturists of Dallas county, who owns and oper- 
ates two hundred and ten acres of land in the 
county. For thirty-nine years he has been 
identified with every interest of this vicinity. 
He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, No- 
vember 20. 1862, and was a son of William H. 
and Sophia (Sibley) Westcot. About 1843 
the father went from Vermont to Wisconsin, 
where he followed the trade of a blacksmith. 
He and his wife resided at Stoughton until 
1868, when they removed with their family to 



PAST AND TRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



595 



Dallas county, Iowa, where they bought one 
hundred and sixty acres of land, for which 
they paid four dollars an acre. They were the 
parents of six children, three of whom grew to 
maturity. The mother died in 1894, at the age 
of sixty-two years, while the father now resides 
at Cherokee, Kansas, and has attained his 
eighty-fifth year. 

.W. D. Westcot was reared upon his father's 
farm, where he worked during the summer. 
In the winter he attended the district schools 
and also had the advantage of two years in the 
high school at Adel. His father needed all 
the assistance which he could give him and in 
this way Mr. Westcot became proficient in agri- 
culture and stock-raising. In his twenty-fourth 
year he bought eighty acres of land, to which 
he has been able to add little by little until his 
farm now comprises two hundred and ten acres 
in Linn and Lincoln townships. He has taken 
great pride in improving this farm, has re- 
modeled the house, built two good barns and 
several outbuildjngs. He has fenced his entire 
place in woven wire, has tiled a good part of it 
and has set out the beautiful shade trees which 
make his home so attractive. j\Ir. Westcot has 
seen the necessity of setting out a good orchard, 
cultivating it and keeping it in a condition that 
yields abundant crops of a superior quality. 
He raises graded stock and feeds from four to 
five carloads of cattle and three of hogs every 
year. 

W. D. Westcot was married on August 6, 
1883, to Marilda F. Harrison, a native of 
Greene county, Illinois, and a daughter of 
Christopher Harrison, who came to Dallas 
county in 1871. This union has been blessed 
with six children, all of whom are now living : 
George, a telegraph operator at Rockwell City, 
Iowa; Harry, assistant cashier of the Linden 
Savings Bank; Dean, Vera, Mary and Mabel, 
all at home. 

Mr. Westcot's political affiliations have pre- 
viously been with the democracy but he has at 
the last two presidential elections voted with 
the republican party. Though he has never 
sought political honors and offices he has al- 



ways given assistance in campaigns. He is a 
member of the Linden blue lodge and a Master 
Mason, while he is also affiliated with the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Linden. His 
wife is a well known member of the Rebekah 
lodge. In her religious views she is a member 
of the United Brethren church and Mr. West- 
cot has always attended this church with her. 
The executive ability of W. D. AVestcot has 
made him a man much sought for in organiza- 
tions and enterprises throughout the county. 
He is township director of the Farmers Mutual 
Insurance Company of Dallas county, and a di- 
rector of the Linden Savings Bank of Linden, 
Iowa. Always active in whatever enterprise 
seems well worth while, Mr. Westcot is today 
a man on whom all depend for pushing the 
movements which contribute to the growth of 
the county. Public spirited to a marked de- 
gree, he is one of the best and most favorably 
known' men of this vicinity, where he has lived 
for thirtv-nine years. 



JAMES P. PEDDICORD. 

James P. Peddicord, who owns and operates 
two hundred and forty acres of v/ell improved 
land on section 26, Dallas township, dates his 
residence in the county from March, 1876. 
He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, May 
13, 1852, a son of Daniel and Susan (Kyle) 
Peddicord, the former born in Virginia, while 
as a young man he removed to Ohio, where 
he was married. He was a wagonmaker by 
trade. From the Buckeye state he went with 
his family to La Salle county, Illinois, and 
there opened up a farm of three hundred and 
twenty acres, on which he made his home for 
twenty-three years. Upon disposing of that 
tract he removed in 1876 to this state, settling 
in Dallas county, where he became the owner 
of five hundred and twenty acres in Dallas 
township. He made this a valuable property 
and there spent his remaining days, hi? death 
occurring in 1889, when he had reached the 



59(3 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



age of fifty-nine years, while his wife survived 
for a long period and passed away in February, 
1907. 

James P. Peddicord is one of a family of six 
sons and one daughter, of whom one son is 
now deceased. He was reared, in La Salle 
county and there acquired his education in the 
common schools. He assisted his father in 
the operation of the home farm in La Salle 
county and after his removal to Dallas county 
likewise helped to develop and improve the 
farm here. 

Mr. Peddicord established a home of his own 
in December, 1877, by his marriage to Miss Ella 
Henneigh, who wa.s born in Pennsylvania, a 
daughter of Esquire Henneigh. As a child 
she was taken by her parents from the Kej^- 
stone state to Missouri, the family home being 
established in Bates county. She was there 
reared and educated and for a time followed 
teaching. The family removed from Missouri 
to Dallas county and it was here that the daugh- 
ter gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Peddi- 
cord. 

Following his marriage Mr. Peddicord lo- 
cated on a farm of eighty acres, this constitut- 
ing a part of his present home place. He has 
tiled and fenced the land, built a good house 
and barns, and as time has passed and his finan- 
cial resources have permitted he has added to 
his original possessions until he is now the 
owner of two hundred and forty acres, all of 
which has been placed under a high state of 
cultivation. In addition to raising the cereals 
adapted to the soil and climate Mr. Peddicord 
also raises and feeds stock, making a specialty 
of horses. He also raises a carload each of cat- 
tle and hogs each year. He has worked hard 
in his efforts to accumulate a competence and 
through the able assistance of his estimable 
wife hi? effort? have been richly rewarded and 
now, a? he i? approaching the evening of life, 
he can look forward to a rest from labor in 
later year?. 

Mr. and Mrs. Peddicord have become the 
parent? of two sons and three daughters, as fol- 
lows: Maud, the wife of James Hollings worth, 



a farmer of Lincoln township, by whom she 
has two, sons, Victor and James R. ; Mabel, 
the wife of Frank Peters, a farmer of Dallas 
county, by whom she has four children ; Glen, 
a young man at home; Genevieve, a young 
lady, who is with her parents ; and Guy. 

Mr. Peddicord is a republican in principle 
and policy, and cast his first presidential bal- 
lot for Rutherford B. Hayes. He has never 
sought nor desired office for himself and aside 
from serving on the school board takes no active 
interest in political affairs. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Coming to the county at an early period in its 
development, he has not only witnessed the 
changes which have transformed this district 
into a prosperous and thriving center, but 
has borne his full share in bringing these con- 
ditions about. He is now numbered among 
the substantial citizens of Dallas county and 
commands the respect of his fellowmen and 
all with whom business dealings bring him in 
contact. 



AV. B. ELLIS. 



W. B. Ellis, now living a retired life on his 
farm in Linn township, was born in Greene 
county, Tennessee, on December 27, 1829, a 
son of Jesse and Rachel Ellis, both of whom 
were also born in Tennessee, the former in 
ISOl and the latter in 1804. The father always 
carried on agricultural pursuits but was en- 
gaged in blacksmithing the greater part of his 
life as a means of livelihood. In 1849 he re- 
moved to Indiana, both he and his wife pass- 
ing away in that state. They were the parents 
of ten children, of whom our subject is the 
third in order of birth. 

W. B. Ellis was reared under the parental 
roof and acquired his education in the common 
schools of Tennessee. In 1854 he came to Dal- 
las county, Iowa, entering a tract of land in 
Linn township. This he operated successfully 
and energeticallv for a number of vears, until 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



59*; 



his labor had brought him the competence that 
now enables him to live retired in well earned 
ease. He still resides on his farm in Linn 
township, which is being operated by one of 
his sons. 

In 1851 Mr. Ellis was joined in wedlock to 
Miss Susan Lewis, who was born in Indiana in 
1832, a daughter of Samuel and Lucinda 
Lewi.-, the former born in North Carolina and 
the latter in Tennessee. They removed to 
Indiana at an early day and in 1854 came to 
Iowa, in which state their demise occurred. 
Mrs. Ellis was one of a family of ten children 
and by her marriage has become the mother 
of eleven, namely: M. D., who resides in Ore- 
gon; J. C, living in Kansas; E. J., the wife of 
Henry Cronk, living in Iowa; Rachel L., who 
married Henry Evans and lives in Kansas; 
Maria M., the wife of Frank Seaman, a resi- 
dent of Iowa; Samuel R. C, a telegrapher at 
Hillsboro, Iowa; Emma E., the wife of John 
A. Curtis, both she and her husband being mis- 
sionaries in India; Lucretia, the wife of J. H. 
Sanford, residing in North Dakota; Mary M., 
who married F. Fansher and lives at Des 
Moines, Iowa; W. A., who operates the home 
farm for his father; and one who died in in- 
fancy. 

In his political views Mr. Ellis is a prohi- 
bitionist but was formerly a republican and has 
held all of the minor offices in the township. 
He was also chairman of the board of super- 
visors for four years and is active in the local 
ranks nf his party. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Quaker church and are es- 
teemed throughout the entire community as 
people of genuine personal worth and upright 
character. Fifty-three years have passed since 
W. B. Ellis came to Dallas county. This state 
was then a wild district, its lands unclaimed, 
its resources undeveloped. A few courageous 
frontiersmen had dared to locate within its 
borders but the work of progress and improve- 
ment remained to the future and there was lit- 
tle promise of early development. In the years 
which have since passed, Mr. Ellis has not only 
witnessed a most wonderful transformation but 



has largely aided in the labors which have 
transformed the wild tract into a splendid com- 
monwealth. Now in his declining years he is 
living retired, enjoying the well earned rest 
which is the merited reward of a long and 
honorable business career. 



•JACOB PITSENBARGER. 

As a pioneer of Dallas county, Jacob Pit- 
senbarger is well known, for he came here at 
an early period of its development and has 
borne his full share in the work of advance- 
ment and progress which has been carried on 
along agricultural lines. He is now one of 
the extensive landowners of the count}-, hav- 
ing four hundred acres, two hundred and forty 
acres being comprised in the home place, sit- 
uated on section 34, Lincoln township. Mr. 
Pitsenbarger was born in Pendleton county, 
West Virginia, February 27, 1844, a son of 
Jacob Pitsenbarger, Sr., who was also born 
and reared in that state, and was there married 
to Katie Simmons, who was born in Virginia. 
In 1855 the father removed to Jones county, 
Iowa, and opened up a new farm, being one 
of the first settlers of the state. He spent 
his remaining years in Jones county but died 
in 1872 while on a visit to his son Jacob of 
Dallas county. His wife had preceded him 
to the home beyond some years. 

Jacob Pitsenbarger was reared in Jones 
county and there acquired a limited education 
but he is mostly self-educated. When starting 
out in life on his own account he operated 
a farm in Jones county for two years and 
then came to Dallas county, where his wife . 
had come into possession of forty acres through 
inheritance and to this Mr. Pitsenbarger added 
an additional forty-acre tract. This was all 
wild land but he soon transformed it into cul- 
tivable fields and from time to time added to 
liLs original holdings until he is now in pos- 
session of four hundred acres of rich farming 
land. Two hundred and fortv acres of this 



598 



PAST AND PRESENT ' OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



is comprised in the home place, and on this 
he has erected a fine country residence, good 
barns and outbuildings, has fenced and tiled 
the land, set out an orchard and has made it a 
valuable property. He also owns three eighty- 
acre tracts, one of which is located on section 
27, Lincoln township, and a second on section 
32. In addition to carrying on general agri- 
cultural pursuits he is also engaged quite ex- . 
tensively in raising and feeding stock, keep- 
ing hogs, cattle and horses. 

Mr. Pitsenbarger was married prior to his 
removal to Dallas county, the lady of his choice 
being Miss Isabella Potter, their marriage be- 
ing celebrated in Jones county on the 2d of 
Februarj^, 1868. She was born in Jackson 
county, Iowa, a daughter of Nathan Potter, one 
of the early settlers of Iowa, coming to this 
statte from Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger 
have become the parents of nine children, of 
whom four died in infancy, while five are 
li\'ing: Everett, who is married and follows 
farming in Lincoln township; George E., who 
is also married and is engaged in farming in 
this township; William E., who is married 
and lives on a farm in Lincoln township ; Guy 
M., a young man at home; and Sarah, the wife 
of A. M. AVebb, a farmer of this township. 
Mrs. Webb has three children: Lee M. Webb, 
twelve years of age; Katie E., eleven years; and 
Bertha I., aged four years. 

Mr. Pitsenbarger gives his political support 
to the men whom he deems best fitted for office 
but he has strong prohibition tendencies. He 
has never aspired to office but for two years 
served as road super\'isor. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Shiloh First Christian 
church, of whicTi he is a trustee. They have 
resided in Dallas county for the past thirty- 
seven years, and during this time have wit- 
nessed many changes as the work of advance- 
ment and improvement has been carried on 
along agricultural, industrial and commercial 
lines. His success is by no means the result 
of fortunate circumstances but has come to 
him through energy, labor and perseverance, 
for he started out at the very bottom round of 



the ladder and has gradually worked his way 
upward until he is now in possession of val- 
uable land holdings. 



THOMAS STEVENS. 



Few residents of Dallas county have so long- 
remained within its borders as Thomas Stev- 
ens, who dates his residence here from 1850. 
He now lives on section 27, Sugar Grove town- 
ship, where he owns a valuable farm property. 
He is in his eighty-fifth year and one of the 
venerable, respected and honored residents of 
this section of the state. The district into 
which he came fifty-seven years ago bears lit- 
tle resemblance to the county of today with 
its thriving towns and cities and' its large and 
prosperous agricultural population. Then the 
land was chiefly an unbroken prairie covered 
with its native grasses. It was not a difficult 
thing to secure plenty of wild game but it was 
much more difficult to find a habitation of the 
white race, for the few homes of the pioneers 
were widely scattered. They were mostly lit- 
tle log cabins heated with a fireplace and there 
were many evidences of frontier life such as are 
not seen at all today. 

Mr. Stevens was born in Washington county, 
Ohio, on the 17th of December, 1822, and was 
there reared to manhood upon his father's farm. 
He came to Iowa when a yoiuig man, in 1849, 
making his way to Des Moines. He spent 
about a year and a half in what is now Polk 
county, there following the carpenter's trade, 
but in 1850 he removed westward to Dallas 
county and entered a half section of land in 
partnership with his father-in-law. Mr. Stev- 
ens had been married in this county to Miss 
Mary Adams, a native of Ohio and a resident 
of Indiana for some time before coming to 
Iowa. Having thoroughly acquainted him- 
self with the trade of a carpenter and builder 
in early life, Mr. Stevens followed that pursuit 
in Adel and became well known as a contractor 
of the early days. He built the first frame 




TIIOMAS STEVENS 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



001 



courthouse in the county and he also cut the 
timber on his father-in-law's land and rafted it 
down the river to Adel for the frame and lum- 
ber. He continued to engage in contracting 
and building for some time and he it was who 
erected the first frame barn in Sugar Grove 
township. After securing his land he had it 
cleared and broke and later he built a dwell- 
ing thereon. He broke some of the land with 
ox teams and the plowing was done after the 
primitive manner of the times, when the plow- 
man had to follow on foot in the furrows which 
the advancing plowshare had turned. Mr. 
Stevens made good improvements as time 
passed and his financial resources increased and 
he continued farming upon this place for 
about forty years. He had entered one hun- 
dred and sixty acres where he resides and op- 
ened up a farm here. In 1859 he offered this 
tract of land for two dollars and a half per 
acre but could find no purchaser. He wished 
to sell in order to go to Pike's Peak and later 
managed the trip to the gold fields. However, 
he did not find that wealth was to be easily se- 
cured there and returned to his farming opera- 
tions, which he successfully conducted, be- 
coming the owner of valuable farm property. 
At length he removed to Adel and while liv- 
ing there lost his second wife on the 11th of 
January, 1901. In the following year he took 
up his abode upon his present farm in Sugar 
Grove township. It is situated on section 27 
and comprises two hundred and seventy-seven 
acres of rich and arable land, in the midst of 
which is a comfortable residence and many 
other substantial improvements that indicate 
the progress that has been made in agricultural 
lines. 

Mr. Stevens was twice married and lost his 
first wife on the farm in 1861. Their chil- 
dren were: George, who is now residing in 
Centralia, Illinois; Melissa, the wife of Albert 
Barnes, of Adel; William, who is living on a 
farm in Greene county, Iowa; Porter, who 
died when thirty-five years of age; Alonzo, of 
Des Moines; and Ida, who died in 1895. She 
was the ' wife of Rece Williams and had two 



children. Mr. Stevens' second marriage was in 
the fall of 1862 to Nancy Henderson, who died 
January 12, 1901. By the second marriage 
there were the following children : Maud is 
the wife of William F. Harris, who was born 
in Cedar county, Iowa, April 1, 1873. He 
came to Dallas county when a lad in 1884, 
was reared here on a farm and was educated 
in the country schools and in the schools of 
Dallas Center. He is now operating the Ste- 
vens farm and is one of the enterprising and 
energetic agriculturists of the community. Mr. 
and Mrs. Harris have two children, Clarence 
F. and Lois L. Thomas Stevens met death by 
accident in 1903 and left a wife and little 
daughter. Mary is now the wife of Frank 
Ortt, of Perrj', Iowa, and has two children. 
Lettie is the wife of William Hayes, by whom 
she has a son, and they reside on the old Ste- 
vens homestead. Olis died at the age of twenty- 
two years and Charles met death by drowning 
at the age of nineteen years. 

Politically Mr. Stevens is an earnest demo- 
crat. He cast his first ballot for James K. 
Polk and for every nominee of the party since 
that time, but locally he casts an independent 
ballot. At the last election, however, he sup- 
ported Theodore Roosevelt. He has always 
been a friend of education and, he served for 
years on the school board. He has also been 
tOAvnship trustee and is interested in everything 
tfiat pertains to the welfare of his community. 
He belongs to the Christian church of Dallas 
Center and is an Odd Fellow, having passed 
through all of the chairs of the lodge in Adel. 
Mr. Stevens is now a venerable man, held in 
the highest esteem by all who know him and 
no history of this county would be complete 
without mention of hnn, for his residence here 
antedates that of almost any other citizen. 
His memory bears the impress of the early his- 
toric annals of the county and constitutes a 
connecting link between the primitive past and 
the progressive present. 

Mr. Harris, who operates the old home farm, 
is a stalwart republican in his political views. 
He now has two hundred and thirty-three acres 



602 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



in the old home place and two hundred and 
seventy-seven acres where he resides, so that 
he is now extensively and successfully con- 
nected with general agricultural pursuits. 



JOHN H. ROBERTS. 



John H. Roberts, who resides on a farm of 
one hundred and seventy-five acres, situated on 
section 16, Spring Valley township, is an hon- 
ored veteran of the Civil war, and is also num- 
bered among the oldest settlers of Dallas 
county, dating his residence here from 1854. 
When he located in the county it was an un- 
developed region, wild animals still roaming 
over the prairias, and the last drove of buffa- 
loes — thirteen head — seen in the county, 
passed his home. The town of Perry had not as 
yet been laid out. 

Mr. Roberts is a native of New York, born 
in Oneida county, December 8, 1819. He was 
there educated and lived in his native county 
until he had reached the age of sixteen years. 
Ambitious to see the new western country, 
the father made his way to Cass county, Michi- 
gan, the son accompanying the family on their 
removal to that state. He assisted in the opera- 
tion of the home farm there until 1850, when 
in company with others he made the over- 
land trip to California, traveling with horse 
teams from Council Bluffs to Sacramento. He 
wa* in the gold mines on the Pacific coa^t 
during the succeeding four years, and in 1854 
returned home by way of the isthmus of Pan- 
ama. After a short time passed in Cass county 
he made his way to Dallas county, this state, 
locating in Spring Valley township, having 
previously made a trip to this locality and 
entered two hundred acres of wild land. This 
land lay west of Perry but at that time it ^'BS 
all a wild prairie, the village having not yet 
sprung into existence. He improved that farm 
and there made his home for three years, 
when he di.*posed of it and purchased his pres- 
ent farm, comprising one hundred and seventy- 



five acres. This, too, was an undeveloped tract, 
but locating thereon, Mr. Roberts at once be- 
gan to cultivate the land, which he divided 
nito fields of convenient size by building fences. 
He also built a good country residence, barns 
and other outbuildings necessary for the shelter 
of grain and stock, and in the course of time 
made it a well improved property. Through- 
out his active business career he was engaged 
in general agricultural pursuits and is known 
as one of the honored citizens of this section of 
the count}'. 

Mr. Robert's business interests were inter- 
rupted, however, by the outbreak of the Civil 
war, for, loyal to the best interests of his coun- 
try, he put aside all business and personal con- 
siderations and offered his services to the gov- 
ernment, becoming a member of Company I, 
Fifteenth Iowa A^olunteer Infantry, joining in 
September, 1864. Going south with his regi- 
ment he participated in the Atlanta campaign 
and was with Sherman on his celebrated march 
to the sea. He was on the march to Richmond 
and on to Washington, D. C, where he took 
part in the Grand Review. From that city he 
made his way to Louisville, Kentucky, and on 
to Davenport, Iowa, where he received an hon- 
orable discharge on the 5th of August, 1865. 
During his army service he lost no time on 
account of sickness and was always faithful 
to his duty no matter where it called him. 

Mr. Roberts has been twice married, his first 
union being with Miss Mary Shaw, a native 
of Elkhart, Indiana. Their marriage vras cele- 
brated in Cass county,- Michigan, in October, 
1846. Of this union three children were born : 
Clarence, who is married and resides in North 
Dakota; Levia.s, who is married and follows 
farming at St. Joseph, Indiana; and Middle- 
ton, who is married and follows farming in 
Cass county, ]\Iichigan. The wife and mother 
departed this life in May, 1855, and in the 
following October Mr. Roberts was married to 
Margaret McKean, a sister of George McKean, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 
By this marriage four children were born but 
onlv two now survive: West H. Roberts, the 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



603 



second in order of birth, who is with his father 
on the home farm; and George, who is mar- 
ried and follows farming in North Dakota. 
The first born, Mary, died at the age of eight 
years, while Laura, the third in order of birth, 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Roberts gives his political support to the 
republican party. He has seen the entire 
county developed from a wild region into one 
of rich fertility, while thriving towns and vil- 
lages have spnmg up, schools and churches 
have been established and commercial, indus- 
trial and agricultural progress has been carried 
forward. Mr. Roberts has now pa.ssed the 
eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey and 
is now enjoying the fruits of his former labor, 
his son carrying on the work of the home farm. 
His residence in the county covers fifty-three 
years and therefore few men have more inti- 
mate knowledge of its history or of events 
which have left their impress upon its annals. 
As an honored veteran of the Civil war and as 
one of the few remaining old settlers of Dallas 
county he is deserving of more than passing 
mention in this volume. 



SADASTAN JONES. 



Sadastan Jones, who is the wealthiest agri- 
culturist in Dallas county, deserves special men- 
tion by reason of the fact that he has attained 
his present prosperous position entirely through 
the exercise of industry, perseverance and ex- 
cellent business management. He is a native 
of Ohio, where he was born October 5, 1840, 
a son of John and Maria Jones, both of whom 
passed away in Indiana. They were the par- 
ents of nine children, and the subject of this 
review, who was the fovirtli in order of birth, 
was left an orphan at the age of ten years. 

Sadastan Jones grew to manhood in Indiana, 
and in 1861 came to Dallas county, Iowa, pur- 
chasing a farm of forty acres, which he cul- 
tivated for two years. He then returned to 
Indiana and was there married, after which he 



brought his bride to his little farm of forty 
acres in Dallas county. They began improv- 
ing and tiling the same and as the years 
passed made additional purchases until they 
are now in possession of thirteen hundred 
acres of finely improved land in Linn and 
Lincoln townships. Mr. Jones is a self-made 
man who, without any extraordinary family 
or pecuniary advantages at the commencement 
of life, has battled earnestly and energetically, 
and by indomitable courage and integrity has 
achieved both character and fortune. By sheer 
force of will and untiring effort he has worked 
his way upward and is now the most exten- 
sive holder of farm lands in Dallas county. 

In 1864 Mr. Jones was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary E. Coleman, who was born in 
Indiana, June 12, 1844, a daughter of John 
and Sarah (Hesser) Coleman, the former a 
native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. 
John Coleman came to Indiana at a very early 
day. He was a carpenter by trade and built 
the fir.st frame house in the city of Chicago. 
He also carried the mail from Laporte, Indi- 
ana, to Chicago on horseback, and it will thus 
be seen that he took a prominent part in the 
very earliest development of what was then 
known as the "far west." He participated in 
the Black Hawk war and subsequently removed 
to Nebraska, where he passed away in 1891, 
at the venerable age of eighty-three years, while 
his wife's death occurred the following year. 
Mrs. Jones was one of ten children. She and 
her husband have in recent years visited vari- 
ous parts of the country, thus gaining the cul- 
ture and refinement which only travel can 
bring. They spent the winter of 1899-1900 
m California, and in 1903 took a trip through 
Colorado, while in the fall of 1907 they antici- 
pate making a visit to the New England states. 

Mr. Jones has never taken any part in poli- 
tics, having preferred to devote his time to the 
supervision of his extensive agricultural inter- 
est^■;. His success is all the more praiseworthy 
because he lost his parents at an early age and, 
thus deprived of a guiding influence in his 
young life, he was forced to shape his own 



604 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



character and career. How well he has suc- 
ceeded is known throughout this entire com- 
munity, and he has the respect, admiration and 
esteem of all with whom he has come in con- 
tact. His prosperity has been gained so hon- 
estly and honorably that none can begrudge 
the life of comfort and ease which Mr. and 
Mrs. Jones are now enjoying. 



ADDISON M. STICKEL. 

Addison M. Stickel, who since the spring of 
1907, has lived retired in the village of Perry, 
dates his residence in Dallas county from 1875. 
He still owns a well improved farm of three 
hundred and twenty acres on sections 14 and 
23, Dallas township, which is now operated 
by his son and which brings him a good annual 
income. Mr. Stickel was born in Bureau 
county, Illinois, near Princeton, his birth hav- 
ing occurred September 7, 1850. Me is the 
eldest in a family of six children, born of the 
marriage of Hiram and Sarah J. (Bracken) 
Stickel; The father was born in Columbiana 
county, Ohio, in 1821, and was a youth of 
ten years, when, in 1831, he accompanied his 
parents on their removal from Ohio to Bureau 
county, where he was reared to manhood and 
was there married, his wife being a native of 
Columbiana county, Ohio. The father fol- 
lowed farming throughout his active business 
career and became a very wealthy landowner 
of Bureau and Marshall counties, owning alto- 
gether eighteen hundred acres. He was promi- 
nent and influential in his community and 
ever took an active interest in public affairs and 
in the upbuilding of his home locality. He 
spent the last thirty years of his life in hon- 
orable retirement, passing away in 1906, at 
the advanced age of eighty-five years, while 
his wife died in 1900, at the age of sixty. 

Addison M. Stickel was reared in much the 
usual manner of farm lads of his period, as- 
sisting in the operation of the home farm in 
the spring and summer seasons, while during 



the winter months he pursued his studies in 
the district schools and in the Princeton high 
school, thus being afforded liberal advantages 
in that direction. He remained under the 
parental roof until 1875, being then a young 
man of twenty-five years, when he came to Dal- 
las county and purchased two hundred and 
forty acres of land, situated on section 14, Dal- 
las township. He later built a good country 
residence and substantial outbuildings. To his 
original purchase he added eighty acres, thus 
making in all three hundred and twenty acres. 
Here throughout a long period he carried on 
general agricultural pursuits, raising the cereals 
best adapted to soil and climate, the sale of 
his products each year bringing to him a grat- 
ifying return. He likewise raised shorthorn 
cattle and Poland China hogs, fattening from 
one to two carloads of stock annually. He 
was ever practical and progressive in his meth- 
ods of farm work and his success is the direct 
result of capable business management, sound 
judgment and well directed labor. In the 
spring of 1907 Mr. Stickel removed to the vil- 
lage of Perry, where he is now living retired in 
a pleasant home, surrounded with all the com- 
forts and many of the luxuries of life, while 
the farm is capably managed by his son. 

Mr. Stickel has been married twice. He was 
first married in Des Moines to Miss Emily J. 
McConnel, who was born in New Jersey but 
was reared in Polk county, Iowa. Two chil- 
dren were born of this marriage, William and 
Lula May. The wife and mother, however, 
survived her marriage for only a few years. 
The son is now operating the home farm in 
Dallas township, while the daughter is the 
wife of Y. W. Carris, a farmer of Dallas town- 
ship. She is the mother of two children, Ros- 
coe A. and Raymond T. Mr. Stickel was mar- 
ried a second time in Jamaica, Guthrie county, 
to Miss Elizabeth Curfman, who was born in 
Davenport, a daughter of George W. and Mar- 
garet (McAllister) Curfman. The father was 
born in Jefferson county, Ohio, of German 
ancestry, while the mother was a native of 
Canada. Their family numbered eight chil- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



«05 



dreii, of wliom Mrs. Stickel is the second. 
Both the ijarents are now deceased, the father 
having passed away in 1904, at the age of sev- 
enty-two years, while the mother departed this 
life in 1892, at the age of sixty-two. 

A republican in principle and practice, Mr. 
Stickel is, however, not an office .<eeker. His 
fraternal relations are with the Independent 
Oi-der of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, both of Perry, and the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America at Dawson. Mrs. 
Stickel is identified with the Rebekah lodge and 
both are members of the Christian church, to 
which the children also belong, and Mr. Stickel 
is an active worker in the Sunday school. Per- 
sonally Mr. Stickel is quiet and unassuming in 
manner, refusing political preferment and 
avoiding publicity. He is a man of exemplary 
habits and deep religious thought. He is well 
known in Dallas county and in Perry, where he 
and his estimable wife are now enjoying in 
honorable retirement the accumulations of 
profitable, succes,sful and honorable lives. 



MILTON MAULSBY. 



Milton Maulsby, who owns two hundred and 
ninety acres of fine farming land in Linn town- 
ship, is therefore numbered among the rep- 
resentative and prosperous agriculturists of 
Dallas county. He was born in Wayne county, 
Indiana, February 19, 1841, a son of William 
and Zerelda (Mills) Maulsby, Ijotli of whom 
were natives of Tennessee, the former born in 
1810 and the latter in 1813. The father al- 
ways followed farming as a life work. He went 
to Indiana with his parents in 1817 and in 1857 
came to Dallas county, Iowa, where he pur- 
chased the farm on which his .son Milton now 
resides. Mr. and Mi-s. Maulsby both passed 
away in 1893 and at the time of hi- death the 
father was the owner of three hundred and 
twenty acres of land in Dallas county, a part 
of which Milton Maulsbv now owns. In the 



family of this worthy couple were three chil- 
dren, two of whom are still living. Irwin 
resides in Des Moines but has an interest in 
a general mercantile store with his son at Red- 
field, Iowa. 

Milton Maulsby acquired his education in 
the common schools and the occupation to 
which he was reared he has made his life work, 
having always followed agricultural pursuits on 
the farm which his father purchased in this 
county in the year 1857. He helped his father 
improve this tract of land and still owns and 
operates it, having brought the place under a 
high state of cultivation through the use of 
modern methods of farming and sound busi- 
ness judgment. He is also engaged in the stock 
business and likewise finds this a profitable un- 
dertaking. In connection with his son Edwin 
Mr. Maulsby now owns four hundred and 
ninety acres on section 26, Linn township, being 
widely recognized as one of the extensive and 
up-to-date agriculturists of Dallas county. 

In 1863 Mr. Maulsby was united in mar- 
riage" to Miss Mahala R. Towns, who was born 
in Indiana in 1846, being a daughter of Cyrus 
and Rachel (Duck) Towns, the former a 
native of Maine and the latter of Ohio. Mr. 
and Mrs. Towns first removed to Indiana and in 
1855 came to Dallas county, Iowa, entering a 
tract of land from the government. Mrs. Towns 
is .still living, on this same farm, having now 
attained the age of eighty-one years. She be- 
came the mother of nine children, five of 
whom are still living, as follows : Mrs. Maulsby ; 
]\Iarion, a resident of Dallas county; Ira, also 
living in this county; Irwin, living in North 
Dakota ; John, who makes his home in this 
county; Jesse, a resident of North Dakota: 
and Albert, Milo and Mary, all deceased. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Maulsby has been born one 
son, Edwin, who is now married and operates 
the home farm. The wife of our subject has 
been an invalid for some years but bears her 
affliction with noble resignation, her kindly 
nature and generous spirit having won her the 
warm regard of all with whom she has come in 
contact. 



606 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



In his iiolitical views Mr. Maulsby is a re- 
publican and has held several of the minor 
township offices for a number of years. Fra- 
ternally he is connected with Redfield lodge, 
No. 158, A. F. & A. M., while both he and his 
wife are members of the Quaker church, in the 
work of which they are active and helpful. 
Mr. Maulsby thoroughly enjoys home life and 
takes great pleasure in the society of his family 
and friends. He is always courteous, kindly 
and affable and those who know him personally 
have for him warm regard. 



T. H. GARDINER. 



T. H. Gardiner is one of the oldest settlers 
of Dallas county, dating his residence here from 
1857, and in the state from 1855. He is a pro.-- 
perous farmer of Beaver township, owning a 
well improved and valuable farm of three hun- 
dred and twenty acres, situated on sections 16 
and 17, and here in addition to cultivating the 
land he also engages in raising good grades of 
stock. 

Mr. Gardiner was born near Brockville, Can- 
ada, January 26, 1845, a son of Robert Gardi- 
ner, a native of Ireland. He was there married 
and came with his wife and one child to Amer- 
ica, establishing his home in Canada, where he 
followed farming for a time and later, in 1855, 
removed with his family to Wapello county, 
Iowa, where he lived for two years and then 
came to Dallas county, locating in Beaver town- 
ship, where he entered two hundred acres of 
land and made his home thereon until the time 
of his death, which occurred in 1861. He was 
survived by his wife for a few years, when she, 
too, was called to her final rest. 

T. H. Gardiner is one of a family of six 
sons and five daughters. He was reared to farm 
life, giving his father the benefit of his services 
until the time of the latter's death, when the 
son assumed the management of the home farm, 
for his two elder brothers were in the army. 
It was in January, 1873, that Mr. Gardiner 



chose as a companion and helpmate for life's 
journey. Miss Ida M. Conway, who was born 
and reared in Indiana. After his marriage he 
located on a fann on section 8, Beaver town- 
ship, this place comprising one hundred and 
fifty-five acres of land, which he imjiroved and 
cultivated for several years and then disposed 
of that tract and purchased his present farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres, located on 
section 17, Beaver township. This was par- 
tially improved when he took possession but he 
has added many modern accessories and equip- 
ments, has a good country residence and sub- 
stantial outbuildings and everything about the 
place is kept in first-class condition. He has 
added to his original holdings from time to 
time until he now owns three hundred and 
twenty acres of land, this being divided into 
two farms. In addition to this he likewise owns 
four hundred acres of farm land near Plank- 
inton, South Dakota. All that he today pos- 
sesses has been acquired entirely through his 
own well directed labors and capable manage- 
ment, for he started out in life emptj'-handed 
and has worked his way steadily upward until 
he has become one of the extensive landowners 
of this section of the state. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner has 
been blessed with nine children, five sons and 
four daughters, and all are still living. The 
sons are : B. C, a farmer of Beaver township ; 
J. R., a lumber and tile merchant of Gardiner; 
Charlie H., on his father's farm in Beaver 
township; D. M. and Emmett, both at home. 
The first three sons are married. The daugh- 
ters are: Holly, the wife of Joseph A^'ickroy, 
a farmer of Boone county, by whom she has 
three children, Ruth, Dorothy and Don; 
Bertha, a student in Des Moines (Iowa) Busi- 
ness College; Nettie, a student in the same 
college; and June, at home. 

Mr. Gardiner formerly gave his political sup- 
port to the republican party but is now a sup- 
porter of the prohibition party. He has ser\'ed 
as township trustee and as a member of the 
school board for several years. He has also 
been sent as a delegate to county conventions 




Mli. AND .MRS. T. 11. ( JAKl )I.\KU 



FAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



OUU 



on various occasions. He and his wife are 
faithful and consistent membe'rs of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. Mr. Gardiner has been 
a resident of Dallas county for a half century 
and at the time of his arrival the work of prog- 
ress and improvement lay largely in the future. 
In the years which have since passed Mr. Gard- 
iner has not only witnessed a most wonderful 
transformation but has largely aided in the 
labors which have transformed the wild tract 
into a splendid commonwealth. Now in his 
declining j'eai-s he is surrounded by all the 
comforts and many of the luxuries of life, 
which is the merited reward of a long and hon- 
orable business career. 



GEORGE W. ARMFIELD. 

George W. Armfield, who is engaged in the 
agricultural implement, grain and coal busi- 
ness in Redfield, was born in Wayne county, 
Indiana, January 26, 1856, a son of John H. 
and Mahala (Britton) Armfield. The father 
was born in Wayne county, Indiana, on Sep- 
tember 22, 1835, and his early environments 
were similar to those of other boys of that pe- 
riod and locality. The largely undeveloped 
condition of the country necessitated much 
labor on the farm and gave opportunity for 
only a little schooling in the primitive educa- 
tional institutions which existed at that time. 
At an early age Mr. Armfield was apprenticed 
to learn the trade of a carriage and wagon- 
maker, which pursuit he followed during his 
active life. On April 15, 1855, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Mahala Britton, and in 
June of the following year came west to Dal- 
la.« county, Iowa, remaining here up to the 
time of his death, which occurred in the town 
of Redfield, April 3, 1906. Mr. Armfield was 
accompanied on his removal to this county by 
iiis wife's father, George W. Britton, together 
with his family, and on their arrival they 
located one mile east of, what is now Redfield 
(then called Irishtown or McKays Postoffice). 



Both families spent the fall and winter in a 
log cabin which had been built by a former 
settler, and the following spring John H. Arm- 
field moved into town, bought a log cabin, 
built a shop and began work at his trade. At 
the outbreak of the Civil war he volunteered 
for service but was unable to pass the rigid med- 
ical examination because of an accident he had 
sustained in early life, and therefore returned 
home. He was determined, however, to be of 
some use in his country's hour of danger and 
recruited a company of home guards, which 
he drilled and commanded in scouting expedi- 
tions in his home locality during the period 
of hostilities. He was a republican in politic-: 
and served his community efficiently and hon- 
orably in various official positions in his town 
and township. His life record forms an in- 
tegral chapter in the history of the early devel- 
opment and growth of Redfield. For many 
years he was a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows and was one of the 
originators and leading spirits in the organiza- 
tion of the Dallas-Guthrie Old Settlers' Associa- 
tion, which has held annual reunions here for 
more than ten years past. It was given to him 
to witness the wonderful development which 
has transformed this region from a frontier 
wilderness into a district inhabited by a happy 
and prosperous people, surrounded by all the 
conveniences and comforts of our modern civ- 
ilization. So closely had he been identified 
with the labor necessary to bring about this 
transformation that, to use his own words, he 
had grown to love the village even as a father 
loves his child. In his death the community 
lost a worthy, beloved and respected citizen, 
one in whom it had long recognized a stanch 
champion of its interests. Mrs. Armfield still 
survives her husband and resides in Redfield 
on the same lot on which stood the log cabin 
in which they took up their abode in 1857, 
on their removal into the town. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Armfield were born five children, four of 
whom survive: William 0., who resides in 
Dexter, Iowa ; Charles N., living in Guthrie 
Center, Iowa; Nellie, the widow of Frank Fin- 



610 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



nicum, of Redfield; and George W., the sub- 
ject of this review. 

George W. Armfield was only six months 
old when his parents removed to Dallas county 
and here acquired his education in the primi- 
tive schools of that period. He learned the 
wagonmaker's trade under the direction of his 
father and for about ten years worked for him 
at this occupation. In 1881 Mr. Armfield em- 
barked in the agricultural implement, grain 
and coal business, and has carried on this en- 
terprise for the past twenty-six years with con- 
stantly growing success. In addition to this 
he owns a farm in Union township, two miles 
east of Redfield, stocked with from one hun- 
dred to one hundred and fifty head of cattle 
and from one hundred to one hundred and 
fifty head of hogs, and because of his excel- 
lent management this has also become a profit- 
able enterprise to him. He is likewise a stock- 
holder in the State Bank of Redfield, and from 
the foregoing it will be seen that he is a versa- 
tile business man, carrying forward to success- 
ful completion whatever he undertakes. 

On the 20th of December, 1882, George W. 
Armfield was united in marriage to Miss Alice 
Bailey, a daughter of David Bailey, who came 
to Dallas county in 1852 from Indiana. In 
1849 he had made the overland journey to 
California and on his way through Iowa was 
so enchanted with the country that on his re- 
turn from the gold fields he emigrated to 
this state. Mr. and Mrs. Armfield are the 
parents of two children: Leah, a teacher of 
music, who is at home; and Roy, who is em- 
ployed in his father's store. 

Mr. Armfield gives his political support to 
the republican party and has served as town 
clerk and as a member of the town council, be- 
ing also for twelve or fourteen years a. membep 
of the school board. Fraternally hfe is con- 
nected with Wiscotta lodge. No. 158, A. F. & 
A. M., of Redfield. He is recognized through- 
out the community as a representative and en- 
terprising business man and as a citizen who 
is always ready to aid in any measure or move- 
ment that will promote the prosperity and aid 



the material development and upbuilding of 
his adopted county. He has gained his present 
position of prosperity by methods which neither 
seek nor require disguise, and over the record 
of his business and private life there falls no 
shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. 



WILBUR L. VAN METER. 

Wilbur L. Van Meter is numbered among 
the native sons of Dallas county who are suc- 
cessfully engaged in general agricultural pur- 
suits here. He was born in Van Meter 
township on the 30th of August, 1881, and is a 
son of Hugo G. and Damaris (Dodge) Van 
Meter. The father was a native of Indiana and 
came to Iowa in August, 1852. The family 
name is closely associated with the develop- 
ment and progress of this part of the state and 
is perpetuated in the township which is so 
styled. Mr. Van Meter located in the township 
bearing his name and resided within its borders 
up to the time of his death. He was very suc- 
cessful here although his residence in Iowa 
covered a comparatively short period. He made 
judicious investments in property, acquiring 
almost two thousand acres of rich farm land 
in Dallas county, besides extensive holdings in 
Madison county, Iowa. He owned and operated 
the De Soto grist and saw mills for a number 
of years, and in addition to his milling interests 
and the production of grain he was a heavy 
breeder and feeder of stock. His business af- 
fairs were therefore large and important and 
brought to him an excellent return. He was 
seldom if ever at error in mattei-s of business, 
judgment and seemed to recognize with re- 
markable intuition a favorable business situ- 
ation. Moreover, whatever he imdertook he 
carried forward to successful completion, and 
he thus won his way to the front ranks among 
the progressive and representative men of the 
county. 

In political affairs Hugo G. Van Meter wa? 
deeply interested and became a recognized 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



611 



factor in molding political thought and action. 
He gave stanch support to the republican party 
and for year.s was a dominant force in its coun- 
cils, his opinion always carrying weight there- 
in. On the republican ticket he was elected to 
represent his district in the lower house of the 
state legislature for one term and became an 
able member of that body, serving on several 
imijortant committees and taking active part 
in the deliberations in the committee rooms 
and upon the floor of the house. Widely rec- 
ognized as a man of strong individualitj' and 
mai'ked force of character, he left his impress 
for good upon the public as well as upon the 
agricultui-al development of this part of the 
state. Fraternally he was connected with the 
Masonic order, being a charter member of 
Adel lodge, A. F. & A. M. He died in 1885, 
at the age of fifty-five years, and is still sur- 
vived by his widow, who is now residing in 
Des Moines. In the family of this worth}' 
couple were five children, of whom four are yet 
living: Mabel, the wife of E. S. Ames, a resi- 
dent of Chicago; John C, of Des Moines; Bert 
D., of Linn county, Iowa; and Wilbur L., of 
this review. 

The last named was reared at home and pur- 
sued his education in the common schools, in 
the De Soto high school and at Drake Univer- 
sity at Des Moines, being graduated from the 
last named institution in the class of 1904. He 
was thus well equipped for the responsible and 
practical duties of life and following his grad- 
uation he located on his present home farm in 
Adams township. Here he owns one hundred 
and sixty acres of valuable land and has charge 
of one thousand acres, the other eight hundred 
and forty acres still belonging to his father's 
estate. He is thus actively engaged in the 
cultivation of the soil. He is well known as 
a breeder and feeder of cattle and hogs. 

In his political views Mr. Van Meter is a 
republican, but without desire for office. He 
belongs to De Soto lodge, No. 591, A. F. & A. 
M., and to the Christian church, and in his 
life exemplifies the spirit of these two organ- 
izations. He is regarded as one of the leading 



reliable young farmers of Dallas county, carry- 
ing on an extensive business and manifesting 
in its management excellent capacity for the 
successful control of large affairs. He displays 
keen discernment and sound judgment and 
his life has been one of continuous activity in 
which has been accorded due recognition of 
labor. 



FRANK L. HEMPHILL. 

Frank L. Hemphill, who since 1870 has 
lived upon his farm of four hundred acres in 
Adams township, is well known as a success- 
ful agriculturist and stock-rai.ser and is also 
prominent in financial circles as a stockholder 
in various banks. His investments have been 
judiciously placed and the extent and impor- 
tance of his business connections render him 
one of the leading men of the county. Born 
in Fountain county, Indiana, on the 9th of 
March, 1851, he is a son of Thomas and Eliza- 
beth M. (Dickson) Hemphill, in whose family 
were seven children. The father wa? born in 
1803 and resided in Fountain county, Indi- 
ana, until the year 1864. However, he made 
his first trip to Iowa about 1850 and bought 
extensive tracts of farm land in Polk and Dal- 
las counties. He continued to make yearly 
trips to this state, looking after his landed in- 
terests and buying more property from time to 
time, until his possessions aggregated some 
five thousand acres of fine farming land. He 
also acquired valuable properties in Des Moines 
and his realty possessions were thus very ex- 
tensive. In 18'64 he took up his abode in the 
capital city, where he resided until about 1878, 
when he removed to the farm upon which his 
son Frank is now living and upon which he 
made his home until called to his final rest 
in 1889. In early life he was an earntst worker 
in the ranks of the whig party and became one 
of the active spirits in the organization of the 
new republican party. He possessed strong 
abolition sentiments and when the new party 



612 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



was formed to prevent the further extension 
of slavery he gladly joined its ranks. He 
would never accept any political preferment, 
although he might have had many offices 
would he consent to become a candidate. In 
the Methodist Episcopal church he was a very 
active worker and he led an earnest Christian 
life, which won for him the trust and respect 
of his fellowmen to an unusual degree. Of 
his seven children, four are yet living: Wil- 
liam, a resident of Los Angeles, California; 
Cyrus, who resides in Gi'eenfield, Iowa; Frank 
L., of this review; and Albert E., who is living 
in Dexter, this county. 

In the maternal line Frank L. Hemphill 
comes of an ancestry which strongly favored 
the Union cause, although in early life his 
maternal grandfather, Rev. William Dickson, 
lived among the environments of slavery and 
was himself a heavy slave-holder and planter 
in one of the southern states. He was also a 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Prior to the Civil war he removed to Indiana, 
and, becoming convinced that slavery was 
wrong, he gave his bondmen their freedom 
and when hostilities were inaugurated between 
the north and the south he allied himself with 
the Union cause. 

Frank L. Hemphill was reared under the 
parental roof and acquired a public-school 
education in Des Moines, supplemented by a 
business course in the Iowa Business College, 
from which institution he was graduated in the 
class of 1869. The following year he came to 
Dallas county and located upon his present 
farm in Adams township, where he has since 
resided. He owns four hundred acres of land 
in his home place and for years was one of 
the largest cattle-feeders of Dallas county. He 
is still extensively interested in the business 
although not qiiite so heavily as formerly. 
Aside from the development of his farm he is 
well known in business circles, especially as a 
representative of financial affairs in the county. 
He is now the largest stockholder in the Dallas 
County Savings Bank of Adel, is serving on 
its board of directors and is also a heavv stock- 



holder in the Citizens State Bank at Earlham 
and in the Fai-laud Savings Bank, at Farland, 
Iowa. He served for a time on the directorate 
of both of the last named institutions, but 
was forced to retire in order to concentrate 
his energies and attention upon other business 
interests which claim his time. He is a man 
of sound judgment and unfaltering diligence, 
who readily recognizes and utilizes his oppor- 
tunity and is seldom if ever at error in matters 
of business discernment. 

In the year 1901 Mr. Hemphill was united 
in marriage to Miss Grace M. Scripp, of Rush- 
ville, Illinois, and they are well known so- 
cially in Dallas county. Mr. Hemphill exercises 
his right of franchise in support of the men 
and measures of the republican party but like 
his father has always refused to hold office. 
He is a member of Amouth lodge, No. 597, A. 
F. & A. M., of De Soto; Adel chapter, R. A. 
jM. ; and of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Living in the county for thirty-seven years he 
has a wade acquaintance within its borders and 
has been most actively connected with its agri- 
cultural and business development. As a 
business man he has been conspicuous among 
his associates not only for his success, but for 
his probity, fairness and honorable methods. 
In everything he has been eminently practical 
and this has been manifest not only in his 
business undertakings but also in social and 
private life. 



LEO ARTHAUD. 



Leo Arthaud is one of the most prominent 
and enterprising farmers of Lincoln township. 
He owns a very fine farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres, situated on section 5, and here 
he is engaged in general agricultural pursuits 
and in raising stock, making a specialtj' of 
pure blooded Poland China hogs. He was 
born in Ontario, Canada, September 8, 1845, 
a son of Emile Arthaud, who was bom in 
France and came as a young man to America, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



615 



settling in Ontario, Canada, where he was mar- 
ried to Miss Susanna Ebersoll, who was like- 
wise a native of France. The father came to 
the state of Iowa in 1857 and in Washington 
county engaged in farming throughout the re- 
mainder of his life. 

Leo Arthaud wa.s reared to the occupation 
of farming and has always followed this pur- 
suit. He also taught school for two years in 
Muscatine county, Iowa. When starting out 
in life on his own account he purchased forty 
acres of his present farm. This was in a wild 
state but he soon transformed it into a cultiv- 
able tract and built a small house. Later he 
added a forty-acre tract and still later forty 
acres more, so that his place now embraces one 
hundred and twenty acres. All this has been 
placed under a high state of cultivation and the 
fields have been made productive by the laying 
of eighteen thousand tile. As time has passed 
he has made various improvements in the way 
of substantial buildings and everything is kept 
in a good state of repair, so that he is numbered 
among the leading and enterprising citizens of 
this section of the county. 

Mr. Arthaud was married in Muscatine coun- 
ty, December 25, 1870, to Miss Diantha Mof- 
fett, and their marriage has been blessed with 
six children : Professor John E. Emile, who is 
principal of schools at Perth, North Dakota, 
is married and has two children: Lillian S., 
who was well educated and was engaged in 
teaching for six years, later studied medicine 
and practiced in a hospital in Des Moines, her 
death there occurring in 1902, when she was 
twenty-four years of age. Frank died at the 
age of eleven years. James died when seven 
years old. Jessie is a student in Panora Col- 
lege. Marie is also a student at Panora College. 

Politically Mr. Arthaud has been a life-long 
republican and cast his first presidential ballot 
in 1868 for General U. S. Grant. He served 
as road supervisor for .sixteen consecutive years 
and filled the office altogether for twenty years, 
giving entire satisfaction to the public. He 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church at Prairie Center and for 



thirty-two years he has acted as steward of the 
church. He has also served on the school board 
for many years. He has resided in Dallas 
county for more than thirty-five years and is 
therefore numbered among its woirthy pio- 
neers. In spite of the obstacles which have 
overtaken his career he has worked his way 
upward from a humble beginning and now 
stands as one of the substantial citizens of this 
section of the state. 



HON. THOMAS A. THORNBURG. 

Thomas A. Thornburg, one of the most ex- 
tensive farmers and stockmen of Dallas county, 
was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 9, 
1847, a son of William M. and Catherine 
(Kearn) Thornburgh. The father was born 
in North Carolina in June, 1804, and when 
a boy removed with his parents to Ten- 
nessee. When he had attained young man- 
hood he took up his abode in Wayne county, 
Indiana.where he was mari-ied to Mrs. Cath- 
erine Bohrer, formerly a Miss Kearn. She had 
eight children by her former marriage, two 
of whom survive; Rebecca K. Bohrer, now 
living with our subject; and Rufus J., who re- 
sides in Cawker City, Kansas. On June 1, 
LS56, William M. Thornburgh arrived in Dal- 
la-; county, Iowa, where he purchased eighty 
acres of land from John Maulsby, the tract 
being located in section 19, Linn township. 
He successfully operated and conducted this 
farm up to the time of his death in 1876, when 
he had attained the age of seventy-two years. 
He was a whig in his political affiliations and 
on the dissolution of that party joined the 
ranks of the new republican organization. He 
was active in local jiolitical circles and was a 
man of inftuence in this section of the state, 
serving for years as county supervisor and 
also as an incumbent in the various town.ship 
oflices. He was reared in the Friends church, 
and was one of the charter members of the 
Wiscotta lodge of Masons at Redfield, having 



610 



PAST AISTD PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



been made a Mason in Wayne county, Indiana. 
His wife survived liim until 1887 and passed 
away at the age of seventy-eight years. 

Thomas A. Thornburg is the only one of 
three children born to the marriage of his 
father who still survives. He was reared on 
the home farm, acquiring his education in the 
public schools and at the State Univei-sity at 
Iowa City. In May, 1864, his patriotism be- 
ing ai'oused by the continued attempt of the 
south to overthrow the Union, he enlisted in 
Company C, Forty-sixth Iowa Volunteer In- 
fantry, and served until mustered out on the 
1st of October of that year. After his mili- 
tary experience he returned home and finished 
his education. His father being in poor health, 
Thomas A. Thornburg took charge of the 
home farm when nineteen years of age, being 
assisted by his brother Kearn, and conducted 
the same until after the father's demise. Dur- 
ing this period, in 1872, our subject bought a 
farm of seventy acres from John Maulsby, 
making the purchase in connection with his 
brother Kearn. They farmed this land, to- 
gether with the home farm, and until the 
time of the brother's demise in 1901 they con- 
ducted all their business transactions in part- 
nership, one pocket-book answering for the ex- 
penditures of both. Kearn was the only brother 
of our subject and was never married. They met 
with an unusual degree of success in their busi- 
ness interests and acquired six hundred and fifty 
acres of land in one body in Linn township; 
also five hundred and twenty acres in Nebraska, 
of which Mr. Thornburg came into possession 
after his brother's death. He has since also 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in South Dakota, his landed holdings being 
extensive and profitable. He is heavily engaged 
in feeding cattle and raising hogs, feeding 
from four to five hundred head of cattle annu- 
ally and about the same number of hogs. He 
has been identified with the stock business 
since early manhood and for thirty-five years 
was a heavy buyer and shipper of stock. He 
is among the heavy cattle-feeders of Dallas 
county and is one of the few men who .shipped 



for years and niade a financial success of the 
business. He is a man of keen discrimination 
and sound judgment and his executive ability 
and excellent management have brought to him 
the large degree of success which he enjoys. 

On the 11th of October, 1871, Mr. Thorn- 
burg was joined in wedlock to Miss Jennie 
Vestal, of Boone township, Dallas county, a 
daughter of Simon H. and Allie (Chambers) 
\'estal, who on their removal from Parke coun- 
ty, Indiana, in 1854, took up their abode near 
Adel, Dallas county. Mrs. Thornburg's father 
was one of the prominent men of Boone town- 
ship, having been a member of the board of su- 
per\isors for a number of years. He also held 
the office of justice of the peace and served as 
postmaster when the mail was brought by 
stage. His death occurred at Oneida, Casa 
county, Iowa, December 2, 1905, when he had 
reached the age of eighty-eight years and six 
months. Mrs. Vestal is still living. Mr. and 
Mrs. Thornburg are the parents of six chil- 
dren : Zenas C, ex-county superintendent of 
schools of Polk county and now one of the 
faculty of Highland Park College; Mabel V., 
who is at home; William V., a practicing physi- 
cian of Yale, Iowa; Mark G., who is associated 
with his father in stock feeding; Carroll K., 
who is attending Cornell College at Mount 
Vernon ; and Thomas H., who is yet at home 
and attends the high school here. 

Mr. Thornburg is one of the most prominent 
republicans of the county. He has served for 
many years as township trustee and for the 
past ten years has been a member of board of 
the independent school district of Linden, be- 
ing president of the board most of the time. 
In 1888 he was elected to the legislature from 
this district and was re-elected in 1890, thus 
serving in the twenty-second and twenty-third 
general assemblies. He has served repeatedly 
as a county and state delegate and has for years 
been an important factor in the republican 
jwlitics of this section of the state. He is justly 
accorded a place among the prominent and 
representative citizens of Dallas county, for he 
belongs to that cla.«s of men whose enterprising 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



617 



spirit is used not alone for their own benefit; 
he also advances the general good and promotes 
public prosperity by his ably managed individ- 
ual interests, thus placing this section of the 
country on a par with the older- east. Mr. 
Thornburg and his family affiliate with the 
Methodist Episcopal church and are active in 
its work and growth. He is a member of 
Active lodge, No. 529, A. F. & A. M., of 
Linden, of which he served for fourteen con- 
secutive years as secretary, and is also con- 
nected with Mt. Etna lodge. No. 360, K. P., 
of Linden. Such in brief is the life history of 
Thomas A. Thornburg. In whatever relation 
of life we find him — in political circles, in 
business or in social relations — he is always the 
same honorable and honored gentleman, whose 
worth well merits the high regard which is 
uniformly given him. 



JOHN C. ANTHONY. 



With the educational advantages ^vhich are 
lavished on our young n^en today it is natural 
we should expect much from them, but too 
often they disappoint us. When we read the 
biographies of our citizens who have attained 
their three score years and learn with what 
meager equipment they started out in life we 
are almost bewildered by what they have ac- 
complished. This thought comes to us as we 
follow the life history of John C. Anthony, who 
is one of the most prominent agriculturists of 
Dallas county. He was born in De K.alb 
county, Indiana, February 28, 1847, and was 
a son of John Anthony, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and Elizabeth (Howey) Anthony, a na- 
tive of Ohio. The elder Mr. Anthony removed 
to Ohio when he was a young man and was 
interested for several years in conducting a 
farm in that state. In 1846 he removed from 
there to De Kalb county, Indiana, where he 
was again interested in agricultural pursuits, 
until the spring of 1864. He then went to 
Washington county, Iowa, where he bought 



one liundred and sixty acres and where he 
made his home for three years. In 1868 he 
came to Dallas comity, Iowa, and .settled on 
section 17, in Lincoln township, where he 
opened up a fann, built himself a home and 
spent his last years. He died at the age of 
eighty-three, while his wife survived him for 
four years, passing away in 1899, at the age 
of eighty-four. These good people were the 
parents of ten children, eight of whom grew 
to maturity. 

John C. Anthony was the fifth child in this 
large family of childi'en and in consequence 
was obliged to work hard. His educational 
advantages were very limited. What little he 
had was acquired in the district schools of his 
county, but his work there was so interrupted 
by his duties on the farm that he finally gave 
it up and began to work by the month. For 
several years he rented dift'erent places in 
Washington county and was industrious and 
energetic in his efforts to improve whatever 
land he ojierated. From a lad he was much 
interested in the raising of live stock and he 
decided to buy and ship cattle to Chicago 
markets. This enterprise proved so successful 
that he continued in this for four years. Dur- 
ing the eight years that' he operated the stock 
farm in Washington county, Iowa, he fed and 
turned oft' fat stock to the value of three thou- 
sand dollars a year. In 1883 he made a visit 
to his parents in Dallas county and while there 
bought eighty acres at twenty-seven and a half 
dollai's an acre, and took immediate possession 
of the same. On the place was a small house 
and barn and the land was partially improved. 
He has since enlarged and remodeled the house, 
has built a good barn, splendid outbuildings, 
has fenced the whole of this farm and cross- 
fenced it with woven wire and has laid two and 
a lialf miles of tiling. He has built a fine hog 
house, eight by sixty feet, with five foot stalls, 
and a cement-block poultry house, twelve by 
forty by seven and a half feet. This latter is 
claimed by the architects to be the best and 
most complete in tlie state. Mr. Anthony is 
well known as a raiser of a superior grade of 



618 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



poultry, as well as of Poland China hogs. Of 
the latter he turns off one hundred a year. In 
addition to these many industries he raises 
Percheron and Ethel Allen horses and keeps 
several cows for dairy uses. Merely reading 
what a man has done in this way scarcely en- 
ables one to realize the hard work and inde- 
fatigable energy required to accomplish it. Mr. 
Ajithony has never allowed himself to be '"an 
old-time farmer," but has kept strictly up-to- 
date in all the scientific methods made use of 
today b}' agriculturists. 

John C. Anthony was married in Washing- 
ton county, Iowa, December 21, 1872, to Mag- 
gie Goble, a native of Washington countj^, 
Iowa. She is a daughter of Simpson Goble, 
a native of Indiana, who came to Iowa in 1836. 
His trip brought him through Chicago when 
it was known as Fort Dearborn and contained 
but three huts. Simpson Goble has been in 
Iowa sixty-five years and is now eighty-seven 
years of age. He is known over the entire 
state. When in Chicago in 1836, he says they 
needed a boat to cross the prairies, so wet and 
swampy was the land. In those days he used 
to play his violin, on which he was a fine per- 
former, for the Indians. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Anthony have been born two sons, Clarence 
Eugene and Berthel Fenton. The former is 
an agriculturist in Lincoln township and the 
present township clerk, and secretai'y of the 
Mutual Telephone Company. His wife bore 
the maiden name of Hettie Latimer. This 
young couple are the parents of one child, 
named Hobart McKinley. Berthel is at home, 
where he helps carry on his father's farming 
and stock-raising interests. He is a graduate 
of the Perry high school and of the college at 
Shenandoah, Iowa. 

Mr. Anthony has been a lifelong republican 
and always supports that ticket on national is- 
sues. Locally he has asserted his individuality 
by remaining independent, preferring to vote 
for the man rather than the party. He and 
his wife attend the Christian church. The 
Mutual Telephone Company is verv fortunate 
in having Mr. Anthony as one of its trustees. 



for he never takes hold of any enterprise with- 
out pushing it to success. With the limited edu- 
catiohid privileges of his own boyhood, he ap- 
preciates the advantages which can be given to 
the young people today and has been generous 
in offering his children whatever education they 
]ia\e desii'ed. He himself has become a well 
informed man in spite of his limited opportuni- 
ties in his boyhood. He is a thorough student 
of the scientific methods of farming and has 
adopted all that is progressive in that line. 
This, together with his practical straightfor- 
wardness, has made him one of the representa- 
tive citizens of this county. He has one of the 
nicest homes and the best equipped farms in 
Lincoln township and is well and favorably 
known by a large circle of friends, who hold 
him in the highest esteem. 



J. H. HUGGINS. 



•J. H. Ilnggins operates a well improved 
farm of two hundred and forty acres, situated 
on section 28, Lincoln township. He was born 
in Hocking county, Ohio, June 5, 1858, a 
son of J. H. Huggins, Sr., who was born in 
Muskingum county, that state. The father was 
there reared to years of maturity and was mar- 
ried to I\Ii&s Margaret Bishop, who was also 
a native of the Buckeye state. He followed 
farming in Hocking county for some years and 
in 18G5 made his way to Guthrie county, Iowa, 
where he purchased a farm on which were some 
improvements. He carried on farming through- 
out his entire business career and died in Guth- 
rie county. His wife still survives and now 
makes her home in Linden, Iowa. 

•J. H. Huggins was reared and educated in 
Guthrie county. During the period of his boy- 
hood and youth he assisted his father in the 
operation of the homestead property and re- 
mained with him until he attained his ma- 
jority. When starting out in life on his O'svn 
account he operated rented land in Guthrie 
county and in 1892 came to Dallas county. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



619 



settling in Dallas township. After operating 
land there and in Linn township he removed 
to his present farm in Lincoln township, this 
being a well improved tro,ct of land. He is 
engaged in general agricultural pursuits and 
stock-raising and both branches of his busi- 
ness are proving a profitable source of reveilue 
to him. 

Mr. Huggins established a home of his own 
by his mai-riage in Guthrie county, September 
1, 1879, to Miss Carrie Thomas, who jiassed 
away in Linn township. May 20, 1897. The 
six children of the marriage are: Arthur Earl, 
who resides on the home farm, assisting his 
father in its management; Ira Pearl, who is 
married; Nellie J., the wife of Fred Borst, of 
Linn township; Emma May, the wife of An- 
drew M. Keltner, a farmer of Linn township; 
Louie and Goldie, at home. 

Although Mr. Huggins has been a lifelong 
republican he has never sought or held public 
office, preferring to give his entire time and at- 
tention to his private business affairs, in which 
he is meeting with good success. He is a Mas- 
ter Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at 
Linden. He is also a member of the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows, at Linden, having 
filled all of the chairs and is now a past grand. 
He has also ser\'ed through all of the chairs 
in the camp, being now a past chief patriarch. 
Pei'sonally he is quiet and unassuming in man- 
ner, refusing political perferment and avoiding 
publicity, and 'no citizen in Dallas county is 
held in higher regard and esteem than J. H. 
Hutigin.*. 



WALTER W. CARDELL. 

Walter W. Cardell, an able member of the 
Dallas county bar, practicing in Perry, was 
born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, December 16, 
\ 1860. His parents were W. F. and Jennie 
(Bailey) C ardell . The father was born in 
Brookfield, Vermont, October 17, 1837, and in 
his early life was a farmer. He and his 



brother Leander went to California in 1854, 
by way of the isthmus of Panama, and re- 
mained on the Pacific coast for about two 
years, engaged in mining. Upon his return to 
the Mississippi valley he located in Poweshiek 
county, where he engaged in farming until his 
removal to Guthrie county in 1869. He then 
engaged in farming and was a prominent 
factor in agricultural circles and in public life 
as well. His ability and worth were recognized 
by his fellow citizens, who in 1873 elected him 
to represent Guthrie county in the state legis- 
lature, where he served for two years. In 1876 
he came to Perry and engaged in buying and 
shipping stock, which he sent by rail to the 
city markets of Des Moines and Chicago. He 
was well known in this portion of the state as 
a prominent republican and as an able public 
.speaker, frequently addressing audiences upon 
campaign questions. He took a deep interest 
in the advancement of Perry and its welfare 
and remained a resident of this place until 
1886, when he went to Kansas and afterward 
to Oklahoma. He located at Stillwater, Okla- 
homa, where he engaged in the milling busi- 
ness up to the time of his death, which occurred 
on the 1st of December, 1896. He was a mem- 
ber of Otley lodge, No. 299, A. F. & A. M., of 
Perry, and is yet remembered by many who 
knew him in this part of the state as a progres- 
sive and valued citizen, whose personal charac- 
teristics gained for him the friendship and re- 
gard of all with whom he came in contact. His 
wife, who wa.s born in New York, August 25, 
1840, passed away on the 21st of July, 1899. 
In the family were three children, Walter W., 
^\ll)ert and George, but the hist named died at 
the age of about ten years. 

Walter W. Cardell was a student in the pub- 
lic schools of Perry in his boyhood days and 
afterward attended Iowa College at Grinnell. 
Later he prepared for his chosen profassion in 
the law department of the Iowa University at 
Iowa City and was graduated in the class of 
1882. The same year he located for practice 
in Perry and continued his studies under the 
direclion of his uncle, H. H. Cardell, for 



620 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



several yeai's. In 1887 and 1888 he was a 
partner in the law firm of Shortley & Cardell 
and from that time until 1894 was a partner 
of Edmnnd Nichols, now district judge. They 
conducted their law business under the firm 
style of Cardell it Nichols and on the dissolu- 
tion of that firm, in 1894, Mr. Cardell ad- 
mitted H. G. Giddings to a pai'tnership under 
the firm style of Cardell & Giddings, afterwards 
Cardell, Giddings & Winegar. From 1902 W. 
H. Fahey was associated with him in practice, 
under the firm style of Cardell & Fahey, attor- 
neys at law, but at a recent date Mr. Fahey was 
elected superior judge. Mr. Cardell has made a 
splendid record as an able and learned lawyer, 
showing himself the peer of the leading mem- 
bers of the bar of this section of the state. His 
knowledge is comprehensive and he applies it 
t-o the points in litigation with great accuracy. 
Ten years after his graduation he was selected 
as one of the examining committee for the law 
class of the Iowa University — a fact which 
indicates the standing to which he had attained 
in professional ranks in Iowa. In 1896 he was 
elected county attorney and re-elected for three 
terms, and for several terms he was also city 
solicitor. 

In 1886 Mr. Cardell was married to Miss 
Fannie Sims, Avho died Januarj' 22, 1888, 
leaving one son, Walter Sims Cardell, born 
January 15, 1888. Mrs. Cardell was a daugh- 
ter of David Sims, one of the early settlers of 
this part of the state and a prominent resident. 
On the 10th of December, 1890, at Brooklyn, 
Iowa, Mr. Cardell was married to Miss Lola 
Manatt. Her father, William jManatt, was one 
of the early pioneers of Poweshiek county, 
Iowa, and one of the first settlers of the town 
of Brooklyn, Iowa, where he lived continuously 
for almost sixty years and where he died at an 
advanced age, January 30, 1906. He was one 
of the leading, successful business men of the 
state. Her mother is still living. 

Mr. Cardell belongs to Perry- lodge. No. 407, 
B. P. 0. E., and to Atkins kulge. No. 185, K. P. 
HLs political allegiance is given to the repub- 
lican party and while he is interested in its suc- 



cess he is nevertheless pre-eminently a lawyer, 
concentrating his energies upon his private 
practice. W^hile undoubtedly he is not without 
that ambition which is so useful as an incen- 
tive to activity in public affairs, he regards 
the pursuits of private life as being in them- 
selves abundantly worthy his best efforts, and 
whether in his profession or in his official 
duties, or in any other sphere of life, he does 
with all his might and with a deep sense of 
conscientious obligation what his hand finds 
to do. 



J. W. SKILES. 



More than four decades have come and gone 
since J. W. Skiles first came to Dallas county, 
this being then a wild and unimproved dis- 
trict, few settlers having made their way into 
the interior. Throughout the intervening pe- 
riod Mr. Skiles has been a prominent factor in 
the advancement and progress which has here 
been carried forward and therefore his life 
record cannot fail to prove of interest to his 
many friends. He now owns and operates a 
well improved and valuable farm of two hun- 
dred and seventy acres, situated on section 14, 
Beaver township. He was born in Washington 
coimty, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1834, a son 
of G. D. and Jane (Patterson) Skiles, the for- 
mer a native of Lancaster county, of the Key- 
stone state, and the latter born in Ireland, 
having crossed the sea with her parents when 
eleven years of age. The father was a black- 
smith by trade and followed that pursuit 
throughout his entire active career. His family 
numbered eleven children, eight sons and three 
daughters, but the subject of this sketch is the 
only surviving member of the family. The 
parents lived to an advanced age, the father 
passing away in Washington county in 1861, 
when he was eighty-seven years of age, while 
his wife survived until 1864 and passed away 
at the age of eighty-six. 

J. W. Skiles was reared and educated in his 
native state. In earlv life he learned the car- 




J. W. SKILES 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



623 



penter's trade, which he followed in twelve dif- 
ferent states in his younger years. Ambitious 
to see the west and learn of its advantages, after 
reaching years of maturity he made his way 
to Iowa and purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of wild land in Dallas county, which 
forms a part of his present property. Return- 
ing once more to Pennsylvania he remained 
.there for a time, but in 1865 established a per- 
manent home on his farm, which he at once 
began to improve. He erected a house, built 
substantial outbuildings, doing the carpenter 
work himself, and in addition to these structures 
he also built five residences in this county. He 
took up the work of farming and as opportun- 
ity offered he added to his original holdings 
from time to time until his possessions now em- 
brace two hundred and seventy acres. This 
is a well improved property and readily re- 
sponds to the care and labor which is bestowed 
upon the fields in the yielding of abundant 
crops each year. In addition to his home farm, 
Mr. Skiles also owns one hundred and sixty 
acres of land in South Dakota, near Plankin- 
ton. He is likewise a stockholder in the Em- 
pire Mutual Telephone Company. 

Mr. Skiles was married in Washington coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1863, to Miss 
Isabel McConnell, who was born, reared and 
educated in the Keystone state. They have be- 
come the parents of seven children, but have 
lost three: Robert, who died in childhood; 
Thomas, who died at the age of twenty-two 
years, and Sara Jane, who died June 14, 1907, 
aged twenty-six years. The surviving members 
of the family are : David, who follows farming 
in North Dakota; William, a telegraph operator 
for the Milwaukee Railroad Company in Wis- 
consin; Jolm, who lives on his father's land in 
South Dakota; and Glen, who is a young man 
at home, assisting in the operation of the home- 
stead farm. 

In politics Mr. Skiles is independent, casting 
his ballot for the men whom he deems best 
qualified for office, regardless of party affilia- 
tion. He has sen'ed as township tru.-^tee and 
as school director for a number of years and 



has also been sent as a delegate to various coun- 
ty conventions. He and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. When 
Mr. Skiles located on his present farm the set- 
tlers were widely scattered, not a house being 
within sight of his own at that time. As the 
years passed this district was gradually opened 
up and developed, the settlers coming from 
the eastern states, and here through their com- 
bined efforts they transformed the once wild 
region into productive fields, while thriving 
towns and villages have sprung into existence 
and Dallas county has been ntiade one of the at- 
tractive districts of the state. In this work Mr. 
Skiles has borne his full share and can now 
look with pride upon what has here been ac- 
complished. He can relate many interesting 
tales of the early days and of the hardships 
which were borne and can trace the history 
of the county from an early day down to the 
present time. He is honored and respected 
wherever known and as a pioneer settler of Dal- 
las county deserves prominent mention among 
its most substantial citizens. 



II. G. THORNBURG. 

H. G. Thornburg is proprietor of the Elm- 
wood Stock Faa'm, which constitutes the old 
Thornburg homestead and consists of one 
hundred and seventy-four acres of well im- 
proved land, located on section 30, Lincoln 
township. He was born in Randolph county, 
Indiana, June 8, 1884, a son of H. C. Thorn- 
burg, who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 
in 1814. With his father, Jonathan Thorn- 
burg. he went to Wayne county, Indiana, and 
was there reared and educated. After reaching 
years of maturity he was married in that county 
to Miss Eleanor R. Gilmore, by whom he had 
ten children. She passed away and he was 
married a second time, this union being .with 
Hannah Garrett, by whom he had two chil- 
dren. Following his marriage he removed to 



624 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Randolph county and there cleared and de- 
veloped a fai'm and in 1876 he disposed of that 
property and came to this state. Here he pur- 
chased one hundred acres of land, a part of 
which had been developed. He further de- 
veloped and improved the land and added to 
its boundaries until he owned two hundred 
acres. He also a.ssisted his sons in getting a 
start in life. He spent his last years in Dallas 
county, passing away in 1884. H. C. Thorn- 
burg wa.s for many years a local minister in the 
Methodist Episcopal church. His wife sur- 
vives him and makes her home with a daugh- 
ter, who was born of her previous marriage. 

H. G. Thornburg was reared to farm life 
and pursued his education in the common 
schools and in the Panora high school, and 
he also attended the high school of Stuart. 
He remained with his father until the latter's 
death, when he assumed the management of 
the home property. He eventually purchased 
the interest of the other heirs in the home 
place and succeeded to its ownership. Since 
taking passession he has further improved the 
property by tiling and fencing the land and 
has also built many substantial outbuildings. 
The old home was replaced by a modern and 
up-to-date residence, this being supplied with 
hot and cold water, furnace heat, bath and 
other conveniences and comforts. He is en- 
gaged in general agricultural pursuits and in 
raising and feeding stock, making a specialty 
of pure-blooded Poland China hogs. He ex- 
hibits his stock at the county and stock fairs, 
where he has won many premiums. He is 
practical and progi'essive in all that he does and 
is numbered among the enterprising men of 
the county. 

Mr. Thornburg chase as a companion and 
heli"imate on the journey of life, Miss Louie 
Hest-er, the wedding being celebrated in Van 
Meter, March 11. 1891. She was born, reared 
and educated in Van Meter, and by her mar- 
riage has become the mother of seven chil- 
dren, Heniy Virgil. Lloyd H., Calista 0., 
Clara lona, .Jennie Lucile, Herschel C. and 
Mina !Maurine. 



Politically Mr. Thornburg is a republican 
and for three terms sei'ved as assessor and is 
now a trustee of the township. He has served 
a.-~ a delegate to county and state conventions 
and takes an active interest in local political 
affaii's. He and his wife are members of the 
United Brethren church, of which he is a trus- 
tee. He is also an active worker in the Sunday- 
school and is now acting as its superintendent. 
He stands today as a high type of American 
manhood, who has won .success in the business 
world and has gained the respect of his fellow- 
men by his public service and private life. 



H. A. EVELAND, 



H. A. Eveland, a prosperous farmer and 
stock-raiser, is well known as a breeder and 
dealer of Aberdeen Angus cattle, and is num- 
bered among the old settlers of Dallas county. 
He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, April 
25, 1844, a son of Joseph Eveland, who was 
born in New Jersey but was taken to Ohio when 
a lad of eight years, and was there reared and 
educated. After reaching years of maturity he 
was married in the Buckeye state to Mi&j 
Eveline Dimmit, who was born in Virginia, a 
daughter of Samuel Dimmit, who was a relative 
of George Washington. The father was a 
brick-ma.son by trade and followed that calling 
during his residence in Ohio, but after remov- 
ing to Iowa in 1845 he located on a farm in 
Muscatine county, where he spent the remain- 
der of his life, passing away there in 1883. He 
was sun'ived by his wife for a long period, her 
death occurring in 1904. 

H. A. Eveland is one of a family of three 
sons and six daughters. His eldest brother, 
Dimmit Eveland. served in the Civil war as a 
member of Company E, Nineteenth Iowa Vol- 
unteer Infantry, enlisting in 1861 and serving 
for thi"ee years. The other brother, Peter Eve- 
land, was a member of Company E, Eighteenth 
Iowa Volunteer Infantry and sen-ed until the 
close of hostilities. H. A. Eveland was reared 



BAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



625 



and educated in Muscatine county, Iowa, and 
remained with his father on the home farm 
until he reached the age of twenty-one years. 
He has always followed the pursuit to which 
he was reared, farming for three years in Mus- 
catine county, while later he removed to Dallas 
county, the year of his arrival here being 
1871. He purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of wild land and at once began to break 
and clear the land. In course of time he made 
it a cultivable tract and erected a small house, 
in which the family made their home for 
inany years. This primitive structure, how- 
ever, has been built to and remodeled so that he 
now has a good country residence. He has 
also built two good barns and many substantial 
outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, 
has used woven wire fencing to divide his 
fields into convenient size, has set out an or- 
chard and shade trees and now has one of the 
best farms In the county, consisting of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, situated on sections 8 and 
17, Lincoln township. For ten or twelve years 
he engaged in feeding and fattening hogs and 
cattle for the market but now gives his time to 
breeding and dealing in pure blood Aberdeen 
Angus cattle, his stock all being registered. In 
this connection he is known not only in his 
home locality but throughout the state. 

Mr. Eveland was married in INIuscatine 
county, December 13, 1865, to Mi.ss Ann 
Beardsley, who was born and reared in the 
Keystone state. She was well educated and 
engaged successfully in teaching prior to her 
marriage. The marriage of Mr. and Mi's. Eve- 
land has been blessed with three sons and six 
daughters, as follows: Joseph, who is mar- 
ried and follows farming in Guthrie county; 
Edwin J., who is married and resides on a 
farm in Lincoln township ; Mary, the wife of 
A. D. Dickey, a farmer of this township ; Clara, 
the wife of F. M. Leeka, a farmer of Guthrie 
county; Laura, the wife of Charles Doran, a 
farmer of Canada; Alice, a young lady at 
home; Ella, the wife of Ervin Rote, a farmer 
of Guthrie county; Bertha, also at home; and 
1 son, who died in infancy. 



Mr. Eveland has been a lifelong democrat 
and for three terms served as assessor and one 
term as township trustee. He has been a mem- 
ber of the school board for many years, the 
cause of education ever finding in him a warm 
and helpful friend. The parents are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the 
family are highly esteemed in the community 
where they have so long made their home, 
while the business methods which Mr. Eveland 
has ever followed are such as to win him the 
confidence and good-will of all with whom he 
is associated. 



JUDGE WILLIAM H. FAHEY. 

Judge William H. Fahey, of Perry, who, on 
the 13th of April, 1907, was appointed supe- 
rior judge in recognition of pronounced legal 
ability w-hich .he had displayed in the private 
practice of law, is one of Iowa's native sons, 
having been born in Des Moines, on the 31st 
of July, 1872. His parents were William and 
Mary (Qualey) Fahey, the former born in Tip- 
perary county, Ireland, and the latter in county 
Clare, Ireland. They were married, however, 
in Canada. William Fahey crossed the At- 
lantic on a sailing vessel in the early '40s and 
landed at Quebec. For some time he was in 
the railroad service in the employ of the Ver- 
mont Central Railroad Company and follow- 
ing his marriage, in the fall of 1854, he sought 
a home in the middle west, arriving in Dea 
Moines in the spring of 1855. There he was 
engaged in teaming and contracting until 1872, 
when he turned his attention to farming, pur- 
chasing and cultivating a tract of land three 
and a half miles southeast of Perry. He was 
a very active man until he had passed the age 
of eighty years and the success which he had 
achieved was attributable entirely to his own 
well directed labors and unfaltering diligence. 
He belonged to the Roman Catholic church 
and in politics was a Jacksonian democrat. He 
died in November, 1906, and is still survived 
by his wife, who yet lives in Perry. They 



626 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



were the parents of six sons and two daughters, 
of whom four are now Uving: Mrs. Mary 
Aylwood, who is living in Perry; Thomas; 
Bridget; Jerry; John F.; and William H. 

A student in the schools of Perry in his 
boyhood days, Judge Fahey afterward had the 
advantage of training in the Capital Commer- 
cial College at Des Moines, and prepared for 
the practice of law as a student in the Iowa 
College of Law in Des Moines. After com- 
pleting his collegiate work he was for some 
time associated with Judge W. H. and Walter 
McHenry of Des Moines, and when twenty- 
one years of age was admitted to the bar. In 
the spring of 1894 he removed to Harrison 
county, Iowa, where he spent a few months, 
and in the spring of 1895 he came to Perry, 
where he has since engaged in practice. He 
was alone for several years and on the 7th of 
March, 1902, he became a partner of Walter 
W. Cardell, which relation was maintained 
until the 1st of October, 1906, when Mr. Car- 
dell withdrew on account of ill health. Since 
that time Judge Fahey has been alone in prac- 
tice. He sen-ed as justice of the peace for two 
years, was city solicitor for four years and 
deputy county attorney for one year. On the 
13th of April, 1907, he received appointment 
to the position of superior judge of Perry and 
is now acting in that capacity, making an ex- 
cellent record by reason of the fairness and 
impartiality of his decisions, which are based 
upon the law and the equity in the case. 

On the 22d of August, 1899, Mr. Fahey was 
married to Miss Grace French, a daughter 
of George H. and Myra (DeGolyer) French, 
the former born in Massachusetts, September 
9, 1835, and the latter in New York in 1839. 
They were married in the Empire state, March 
14, 1861, and are now living in Perry, Iowa. 
Their family numbered five children, four of 
whom survive, Mrs. Fahey being the third in 
order of birth. By her marriage she has be- 
come the mother of one son. William L., born 
June 27, 1900. 

Judge Fahey is a republican in politics, and 
while deeply interested in the growth and suc- 



cess of the party, the only offices which he has 
sought are in the direct path of his profession. 
He stands as a sti'ong representative of that 
calling which has been depended upon to con- 
serve the best and permanent interests of the 
whole people by furthering the ends of justice 
and maintaining individual rights. 



CHATHAM H. PHILLIPS. 

Chatham H. Phillips, a prosperous and pro- 
gressive farmer and stock-raiser of Dallas town- 
ship, owns a well improved farm of one hun- 
dred acres, which is situated near Dawson, on 
section 20. He has made his home here since 
1896 but has lived in the county since 1880 
and in the state since 1872. Mr. Phillips was 
born in Belmont county, Ohio, February 27, 
1857, a son of Hartley and Lydia (Kinney) 
Phillips, who were likewise natives of Belmont 
county. The father remained in the Buckeye 
state until 1872, when he removed to Guthrie 
county and purchased there one hundred and 
sixty acres of land, which he developed and im- 
proved, making a good home for himself and 
family. He died in Guthrie county in 1899, 
when he had reached the age of seventy -two 
years, while the mother still survives at the 
age of seventy-five years and now makes her 
home in Linden, this state. 

Chatham H. Phillips is the third in order of 
birth in a family of six children, all of whom 
reached years of maturity. He was reared on 
the home fanii and thus acquired a knowledge 
of the practical methods of carrying on a work 
of this character. He acquired his education 
in the common schools and remained with his 
father until he reached manhood. 

On the 3d of October, 1878, Mr. Phillips 
chose as a companion and helpmate for the 
journey of life, Miss Ida L. Cole, who was born 
in Seneca county, Ohio, a daughter of William 
Cole, who came to Iowa in 1873 and settled 
on the farm where our subject now resides. He 
passed away here in 1904, when he had reached 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



629 



the age of seventy-seven years, while the mother 
still survives at the age of seventy-four and now 
makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. 
Phillips. 

Following their marriage the young couple 
located on a tract of rented land, where they 
lived for three years, subsequent to which time 
they removed to Perry, where Mr. Phillips 
was employed for two years in an implement 
house. He then went to Red Willow county, 
Nebraska, and homesteaded a tract of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres. He broke seventy-five 
acres of this and made his home thereon for 
one and a half years, when he once more re- 
turned to Dallas county and was employed by 
L. D. Gamble in his furniture establishment, 
where he remained for six years. Believing 
that farm life would be more congenial he re- 
moved to a tract which he had traded for his 
Nebraska land. He sold that property and 
purchased his present farm, to which he re- 
moved in 1896 and has since made his home 
here. He has erected a story and a half house, 
has laid five hundred rods of tiling on his land, 
has divided it into fields of convenient size and 
has made it a well improved and productive 
property. In addition to tilling the soil he also 
raise-s Chester White hogs and a few cows for 
dairy purposes. He is meeting with gratify- 
ing success in his undertakings and his pros- 
perity is the outcome of clear judgment, close 
application and excellent business ability. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips has 
been blessed with a. daughter and a son. Ivy 
was educated in the Perry high school and in 
the Normal College of that place and following 
the completion of her education she taught for 
one year. She is now the wife of John Mc- 
Crory, who is cashier in the bank at Dawson. 
They have one son, John Raymond McCrory. 
Ralph II. Phillips is a student in the Perry 
Normal College and assists his father on the 
home farm. 

Mr. Phillips gives his political support to 
the republican party and for two vears was a.*- 
sessor of the township, while for six years he 
filled the office of justice of the peace. He has 



served as president of the school board for sev- 
eral years and has been a director of the local 
telephone company for several years. He is a 
member of the Modern Woodmen camp at 
Dawson and the family hold membership with 
the Methodist Episcopal church. They are 
highly esteemed in the community where they 
reside and no man is more worthy the respect 
of his business associates than he whose name 
introduces this record. 



P. G. FARNSLEY. 



P. G. Farnsley is one of the large landowners 
and prosperous farmers of Boone township, 
his home being on section 29, where he has a 
valuable farm, its rich and well tilled fields 
being proof of his practical and progressive 
spirit. In its midst stands a beautiful resi- 
dence, supplied with all modern conveniences 
and in the pastures are found good grades of 
stock — which indicates one branch of his busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Farnsley is a native of the Hoosier state, 
his birth having occurred in Harrison county, 
Indiana, on the 3d of Januarj', 1861. His 
father, David Martin Farnsley, was born in 
the same county in 1818, and w^as a son of 
David Farnsley, whose birth occurred in a 
block house — one of the old forts of Kentucky 
— now within the city limits of Louisville. The 
family comes of Scotch ancestry, the great- 
grandfather of our subject and one of his 
brothers emigrating to the new world and cast- 
ing in their lot among the early settlers of 
Pennsylvania. The family was also established 
in Harrison county, Indiana, in pioneer days, 
and thus in three different states has contrib- 
uted to the early development and upbuilding. 

David Martin Farnsley was reared to man- 
hood in Indiana and was there married to 
Miss Eliza Ann Zenor, a native of that state 
and an own cousin of William T. Zenor, mem- 
ber of congress from Indiana. Mr. Farnsley 
followed the occupation of farming in Har- 



630 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



rison county and in the winter months ran 
a flatboat, loaded with stock and farm products, 
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New 
Orleans. He reared his family in Harrison 
county and while living there lost his wife. 
Later he joined his son, P. G. Farnsley, in 
Paducah, Kentucky, where his last days were 
spent. 

P. G. Farnsley, whose name introduces this 
review, and who is familiarly known as Peter 
by his numerous friends, was reared to man- 
hood in Harrison county, Indiana, and is 
largely a self-educated as well as a self-made 
man. From his native state he went to Illi- 
nois and subsequently to Kentucky, where for 
three years he was engaged in truck garden- 
ing, making his home in Paducah. In 1884 
he came to Iowa, making a permanent location 
in Boone township. He was first employed by 
the month as a farm hand by William D. Boone 
on the farm where he now resides. Here he 
became acquainted with and later married Miss 
Margaret Boone, a daughter of his employer 
and sister of Joshua Boone, who is mentioned 
elsewhere in this volume. The wedding was 
celebrated on the 19th of December, 1893. 
After their marriage Mr. Farnsley located on 
a farm in Madison county, which he had pur- 
chased a few years before, but later he pur- 
chased the old Boone homestead. His wife 
inherited one hundred and seventy-eight acres 
of land and this, together with the various pur- 
chases that he has made, makes their landed 
holdings one thousand acres. This includes 
some of the best land in Dallas county, a part 
of it lying along the bottoms of the branch of 
the Raccoon river. The soil is particularly fer- 
tile and productive and brings forth abun- 
dant harvests. After buying this farm Mr. 
Farnsley obtained a nine thousand dollar loan 
on the land at Russell Bank, Adel, and ^vith 
this capital to assist him in its cultivation he 
proceeded to improve and develop the place. 
Knowing the value of drainage, he has tiled 
the fields, has fenced the place and it is now said 
to be one of the bast improved farms in the 
entire county. He raises the cereals best 



adapted to soil and climatic conditions and in 
connection with this Avork he has made a busi- 
ness of i-aising, feeding and fattening stock for 
the' market, while at the present time he has 
his farm rented, so that the active work of the 
fields is done by others. He still feeds and fat- 
tens about two hundred head of cattle and 
about one hundred and fifty head of hogs 
annually. He is widely recognized as a very 
energetic and diligent man, whose activity in 
business has won him gratifying prosperity. 
He has recently completed a large two-story 
residence near Boonesville, which is one of the 
most commodious and attractive farm homes 
in Dallas county. It is heated with hot water 
and there is also a coal grate in the sitting- 
room that the light of an open fire may be 
enjoyed, while a similar arrangement prevails 
in one of the guest rooms above. There is a 
bath room, with hot and cold water piped to 
various parts of the house, and in fact this 
residence is one which would be most creditable 
to a large city. It is of pleasing architectural 
design and was erected at a cost of ten thou- 
sand dollars. Mr. Farnsley has built two or 
three barns and convenient outbuildings, and 
in tiling and fencing his improvements have 
cost him twenty-five thousand dollars. The 
expense and labor which he has put upon 
his place makes this one of the ideal farm 
properties of the great Mississippi valley. No 
longer do the city homes surpass in conveni- 
ence, comfort and beauty those to be found 
upon the farms. On the contrary the country 
home often has opportunities for comfort not 
found in the crowded city, and the residence 
of Mr. Farnsley is such a one as would prove 
attractive to almost any individual. Moreover, 
it stands as a monument to his well directed 
thrift and industry. 

Both Mr. and IVIrs. Farnsley are members of 
the Booneville Methodist Episcopal church and 
in the work of the Sunday-school he has taken 
a very active and helpful part, having served 
now for fifteen years as superintendent. He 
is an Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodge in 
Boonesville, in which he has filled all of the 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



631 



chaii^s and is a past grand. His political views 
are with the principles of the democracy. His 
strong characteristics are such as make him 
in many respects an exemplary man and his 
strict integrity and worth under all circum- 
stances have commended him to the good-will 
and confidence of the public. His name has 
become a synonym for honor in business trans- 
actions and, moreover, his record should serve 
as a source of inspiration and encouragement 
to others, showing what may be accomplished 
through individual effort. He started in life 
without capital, but realizing the force and 
value of industry and perseverance he has thus 
overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in 
his path. 



WARD EDWIN RUSCHER. 

Ward Edwin Ruscher, a representative of 
the farming interests of Colfax township, was 
born in Adams township, Dallas county, on 
the 6th of December, 1876, his parents being 
Adam and Samantha (Harper) Ruscher. In 
the maternal line he is a representative of the 
Harpers, one of the early and prominent fami- 
lies of the county, his gi'andparents being 
Henry and Royal (Hayes) Harper, who be- 
came very early settlers of Iowa, arriving in 
this state in 1850, and in Dallas county in 
1855. The former was bom in Vermilion coun- 
ty, Indiana, July 29, 1825, his parents being 
John and Mary Harper, both of whom were na- 
tiv&s of Virginia, whence they removed to Indi- 
ana during the pioneer epoch in the history of 
that state, there residing until called to their final 
rest. Henry Harper was there reared and mar- 
ried, his first wife being Miss Julia Damond, 
by whom he had two children, both now de- 
ceased. As stated, he came to Iowa about 
1850, settling first in Guthrie county, where 
he entered several tracts of government land 
and began farming. He resided there until 
1855, when he sold out and came to Dallas 
county, here purchasing a half section or more 



uf laud in ^Vdams and Colfax townships. He 
made for himself a home in Adams township 
on the farm where his daughters, Mrs. F. M, 
Cave and Mrs. S. E. Harper, now reside, and 
there he continued vmtil he was called to his 
final rest, on the 22d of November, 188-1. He 
was a democrat in his political views, promi- 
nent in the ranks of the party, and filled vari- 
ous township offices. He was also an active 
and influential member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, served for years as one of its 
trustees, and took a helpful part in the work 
of the Sunday-school, acting for a long period 
as its superintendent. He was likewise for 
many years a member of the Masonic fraternity 
and was justly accounted one of Dallas coun- 
ty's most prominent, progressive and worthy 
citizens. His wife was a native of Ohio, born 
August 18, 1836, a daughter of John and 
Nancy Hayes, who were among Guthrie coun- 
ty's first pioneers, coming into this state when 
the military troops were still at the fort. Mrs. 
Harper died December 23, 1880. Her family 
numbered five children, of whom three are yet 
living: Mrs. Ruscher; Florence C. ; and Nancy 
J., the wife of F. M. Cave, whose home is in 
Adams township. 

Ward E. Ruscher was reared at home, ac- 
quiring his education in the public schools and 
in the high school at Redfield, Iowa, from 
which he was graduated. Soon after putting 
aside his text-books he secured a clerical posi- 
tion in a mercantile establishment at Adel, 
where he was employed for about three and a 
half years, when he resigned to take up farm- 
ing. He then located in Adams township. He 
has since carried on general agricultural pur- 
suits and is now cultivating an excellent tract 
of land of eighty acres, the place being under 
a high state of cultivation and giving every evi- 
dence of his careful supervision and practical 
methods. 

In 1899 Mr. Ruscher was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Cora L. Coffin, who in February, 
1905, was killed by the cars at Adel. being 
struck on the crossing by the train while driv- 
ing into town. She died six hours later, her 



632 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



death being deeplj^ regretted by many friends 
who had learned to love and esteem her for 
her many good traits of character and genuine 
worth. On the 22d of January, 1907, Mr. 
Ruscher was again married, his second union 
being with Miss May Van Cleave, a daughter 
of A. C. Van Cleave, a resident farmer of 
Adams township. 

In his political views Mr. Ruscher is a repub- 
lican with liberal tendencies. He has sen-ed 
as a delegate to the county conventions but 
has never been bitterly aggressive in partisan- 
ship and his strong desire is for good govern- 
ment and for fidelity in public office. He be- 
longs to the United Brethren church and is a 
young man of many excellent traits of charac- 
ter, whose life of uprightness and honorable 
business activity has won for him the respect 
and confidence of all with whom he has been 
associated. 



FREDERICK PEITZMAN, JR. 

Frederick Peitzman, Jr., is one of the 
younger farmers and business men of Grant 
township, living on section 29. He is a native 
son of the county, his birth having occurred on 
the place which is yet his home, and his father 
wias one of Dallas county's worthy pioneers. 
The birth of our subject occurred September 
18, 1878, and he has always remained upon the 
old homestead, where he now owns one hundred 
and sixty acres of valuable land. 

It will be interesting in this connection to 
know something of the history of his parents. 
His father, Frederick Peitzman, Sr., was a na- 
tive of Prussia, born in 1837. He was educated 
in the schools of his native country and came 
to America when nineteen years of age. He 
arrived in Cass county, Illinois, in 1857, and 
there followed farming. He was married in 
that county to Miss Mary Ellerman, also a na- 
tive of Germany, and they became the parents 
of ton children, nine of whom reached adult 
age. In the vear 1872 Frederick Peitzman. Sr., 



came to Dallas county, Iowa, and first pur- 
ciiased eighty acres of land on section 29, Grant 
tDwnship. Upon that tract he established his 
hmiie and has since added to the property until 
he now owns six hundred and forty acres of 
valuable land. Year by year he continued the 
work of the farm, the result being seen in its 
excellent improvements and the fine condition 
of the fields. He continued to reside there 
until 1902, when he removed to Grimes, where 
he now makes his home. Here he lives re- 
tired, being now in his seventieth year, while 
his wife is in her sixty-ninth year. The rest 
which he is enjoying is well earned, for it came 
to him as the result of his activity and capable 
management in l)usiness affairs at an earlier 
day. 

Frederick Peitzman, Jr., whose name intro- 
duces this record, wa.s reared on the old home- 
stead farm, no event of special importance oc- 
curring to vary the routine of farm life for him 
in his boyhood and youth. He had good c > 
mon-school advantages and when of age he 
began cultivating one hundred and sixty acres 
of the old home place for himself. He has 
since carried on farm labor and in connection 
with the tilling of the soil in the production 
of the crops best adapted to climatic condition- 
here, he has also raised shorthorn cattle and 
Poland China hogs, which he feeds for the 
market, using all of his corn in this way. Since 
his marriage he has greatly improved the old 
homestead and now has one hundred and sixty 
acres in splendid condition. From this he an- 
nually gathers good crops, for his laboi-s are 
practical and his work is diligently prosecuted. 

On the 28th of May, 1902, Mr. Peitzman was 
married to Miss Nellie Bohrofen, a native of 
Polk county, and a daughter of Peter Bohrofen, 
who was born in Germany and was an early 
settler of Polk county. They have two chil- 
dren, Fred Bohrofen Austin and Josephine 
Mary Louise, both being named for their grand- 
parents. Mr. Peitzman is a consistent and 
faithful member of the Lutheran church and in 
politics is a republican. Having spent his en- 
tire life in this countv he is well known and 




Ki;i:i)Ki;i('K i'KITZMan. ju. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



635 



that he has always merited the esteem and good 
will of his fellow townsmen is indicated Ijy his 
popularity, for he has a large circle of warm 
friends. 



G. S. McKIBBEN. 



G. S. McKibben is the owner of one hundred 
and three acres of land on sections 28 and 21, 
Adams township, once a part of the old home- 
stead which has been in possession of the family 
for more than a half century. He is a repre- 
sentative of one of the oldest families of this 
part of the state, having spent almost his entire 
life here, although his birth occurred in Brown 
county, Ohio, on the 4th of January, 1855, 
his pai'ents being Samuel S. and Mary (Lay- 
mon) McKibben. The father, also a native of 
the Buckeye state, was reared and married 
there and in 1854 came to Dallas county, Iowa, 
entering and purchasing between three and 
four hundred acres of land in Adams township. 
He then returned to Ohio for his family, whom 
he brought to his new home in the spring of 
1855, the dwelling being a log cabin on the 
farm, to which he afterward built an addition, 
occupying that house. for a rmmber of years. 
He resided upon the farm up to the time of 
his death, which occurred in 1891, and was a 
very successful agriculturist, being also widely 
known as a breeder of fine horses, in which 
connection he did much to improve the grade 
of stock raised in this part of the state. He 
was ever a man of action rather than theory 
and accomplished things while others were 
stopping to formulate plans. He was a leader 
in every forward, progressive movement and 
became one of the county's prominent men. 
In the Methodist Episcopal church he was ac- 
counted a worthy member and active worker 
and at all times his life was honorable and 
upright. While in early life he advocated 
democratic principles he became an advocate 
of abolition and in later life was independent 
of party ties in his political belief. He held va- 



rious township offices to which he was called 
Ijy the vote of his fellow citizens who recog- 
nized his worth and knew that he would be 
faithful to every trust. 

In the family of S. S. McKibben were twelve 
children, of whom seven are yet living: John, 
a resident of Mossy Rock, Washington; Jane, 
the widow of ^Mlliam Beasley and a resident 
of Des Moines; William, living in Madison 
county, Iowa; Harvey S., of Stuart, Iowa; 
Elizabeth, the wife of Sylvanus Compton, of 
Earlham, Iowa; G. S., of this review; and 
Spencer S., of Adams township. 

Brought to Dallas county in his infancy G. 
S. McKibben was reared amid the wild scenes 
and environments of pioneer life and with 
the family endured such hardships as are al- 
ways to be met with in a recently developed 
district. His education was acquired in the 
district schools and the schoolhouse of his 
early youth was a log building with greased 
paper windows and slab benches, while the 
methods of instruction were most primitive 
as compared to those of the present day. Be- 
tween the work of the farm and the duties 
of the schoolroom his youth was passed. When 
he had attained adult age he was married, in 
July, 1876, to Miss Jennie Marks, a daughter 
of William Marks, of Adams township. 

From his nineteenth year Mr. McKibben, 
in company with his brother, S. S. McKibben, 
had had the management of the home farm 
and continued in control until his father's 
death. Then in connection with two of his 
brothers he purchased the farm from the es- 
tate, acquiring personally one hundred and 
three acres of land which he still owns and 
which constitutes a rich and productive farm 
that is now well developed according to the 
most modern ideas of progressive agriculture. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. McKibben has 
been blessed with eleven children, of whom ten 
survive : Lute Edward ; Pearl, the wife of Alva 
Wright, of Adams township ; Everett, living in 
the same township ; Wilda, the wife of Lea 
Morris, of Adams township; Myrtle, at home; 
Harry, a resident farmer of Adams townsiiip; 



036 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Leo Esther, Dean, Dewey and Neita, all yet 
under the parental roof. 

Mr. McKibben votes with the republican 
party and has served for a number of years as 
township trustee and as constable, while for 
two terms he was a member of the school board. 
He belongs to the United Brethren church and 
has been a most active worker in the church 
and Sunday-school, serving for some years as 
superintendent of the latter, while he does all 
in his power to promote the gi'owth of the 
church and extend its influence as a force for 
righteousness and morality in the community. 
He is honored as a citizen of upright life and 
one well worthy the regard which is uniformly 
accorded him. 



JEHU WILSON. 



.Jehu Wilson, who is engaged in raising and 
fattening stock on his farm of eighty acres 
on section 31, Adams township, is numbered 
among the native sons of this part of the state. 
It was in Adams township that he was born 
on the 27th of July, 1869, his parents being 
Samuel and Mary (Mills) Wilson, the father 
a native of Ohio and the mother of Indiana. 
They came to Iowa in the year 1854, settling 
in Dallas county where they reared their fam- 
ily of eight children, six of whom still sur- 
vive, namely: Rebecca, now the wife of Wil- 
liam Harrison, a resident of this county; Amy, 
the wife of Charles Mitchell, living in Union 
township; Ann, the wife of Aaron Harshfield, 
whose home is in Davis county, Iowa; James, 
of Adams township; Edna, who is in Cali- 
fornia; and Jehu. Both the parents have now 
passed away, their deaths occurring in the 
year 1898. 

Jehu Wilson was reared in Dallas county 
and the common schools afforded him his edu- 
cational advantages. In his boyhood he 
worked in the fields, doing such service as his 
age and strength permitted, and as the years 
passed by he became more and more proficient 



in his tasks. He has always continued to carry 
on general agricultural pursuits and as the 
result of his industry and perseverance he is 
now the owner of eighty acres of good land 
on section 31, Adams township. He has 
brought the fields under a high state of culti- 
vation and at the same time he makes a spe- 
cialty of raising and fattening stock. This 
branch of his business is also j^rofitable and 
his success has come as the reward of earnest, 
pereistent labor. 

In the year 1892 Mr. Wilson was united in 
marriage to Miss Hattie Stubbs, who was born 
in Iowa in 1874 and is the daughter of Wil- 
liam and Olive (Stanley) Stubbs, who ivere 
natives of Ohio. They came to Iowa at au 
early day and the father died in the year 18S7, 
but the mother is still living. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Wilson have been born two sons: Frank 
J. and Hugh A. The parents are members of 
the Friends church and their lives are in har- 
mony with the teachings of that peace-loving 
,sect. Mr. Wilson is a republican, while fra- 
ternally he is connected with the JNIutual Benev- 
olent Association, holding membership in lodge 
No. 779 at Earlham. Having spent his entire 
life in Dallas county he is, well known, and 
the many excellent traits of his character have 
brought to him the warm friendship which is 
uniformly accorded him. 



FRANK MLEYNEK. 



Frank Mleynek, a wide-awake and pro- 
gressive farmer living on section 28, Adams 
tow^lship, is a western man by birth, training 
and preference. His natal day was December 
15, 1863, and he first opened his eyes to the 
light in Jackson county, Iowa. His parents, 
Wesley and Helen (Motsick) Mleynek, were 
both born across the water, being natives of 
Bohemia. In the year 1860 the father came 
to the United States, and making his way 
into the interior of the country, settled in Jack- 
son county, Iowa, where he purchased land 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



03^ 



and began the development of a farm. There 
he carried on active agricultural pursuits for 
many years and the success which he enjoyed 
was gained through his own labors. Frank 
Mleynek went to Guthrie county, with his par- 
ents, in 1872. The father there secured a farm 
whereon he resided until his death. Two of 
his sons, Joseph and George, still own the place. 
He died in the year 1899, having for about 
four years survived his wife, whose death 
occurred in 1895. They were the parents of 
ten children, of whom seven are living: Mary, 
the wife of Charles Schloupka, a resident of 
Yale, Iowa ; Wesley, who is living in Okla- 
homa; Frank, of this review; Henry, who is 
located in Battle Creek, Nebraska; George, a 
resident of Guthrie county, Iowa; Albert, of 
Linn county, Iowa; and Joseph, also of Guthrie 
county. 

Frank Mleynek was a pupil in the common 
schools near his father's home in his boyhood 
days, his time being divided between the 
pleasures of the playground, the duties of the 
schoolroom and the work of the fields. He 
assisted in carrying on the home farm as time 
passed by and has always continued in agricul- 
tural pursuits. Frank Mleynek resided in 
Guthrie county until March, 1894, when he 
removed to Dallas county and that fall pur- 
chased his present farm. The careful hus- 
banding of his resources has enabled him to 
become the owner of a good farm property 
and he now has one hundred and forty-five 
and a half acres on section 28, Adams township. 
He has improved the same by the building of 
a nice residence, large barns and other struc- 
tures for the shelter of grain and stock, and 
in fact the farm is very complete in its equip- 
ments, everything about his place being indica- 
tive of his care and supervision. 

Mr. Mleynek was married to Miss Mary 
Prohaska, who was born in Bohemia in 1865, 
and is a daugther of Paul and Antonia Pro- 
haska. He canie to America in 1868 and first 
located in Iowa City.. Subsequently they re- 
moved to Madison county, Iowa, where the 
father purchased land and continued to engage 



ill farming up to the time of his death. His 
widow still resides on the old homestead. Mrs. 
Mleynek is one of a family of ten children 
and by her marriage has become the mother 
of two daughters and a son: Mabel M., who 
is now attending the high school at Earlham; 
Charles P., who is also a student in the same 
school; and Blanche, at home. 

Mr. Mleynek has served as school director 
and believes in education, giving his children 
good opportunities in that direction. In addi- 
tion to his farming interests he is treasurer of 
the Adams Mutual Telephone Company. Po- 
litically he is a republican and socially is con- 
nected with the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 546, 
at Earlham. Both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Christian church and are much 
esteemed by many friends, who recognize their 
worth. Mr. Mleynek has lived a life of activity 
and has depended upon his own labors to win 
success in face of the competition which is 
always to be met with in the business world, 
and which constitutes the stimulus of every 
activity. 



WILLIAM HALL. 



William Hall, who dates his residence in 
Dallas county from 1882, is regarded as an ex- 
pert farmer, thoroughly modern and progress- 
ive in all of his business interests, in the 
development of his field.s and in the raising of 
.■^tnck. A native of England, he was born on 
the 22d of November, 1847, and he alone sur- 
vives of the three children, whose parents were 
William and Julia (Chambers) Hall. Both 
the father and mother were born and reared in 
England and early in the year 1849 the mother 
and her son William came to the United States, 
crossing the Atlantic in a sail boat, which was 
two months in completing that voyage. Here 
they joined the husband and father who had 
(•OHIO to the United States some time prior to 
the birth of our subject and had located in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he worked 



638 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



at the carpenter's trade. He died there about 
1856 and the mother passed away two years 
later, leaving their son William an orphan at 
the age of ten years. He was soon afterward 
bound out to a man by the name of William . 
Hugh, in Fulton county, Illinois, and by him 
was reared. He remained with his foster father 
until 1870, when, at the age of twenty-three 
years, he started out in life alone, making the 
trip westward to Kansas. Subsequently he re- 
turned to Illinois and soon afterward located 
in Mason county, that state, where he was mar- 
ried. For tTwo years he engaged in farming in 
that county and in 1875 he came to Iowa, .set- 
tling first in Cass county, where he carried on 
general agricultural pursuits for seven years. 
In 1882 he came to Dallas county and for thir- 
teen yeai-s was a resident of Van Meter town- 
ship, his home being in the village of De Soto, 
where he e.?tablished and conducted a meat 
market, carefully carrying on the busine.ss, 
which brought to him a desirable financial re- 
ward for his labor. In 1895, however, he 
severed his connection \^'ith mercantile interasts 
and removed to a farm in Madison county, 
Iowa, whereon he made his home for ten years. 
In 1905 he took up his abode upon the Ames 
farm of three hundred and eighty-seven acres 
in Adams township, Dallas county, and is now 
conducting this place. He is regarded as a 
most energetic and progressive agriculturist and 
has a splendidly developed property, while un- 
der his care the fields are bringing forth rich 
and extensive crops. He is also largely engaged 
in raising cattle and hogs and is one of the 
successful farmers of this section of the county. 
In 1873 Mr. Hall was united in marriage to 
Miss Anna Lee, of Mason county, Illinois, and 
they now have six children, four sons and two 
daughters, as follows: Harry E., a resident of 
Valley Junction, Iowa; Julia E., the wife of 
Fred Scarborough, also of Valley Junction; 
Walter H. and Amanda, both at home; Cecil 
C, who is living in Boise City, Idaho; and 
Lloyd D., at home. Harry and Walter are 
both members of the Independent Order of 



Odd Fellows. Mr. Hall gives his political 
allegiance to the democracy but has never Iieen 
an office seeker. His residence in the county 
covers a quarter of a century and throughout 
this period he has ever stood for progressive 
citizenship, for integrity and reliability in busi- 
ness life and for trustworthiness and geniality 
in all social relations. What he has accom- 
plished in the business world proves the force 
of his character, his strong purpose and his 
indefatigable energ}'. He started out in life on 
his own account, and brooking no obstacles that 
could be overcome through persistent purpose 
he has steadily worked his way upward. 



WILLIAM F. WEST. 



William F. West, a farmer and stock-raiser, 
owning a well improved farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres, is engaged in carrying on gen- 
eral agricultural pursuits and raises Duroc Jer- 
sey hogs and Aberdeen Angus cattle, having a 
herd of about fifty head. He is a native of 
Iowa, his birth having occurred on a farm in 
Sugar Grove township, Dallas county, Decem- 
ber 27, 1859, a son of William and Mary A. 
(King) West, the former a native of Indiana, 
and the latter of Highland county, Ohio. The 
father came to this state when a small boy 
and was a farmer by occupation. At the time 
of the Civil war he enlisted for service in the 
army, becoming a member of an Iowa regi- 
ment, with which he went south. He was 
wounded in the battle of Vicksburg and later 
passed away there, thus giving his life as a 
sacrifice to his country. The mother was again 
married, her second union being with W. M. 
Garoutte, now of Sac county, this state. 

A\'illiam F. West was reared to farm life and 
was but a small boy at the time of his father's 
demise. He remained with his mother and 
assisted his stepfather on the home farm until 
he had reached the age of eighteen years, after 
which he started out in life on his own account 
by working as a farm hand by the month for 
about seven years. During this time he care- 




W. 1'. WI'.ST AM) FAMILY 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



641 



fully saved hk earnings, so that he was at length 
enabled to engage in business on his own ac- 
count. He purchased a tract of raw land of 
eighty acres, situated on section 26, Lincoln 
township and after developing and cultivating 
this for several years he added another eighty 
acres and his farm now consists of one hundred 
and sixty acres, situated on sections 26 and 23 
of the same township. He has added many im- 
provements to the place, especially draining 
the land and fencing all the fields, since it 
came into his possession and now has one of 
the be.st improved farms of tliis section of the 
state. He intends to put up a new residence 
shortly, which is now being planned. In addi- 
tion to his own land he also cultivates a tract 
of rented land, and raises Duroc Jersey hogs 
and Aberdeen Angus cattle, these being high- 
grade animals. His wife raises large numbers 
of poultry, having two incubators for this pur- 
pose. 

Mr. West was married in Sugar Grove town- 
ship, March 12, 1885, to Miss Emma V. Sny- 
der, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, a 
daughter of George and Sarah Snyder, who at 
an early day located in Dallas county, near 
Adel. He rented for several years near Adel 
and later purchased land in Sugar Grove town- 
ship, where he established his home. By her 
marriage Mrs. West has become the mother of 
a son and a daughter: Harley C, who is as- 
sisting his father in the operation of the home 
farm ; and Leila V. 

Mr. West has allied himself with the princi- 
ples and policy of the republican party, bul 
has never sought nor desired public office for 
himself, preferring to give his undivided time 
and attention to his private business interests. 
The family are members of the Shiloh Chris- 
tain church. Mrs. West was formerly a teacher 
in the Sunday school, while Mr. West formerly 
acted as its superintendent. He has spent his 
entire life in Dallas county and can remember 
when the to\raship contained but three or four 
homes. He has seen the country developed, 
many homes established and the county now 
stands as one of the foremost in the state. The 



people of Dallas county look upon him as an 
exemplary man and are proud to call him their 
own. 



BYRON D. STOVER. 

An excellent farm of three hundred and 
twenty acres on section 28, Boone township, 
pays tribute to the care and labor of Byron 
D. Stover, who in his business interests as a 
farmer and stock-raiser is meeting with well 
merited success. His farm is extremely fertile 
bottom land, upon which he has resided since 
1897. Mr. Stover was born in Washington 
county, Iowa, on the 14th of January, 1847. 
His father, George R. Stover, was a native of 
A'irginia, and when a lad of thirteen years 
accompanied his parents on their removal to 
Montgomery county, Indiana, where he was 
reared to farm life. He took up the study of 
law and for some years devoted his attention 
to the profession. Numbered among the pio- 
neers of Iowa, he came to Washington county, 
this state, in 1835, when Iowa was still under 
territorial rule. For twelve years he engaged 
in law practice in AVashington, having a good 
clientage that connected him with much of 
the important litigation of that period. 

It was during that time that George R. 
Stover was married, his first wife being Belinda 
Clemmons, who died leaving one child. Mary. 
For his second wife Mr. Stover chose Elizabeth 
Drabell, a native of Virginia. They removed 
to Iowa City, where Mr. Stover continued in 
the practice of law, and later he took up his 
abode in Keokuk, Iowa, where he also opened 
a law office and wa.s closely associated with im- 
portant business of the courts. For six years 
he acted as clerk of the court there and in 1853 
he removed to Warren county, Iowa, where he 
took up land from the government and turned 
his attention to farming. There he developed 
his fields and improved a good farm upon 
which he made his home until his death, in 
1S77, when he was sixty years of age. His 



642 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



widow still suivives and is now living in Den- 
ver, Colorado, at the age of eighty-six years. 
By that marriage there were six children, four 
Jions and two daughters, Byron Stover being 
the eldest of this family. All of the sons with 
the exception of our subject are now deceased 
and there L? one sister and a half-sister living. 

Byron Stover was a lad of six years when 
his parents took up their abode upon the War- 
ren county farm. There he was reared to farm 
life, early becoming familiar with the work 
necessary to develop the fields and produce 
good crops. He attended the common schools 
in his youth and completed his education at 
Simpson College, in Indianola. When not 
busy wdth his text-books his attention was 
given to agricultural pursuits on the old home- 
stead, he remaining with his father until his 
twenty-sixth year. He was then married, on 
the 19th of November, 1874, to Miss Mary 
Boone, a daughter of W. D. Boone, and a sis- 
ter of Joshua Boone, who is mentioned on 
another page of this volume. 

AVhile cultivating his father's farm, Mr. 
Stover purchased one hundred acres of land 
in Warren county, to which he removed after 
his marriage. Thex'e he lived for two years, 
greatly improving the property through the 
care and labor which he bestowed upon it. 
He then sold out and came to Dallas county, 
settling in Van Meter township in 1878. Here 
he rented land, which he cultivated for two 
years. On the expiration of that period he 
began farming near Dallas, Texas, where he 
rented land for ten years, after which he took 
up a school section, cultivating it for two years. 
On selling that property he returned to Dal- 
las county, Iowa, and in 1897 purchased three 
hundred and twenty-three acres, constituting 
his present farm in Boone township. He has 
since been improving this place, has divided 
the farm into fields of convenient size by well 
kept fences, has tiled his land and otherwise 
added to its productiveness through modern 
methods of farming which produce excellent 
results. He raises Poland China and Duroc 
hogs, feeding from one to three carloads an- 



nually, and in former years he was also exten- 
sively engaged in feeding cattle. He has a val- 
uable farm property and in addition to this 
he owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine irri- 
gated land in western Colorado. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stover have been born 
five children : Delano, a railroad man in Butte, 
Montana; Ernest, who is post saddler in the 
government service in the Philippines; Julia 
Mary, an art student in the Audubon (Iowa) 
Conservatory; Boone, who is a graduate of 
the high school of Van Meter and is on the 
farm with his father ; and one — the third child 
— who died in infancy. The parents are mem- 
liers of the Methodist Episcopal church of 
Booneville, in which Mr. Stover has served as 
an otticer. He has always given his political 
allegiance to the republican party, has served 
his township as clerk for four years and for 
several years has been a member of the school 
board. He is helpfully interested in the cause 
of education and in every movement for pub- 
lic progress and improvement, and though his 
business interests make heavy demand upon 
his time and energies he yet finds opportunity 
to further the public welfare by his co-opera- 
tion in many movements for the general good. 



DAN HUFFMAN. 



Dan Huffman is now a retired farmer of 
Perry. He was born in Clark county, Ohio, 
September 18, 1834, and acquired a public 
school education while spending the days of 
his boyhood and youth under the parental 
roof. He was one of a family of six sons and 
four daughters born unto Isaac and Elizabeth 
(Miller) Huffman. The father's birth oc- 
curred in Pennsylvania and he was of Scotch 
Irish descent, while the mother, also a native 
of the Keystone state, was of German par- 
entage. They were married in Ohio and Isaac 
Huffman there followed the carpenter's trade. 
He also engaged in farming in Indiana, to 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



643 



which state he removed in 1850, settling in 
Wabash county. Subsequently he removed to 
Whitley county, Indiana, where he remained 
until called to his final rest. He engaged in 
farming on quite an extensive scale for those 
days and was a prominent and influential resi- 
dent of his community. He served as captain 
of a lightfoot company and he gave his polit- 
ical allegiance to the whig party. A member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, he took a 
most active part in its work and died in that 
faith when seventy-three years of age. 

Dan Huffman divided his time during the 
period of his minority between the duties of 
the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground 
and the work of the fields upon the home farm. 
He worked with his father until he had passed 
the age of twenty-one years, after which he 
learned and followed the carpenter's trade for 
a number of years. Subsequently he removed 
to Indiana and later took up his abode in Mon- 
mouth, Illinois, where he again engaged in 
carpentering, living there from spring until 
the fall of 1863. In the latter season he came 
to Iowa and settled two and a half miles south- 
west of Perry upon a farm of one hundred 
and forty acres of land, of which one hun- 
dred and twenty acres was prairie and twenty 
acres timber. There he built a house, twenty- 
two by twenty-four feet, and began the devel- 
opment of his farm. Only sixteen acres of 
land had been broken and upon this place was 
a plank house. In the spring of 1864 Mr. 
Huffman removed on to his farm, where he 
made substantial improvement, developing it 
into an excellent property. The fields were 
very rich and productive and everything about 
the farm indicated the careful supervision and 
active management of the owner. He con- 
tinued to live there until 1884, when he re- 
moved to Perry, where he has since made his 
home. He was extensively engaged in the 
l)rceding of Poland hogs, while his cattle were 
Devonshire crossed with Durham. In both 
branches of his business he met with success, 
which was well merited and he is now in com- 
fortable financial circumstances. 



On the loth of February, 1862, was cele- 
brated the marriage of Mr. Huffman and Miss 
Sarah Reed, who was born in Pennsylvania, 
May 1, 1836, a daughter of Mathew and Isa- 
belle Reed, both of whom were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, in which state they were married. 
The father was a farmer and spent his entire 
life there. He died at the age of forty-five 
years, while his wife passed away at the age 
of forty-four. Their family numbered seven 
children, of whom three sons and three daugh- 
ters yet sun'ive, namely: Sarah and Samuel, 
twins ; Nancy J. ; Margaret C. ; John and Bar- 
nett. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huffman were born three 
children, but a daughter, Emma F., is the only 
one now living. Mr. Huffman served for three 
years as a school director but has never cared 
for public office. In politics he was a whig until 
1856, when the republican party had its first 
candidate in the field and he supported John 
C. Fremont. He has since been an earnest 
advocate of its principles. He belongs to Horeb 
lodge. No. 408, I. 0. 0. F., being one of its 
oldest members. He has made his home in 
this county for forty-four years and has there- 
fore witnessed the greater part of its growth 
and development as it has emerged from pio- 
neer conditions and taken on all the evidences 
of a modern civilization. For many years he 
figured as one of the prominent agriculturists 
of the community and by his well directed 
labor gained the prosperity that he is now 
enjoying. 



SYLVESTER A. VAN CLEAVE. 

Sylvester A. Van Cleave, whose farm of 
ninety-seven acres is pleasantly situated on sec- 
tion 4, Adams township, was born in Webster 
county, Iowa, on the 29th of June, 1858. His 
parents are T. T. and Martha (Fisher) Van 
Cleave, who are mentioned elsewhere in this 
vdluiiie. He spent the first year of his life in 
thi' county of his nativity and then accom- 



644 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



panied his parents on their removal to Dallas 
county, where he has since lived. He is in- 
debted to the public-school system for the edu- 
cational privileges which he enjoyed and as 
the years have goue by he has made an excel- 
lent record in business circles as one whose in- 
■ dustry and diligence have constituted the basis 
of his success. 

Mr. Van Cleave has been married twice. 
In 1888 he was joined in wedlock to Miss 
•Elizabeth Hougham, who was born in this 
county in the year 1867. Her parents were 
Jacob and Elizabeth (Cully) Hougham, both 
of whom were natives of Indiana. They came 
to Dallas county at an early day and here 
reared their family of ten children. Both the 
father and mother are now deceased. Unto Mr. 
Van Cleave's first marriage was born one child, 
Donald H., who is still at home. Having lost 
his first wife, who died July 2, 1893, Mr. Van 
Cleave was again married in 1896, his second 
union being with Miss Margaret M. "Walker, 
who was born m Indiana in 1866. Her par- 
ents are R. S. and Mary (Cook) Walker, the 
former a native of Virginia and the latter of 
Indiana. In their family were two daughters : 
Clara A., the deceased wife of A. C. Van Cleave ; 
and Margaret M., the honored wife of our sub- 
ject. Mr. and Mrs. Walker came to Iowa in 
1867 and located in Dallas county, where the 
father purchased land. Mrs. Walker died 
shortly after they came to Dallas county. For 
many years he engaged in farming but is now 
living retired, he and his present wife occupy- 
ing a pleasant home in Adel. 

In his political views ]\Ir. Van Cleave is a 
democrat and keeps well informed on the ques- 
tions and issues of the day but has never been 
a politician in the sense of office-seeking. He 
and his wife attend and support the Presby- 
terian church at Adel, of which Mrs. Van 
Cleave is a member, and he is interested in 
every worthy movement for the vipbuilding and 
progress of the commiinity. His time and at- 
tention, however, are largely given to his farm- 
ing interests, comprising ninety-seven acres on 
section 4. Adams township. This property is 



well improved with modern equipments and 
accessories. There are good buildings and 
fences upon the place and the work of the farm 
is carried on along lines of progressive modern 
agriculture. Mr. Van Cleave has spent almost 
his entire life in this county, except three 
years' residence in Guthrie county, and his 
interest in its welfare and upbuilding is deep 
and sincere, as is manifest by his active co-op- 
eration in many movements for the public 
good. 



CLYDE R. LYON. 



Clyde R. Lyon has since 1905 been general 
superintendent and manager for the Perry 
Electric Light, Power & Heat Company, pre- 
vious to which time he had ser\'ed for four suc- 
cessive terms' as county auditor with a record 
for fidelity and capability that was unassailable. 
His life history began in Stark county, Il- 
linois, on the 19th of September, 1858, and 
he acquired his education in the public schools 
there, while spending his boyhood days in the 
home of his parents, Caleb M. S. and Eliza 
(Rhodes) Lyon, both of whom were natives 
of the state of New York. The father died 
January 20, 1892, at the age of eighty-two 
years, while his wife passed away December 17, 
1902. at the age of seventy-three years. They 
were married in Illinois, Mr. Lyon was a 
blacksmith by trade and in 1837 removed 
westward to the Mississippi valley, settling in 
Stark county, Illinois, where he followed farm- 
ing in connection with blacksmithing. He 
gave evidence of his worth and capability there 
and gained the recognition of his fellow towns- 
men in election to the office of treasurer of 
Stark county in 1864. He served in that ca- 
pacit}' for four years. He had become a pio- 
neer settler of his community and as the years 
passed by he was recognized as one of its lead- 
ing and influential citizens. As opportunity 
offered he invested in property and eventually 
became owner of considerable land. He be- 
longed to the Masonic fraternity and also to the 




C. R. LYON 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



64^ 



Congregational church of Toulon, which church 
was organized in the home of his father-in- 
law, Mr. Rhodes, and his wife, Mrs. Eliza Lyon, 
was the last living charter member of the 
church. Mr. Lyon gave his political allegiance 
to the whig party until its dissolution, when 
he joined the ranks of the new republican 
party, with which he affiliated until his death, 
which occurred in Toulon. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Lyon were born twelve children but only five 
are now living: Effie, Frank, Clyde R., Martin 
and Maud. 

In early life Clyde R. Lyon became familiar 
with the work of the farm and began farming 
on his own account in Dalla,s township in 1882. 
In November, 1896, he was elected county audi- 
tor and by re-election was continued in office 
for four terms or for eight consecutive years— 
an honor that has been conferred upon no 
other incumbent in that position. It stands as 
incontrovertible proof of his fidelity and trust- 
worthiness in office and of the capable manner 
in which he discharged his duties. In March, 
1905, he came to Perry and has made his home 
here since that time. He is general superin- 
tendent and manager of the Perry Electric 
Light, Power & Heat Company and as such is 
a valued resident of the town. 

On the 10th of September, 1884, Mr. Lyon 
was married to Miss Clara Grist, who was born 
in East Troy, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1864, a 
daughter of John and Sarah (Setzer) Grist. 
The father was born in County Kent, Eng- 
land, in 1828, and died March 9, 1877, at the 
age of forty-nine years. Mrs. Grist was born in 
AMlkesbarre, Peunsyh'ania, October 11, 1831, 
and died February 18, 1904. They were mar- 
ried in West Burlington, Pennsylvania, and 
unto them were born four children, of whom 
two survive: Thomas, who is conducting an 
electric light plant at Knox, Indiana; and Mrs. 
Lyon. The father was a merchant of Troy, 
Pennsylvania, for many years. He held mem- 
bership in the Episcopal church throughout 
liis entire life and in politics was a straight 
republican. 



The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lyon has been 
blessed with two children : Morton G., who is 
attending the Armour School of Technology in 
Chicago, pursuing a special course in electrical 
engineering; and Ruth R. Mr. Lyon belongs 
to the Masonic lodge at Adel and has attained 
high rank in Masonry, being a member of the 
consistory at Des Moines and also of Za-Ga-Zig 
I'emple of the Mystic Shrine in the capital 
city. He and his wife are members of Lady 
Washington chapter of the Order of the East- 
ern Star, and Mr. Lyon belongs to Adel lodge, 
K. P., to the Odd Fellows lodge at Adel and 
to Perry encampment. No. 115, I. 0. 0. F. In 
agricultural circles, in public life and in his 
present business connection Mr. Lyon has mani- 
fested sterling traits which have made him val- 
uable as a citizen and caused him to be classed 
with the representative residents of thLs part of 
Iowa. 



ALFRED N. LUDINGTON. 

Alfred N. Ludington, who since 1887 has 
lived retired in Adel, prior to which time he 
engaged actively in farming for a number of 
years, w'as born in Petersburg, Somerset county, 
Pennsj'lvania, July 16, 1836. His mother 
died when he was only four years of age, aft«r 
which he lived mth his uncle, Jacob Hoover, 
until the year 1844. He then accompanied his 
father on the removal to Fayette, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he worked in a tanyard until 
1846, thus beginning to earn his own living 
when a lad of but eight years. In 1846 the 
family took up their abode upon a farm, where 
Alfred N. Ludington remained until March, 
1852. when he accompanied the family to Dal- 
las county, Iowa. He continued at home until 
1857, when, having attained his majority, he 
start.ed out in life on his own account. During 
the summer he worked for Dr. Barick Mitchner 
and in the winter seasons attended school until 
1859. 

Attracted Ijv the gold excitement at Pike's 
Peak, he and thirteen companions, all from 



648 



FAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



this locality, foiuned a company to go to the 
gold diggings. They hired a man by the name 
of Eggleston to go with an ox team and haul 
their provisions. Mr. Ludington remained with 
the company until they were at a point twenty- 
five miles west of Omaha, Nebraska, which at 
that time was an Indian district. They felt 
that they were meeting the entire number of 
emigrants upon a return trip, so that the com- 
pany broke up and all returned with the ex- 
ception of Mr. Ludington. Not content to go 
back home without experiences in the gold fields 
of the west, he joined a company bound for 
Washington territory, making arrangements 
with one of the party to haul his provisions to 
Fort Walla Walla. While on the plains water 
was very scarce and at times hard to get. On 
one such occasion Mr. Ludington noticed a 
small bunch of willows and, thinking he would 
find water there, he started with his canteen 
for the clump of trees. He found no water but 
did find Indians on looking among the willows. 
He thought the red men wanted his scalp but 
what drew their attention was a good eight- 
inch heavy revolyer which he carried in his 
belt. To keep them from taking the revolver 
he made the Indians march in fi'ont of him 
until they reached the wagons, showing them 
by motions and signs what would happen to 
them if they refused, for the red men were 
armed only vnth bows and arrows. His next 
unusual adventure was with a bear in the Cas- 
cade mountains. Mr. Ludington and three 
other boys were out hunting when they dis- 
covered a grizzly about one hundred and fifty 
yards above them on a nearly perpendicular 
ledge of rock. They all considered themselves 
expert shots, but knowing something of the 
habits of the wounded grizzly they decided to 
be careful. All taking a favorable position, 
they fired at the same time and when the re- 
port of the guns was heard the grizzly came 
rolling and tumbling down the rocky side too 
fast to suit them, so they ran. When they had 
gone a mile or more they began thinking the 
matter over and concluded it would not do to. 
go to camp with that kind of a report, so they 



turned and cautiously picked their way back 
to the place where they had last seen their bear. 
There lay Bruin on the ledge of rocks with 
four bullet holes thi-ough his body. The bear 
proved to be a large one, weighing fourteen or 
fifteen hundred pounds. 

The party met with no further adventures 
except the loss of a number of their cattle by 
drinking alkali water. At length they reached 
Fort Hall, an old evacuated fort in Utah. By 
this time their ox teams had become so weak- 
ened that Mr. Ludington and three other 
young men were ijersuaded to start out on foot 
by an old Calif ornian who was with the crowd 
and had been across the plains before. He 
told them that by following the Snake river 
they would strike settlements in A\^ishington 
territory in five or six days and that they 
could get plenty of meat by hunting along the 
way. So they started with flour enough to last 
six or seven days but they saw no white people 
for five weeks. The flour lasted about ten days 
and the rest of the time they lived on meat 
without salt. They cut their meat in strips 
and dried it by the fire during the night. 
They made their camp always with the Indians 
so as to keep on good terms with them and 
were not molested by the savages, who, how- 
ever, would have stolen their guns and am- 
munition had they not prevented this by one 
of them always remaining on the watch. The 
first settlement they found was at Fort Walla 
Walla in Washington. The fort was occupied 
by troops and Mr. Ludington and his com- 
panions secured work at driving government 
teams. After remaining there for two weeks 
he received eighteen dollars in money, and with 
this he took a boat down the Columbia river 
to Portland, Oregon, where he arrived in Sep- 
tember, 1859. He remained in and about 
Portland until January, but as there was little 
work there and he got an opportunity to work 
his passage on a steamship bound for San 
Francisco he proceeded to the Golden Gate. 
After two or three days he got a chance to 
work his passage on a boat to Sacramento and 
thence made his way to Hangtown, now Marys- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



649 



ville, California, where he worked in the mines 
until March, 1860. 

Mr. Ludington then returned to San Fran- 
cisco and thence went twelve miles across the 
bay to Oakland, in which locality he got work 
on a farm at twenty-five dollars per month, 
remaining there until February, 1861. He 
then returned to San Francisco and took pas- 
sage on a steamship for New York, paying two 
hundred dollars for his ticket. The meals fur- 
nished were extremely poor but Mr. Ludington 
managed to get into the good graces of the stew- 
ard, who on the second day came on deck to 
grind his knives. Mr. Ludington offered to work 
the grindstone and while so doing got into con- 
versation with the steward. He told him that he 
would be glad to help at anything about the 
cooking that would give him better meals and 
when asked if he knew how to wash dishes 
said he had had some experience in that work. 
From that time on to Panama he had splendid 
fare and helped about the culinary department 
as opportunity offered, ^\'ith the other travel- 
ers he crossed the Panama by rail, a distance 
of sixty miles, to Acapulco in South America, 
where they boarded a steamer bound for New 
York city, arriving after a voyage of twenty- 
five days. 

Mr. Ludington remained in New York two 
days and then took the train to Iowa City, the 
terminus of the road, where he arrived with a 
capital of but a dollar and a half. He then 
started on foot for home, reaching his destina- 
tion three daj^s later with seventy-five cents in 
liLs jwcket, but vnth broad experiences and an 
intimate knowledge of the western mining 
country in its pioneer times. 

In April, 1861, M. Ludington rented land 
from Benjamin Green, which he farmed that 
summer, and on the 9th of August, 1862, he 
enlisted in Company C, Thirty-ninth Iowa In- 
fantry, after selling his crop to Mr. Green for 
five cents per bushel in the field. In Septem- 
ber, 1862, the company went from Adel to Des 
Moines and spent the time in camp and drill 
until alwut the 1st of November, the barracks 
and camp being about twenty rods east of the 



capitol building. Thence they were sent to 
Indianola, where they took the cars for Daven- 
port and camped and drilled there until about 
the 1st of December. The regiment was then 
put on boats and started south, landing at 
Columbus, Kentucky, about the 12th of Decem- 
ber. Two days later they were ordered to 
Corinth, Mississippi, but the rebels blocked their 
advance at Jackson, Tennessee. There they 
joined two Indiana regiments and a day or two 
later started out after the rebel cavalry com- 
manded by General Forest. After two or three 
days hard marching they overtook the enemy 
at a place called Parkers Crossroads. They ar- 
rived at Corinth about the 6th or 7th of 
.January, where they were quartered in large 
Sibley tents, having iron rods that passed up 
from the ground through the center of the tent 
and on which kettles could be hung in which 
they could do their cooking. The rebels hav- 
ing captured their provisions on taking the 
railroad, the supplies of the men became very 
scarce. At that time every colonel had a camp 
guard at his tent and Mr. Ludington was as- 
signed to duty there. He was particularly 
hungry one evening when he was summoned 
by the colonel's darky cook to eat supper with 
his commander. When he was relieved from 
guard duty he accepted the invitation and made 
a very hearty meal. As his eyes wandered 
around the tent he saw a quarter of a beef 
rolled up in a piece of canvass lying under the 
colonel's bunk. He says now that he feels that 
hi.> subsequent action displayed little gratitude 
for the meal he was then enjoying, but that 
night when he was off duty he waked two or 
three of his mess and set them to digging a 
hole right under the camp kettle that hung on 
a chain from the center of the tent. Mr. Lud- 
ington then went back to the colonel's head- 
quarters, cut a hole in his tent so he could reach 
vnider the bunk and thus obtained the beef. 
When he returned he found his messmates had 
fini.shed the hole and wrapping the beef in 
paper they lowered it into the hole, replaced 
the dirt upon it and covered it all over again 
wifli ashes so that there was no trace of what 



650 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DAL1.AS COUNTY. 



had been hidden there. Early the next morn- 
ing the colonel had a detail looking over the 
camp for his beef but did not find it. For 
fear of discovery Mr. Ludington and his mates 
had to use the beef at night. Such were some 
of the escapades in which the soldier.s indulged. 
They remained in camp at Corinth until 
about the middle of April, when they were 
ordered to Tuscumbia, Alabama. At Bear 
Creek, Alabama, quite a battle was fought, after 
which the}- proceeded to Tuscumbia, remaining 
there three or four days and then returning to 
Corinth, where they continued until the 1st of 
November, 1863. Thence they marched to Pu- 
laski, Tennessee, where they guarded the rail- 
road until the 1st of March and then continued 
on to Athens, Alabama. From that point they 
started with Sherman's march on the Atlanta 
campaign, stopping first on the battle-field of 
Chickamauga and proceeding two days later to 
Buzzards Roost, where occurred a very hotly 
contested engagement. The Union troops were 
victorious, however, and afterward proceeded to 
Snake Creek Gap, where another battle oc- 
curred; then on to Resaca and to Rome. 
Georgia, where they were in camp for two 
montlis. At that point Mr. Ludington had 
quite an adventure when out with a foraging 
squad about two miles from camp. He found 
a nice fat hog in a pen about five rods from a 
house situated in a garden. He knew that he 
could not capture the hog at that time, else 
the whole regiment would have an interest in 
the porker, but when evening came on he told 
eight or ten of the boys about his find and they 
started for the pen, agreeing with a picket to 
give him part of the meat if he would let them 
pass. The boys were all well mounted and 
everything proceeded nicely for some time but 
is was extremely dark and as j\Ir. Ludington 
was the only one who knew anything about the 
location of the pen it fell to his lot to go in 
and kill the pig. He had done some of that 
kind of work before and managed to reach the 
pen and stick his bayonet into the pig, killing 
him with a single stroke. The animal just 
gave one squeal but it was enough to bring 



twenty or thirty rebels to the scene. ^Ir. Lud- 
ington's companions had the start of him and, 
mounting their horses made their escape. Be- 
fore Mr. Luding-ton could leave the pen, how- 
ever, the enemy were around him in every 
direction. His only chance was to lie flat on 
his stomach in a cabbage patch. The rebels 
kept up the hunt for him for what seemed to 
him a very long time. At length they found 
his horse and again started on the search. 
They stepped over and around him in the 
garden but owing to the darkness of the nighc 
they at length gave up the search and he lost 
no time in getting out of the place. From 
Rome the regiment to which he belonged pro- 
ceeded to Altoona Pass, where they had a hard 
battle against overwhelming numbers, the regi- 
ment losing heavily in killed, wounded and 
prisoners. Later they proceeded with Shermaii 
on the march to the sea and on to "Washington, 
where with his comrades Mr. Ludington was 
honorably discharged June 5, 18'65. 

After returning from the war Mr. Ludington 
purchased forty acres of land in Colfax town- 
ship and later added a tract of eighty acres. 
He engaged in farming for more than twenty 
years thereafter but in 1887 retired to Adel, 
where he has since lived. A few years later 
he sold his farm in Colfax township and bought 
one hundred and sixtj- acres in Nebraska. In 
early manhood he married Sarepta Hooks, who 
was born in Ohio, Febiaiary 14, 1848. They 
became the parents of a daughter and son: 
Lottie, the wife of Charles Fike, who is living 
on a farm near Jamaica, Iowa; and John A., 
a merchant of Bermidji, Beltrami county. Min- 
nesota. 

Since 1866 Mr. Ludington has been a faith- 
ful and devoted member of the Methodist 
church. His political allegiance has been given 
to the republican partj' since its organization 
and for eighteen years he has been constable, 
while for three years he has been delinquent 
tax collector. He also sensed as deputy under 
Sheriff Payne and for two years was deputy 
sheriff under J. N. Hanes. He belongs to the 
Grand Army post and thu- maintain- iilea.'^ant 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Col 



relations with his old army comrades. His has 
been in many respects an interesting and un- 
usual history owing to his experiences in the 
far west and in the south during the Civil war. 
He relates many interesting tales of those daj's 
and also of pioneer life in Iowa. He has 
witnessed almost the entire growth and develop- 
ment of this county and is one of its honored 
pioneer settlers. 



HANFOKI) C. MODLIN. 

Hanford C. Modlin, who is engaged in the 
coal and lumber business in Perry, was born 
in Henry county, Lidiana, November 12, 186G. 
His parents were .Joseph and Lydia (Osborne) 
Modlin and the father was born in Henry 
county, Indiana, March 1, 1829, while the 
mother's birth occurred in Tennessee. In 1831 
they moved to Henry county, Indiana, and 
the father followed the occupation of farming 
in that state. He came to Iowa in 1870, set- 
tling first in Marshall county, where he worked 
at the cai-penter's trade which he had learned 
in eai'ly life. He was recognized as a valued 
factor in the comnumity and held a number of 
offices, including that of justice of the peace 
and constable. He became a member of the 
Odd Fellows society in Indiana and his life luis 
been in harmony with the principles and teach- 
ings of that order. His early political support 
was given to the whig party, and upon its dis- 
solution he joined the ranks of the new repub- 
lican party which he has since continued to 
support. He was of Quaker parentage. He 
now makes hLs home in Des Moines, at the age 
of seventy-eight years, and his record has been 
such as has made him a valued citizen and a 
man worthy of the respect of all with whom 
he has come in contact. His wife died at the 
age of forty-five years. They were the parents 
of five children, of whom four are yet living: 
Richard C, who married Eva L. Ingledue; 
Anna M., the wife of John M. Spear; Charles 
M., who married Belle Grider; and Han- 
ford C. 



In taking up the present history of Han- 
ford C. Modlin, we present to our readers the 
life record of one who is widely and favorably 
known in Perry. He was educated in the Mar- 
shall county schools, having been brought to 
this state by his parents when but four years of 
;:ge. When a young man of eighteen he went 
to work for the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
road Company at Arcadia, Iowa, in the capac- 
ity of telegraph operator. He was afterwards 
stationed at many places in the west and in 
Iowa, remaining with the company for six 
yeai*s, when he resigned and entered the serv- 
ice of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 
road at Manning, Iowa. He was again 
operator and later was made station agent for 
the company at Templeton, Iowa. Subsequently 
he went to Neola, where he continued for 
three years, when he came to Perry as station 
agent in which position he continued for seven 
years. He made a competent railroad official, 
owing to the courtesy extended to the patrons 
of the road and the faithfulness with which he 
discharged the duties devolving upon him. 

At length he resigned, turning his attention 
to the coal and lumber business in which he is 
now engaged. He has secured a liberal patron- 
age in this line and his annual sales now 
bring him a good financial return. 

Mr. Modlin was married September 25, 
3889, to Miss Gertrude Bell, who was born in 
Brownsville, Minnesota, November 14, 1870, 
a daughter of Henry and Asenath (Benton) 
Bell. Her father was born near Johnstown, 
Pennsylvania, in 1832, and the mother's birth 
occurred there in 1838. They were married 
in Davenport, Iowa, and are now residing in 
Norwich, Kingman county, Kansas. The 
father was captain of a boat on the Erie canal 
when only eighteen years of age, being the 
youngest captain ni the service. He came w&st 
through Chicago in 1854 and located first at 
Brownsville, Minnesota, becoming one of the 
pioneer grain merchants there. He shipped 
his grain to Prairie du Chien by boat and by 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. 
He was also agent for the Diamond Joe Steam- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



boat Company for years. Later he removed to 
Arcadia, CaiToll county, Iowa, and afterwards 
to Manning, and conducted the grain business 
at both places. In 1891 he removed to Nor- 
wich, Kingman county, Kansas, where he 
again engaged in the grain business. ' He has 
become an expert in the grading of grain and 
has done an excellent business as a grain 
merchant, his opinion being largely received 
as authority on such subjects. He was made 
a Mason in Brownsville, Minnesota, and in 
politics is a stanch republican. For many 
years he has been a member of the Presbyterian 
church in which he is now serving as a deacon. 
Unto him and his wife have been born nine 
children, eight daughters. and one son, of whom 
six are now living: Alice B., Effie, Gertrude, 
Sadie M., Maud and Grace. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Modlin has been 
blessed with four children but only two are 
living. Wade H. and Earl H. Leon H. died 
at eleven months old and one died in early in- 
fancy. Mr. Modlin is a member of Crystal 
lodge. No. 128, K. P., at Neola, Iowa. He 
also belongs to Perry lodge. No. 407, B. P. 0. 
E., and is secretary at the present time. He 
has also been its leading officer for two years 
and he was grand representative to the grand 
lodge at Salt Lake, Utah, and at Baltimore, 
Maryland. He was also elected to attend the 
grand lodge at Cincinnati but found it impos- 
sible to do so. He has been grand representa- 
tive in all for eight years and is one of the 
most prominent and valued membere of this 
organization. In politics Mr. Modlin is a very 
earnest and stanch republican, his opinion 
carrying weight to its local councils, and he 
has twice been a delegate to the republican 
state conventions. On the 1st of April, 1907, 
he was elected mayor of Perry which office he 
is now filling, for his party felt no hesitancy 
in endorsing him for the position of chief 
magistrate of the city. He had proven his 
worth in business life and had shown those 
sterling traits of character which go to make 
up honorable and progressive citizenship. 
AA^hatever success he has achieved is due en- 



tirely to liis own labors. He started out in 
life without financial aid or the assistance of 
influential friends and he is now one of the 
successful merchants of Perry and moreover 
is esteemed as a man of genuine personal 
worth, enjoying in a large measure the con- 
fidence and good-will of all who know him. 



S. S. DILENBECK. 



S. S. Dilenbeck, a well known banker and 
real-estate dealer of Perry, Iowa, was born in 
Jefferson county. New York, April 6, 1845 
He was a son of Abram and Barbara (Baum) 
Dilenbeck, both natives of New York. They 
passed away in Henry county, Illinois. While 
living in New York Abram Dilenbeck was en- 
gaged in the milling business. He removed 
to Henry county, Illinois, in 1854, when that 
country was very wild and the deer roamed in 
large herds over the prairies. The family were 
of limited means but by industry and thrift 
they were enabled to purchase one hundred and 
sixty acres of wild land, for which they paid 
eight dollars an acre. Mr. Dilenbeck was a 
supporter of the republican party and was 
known as a "black abolitionist." He and his 
family were devoted members of the Methodist 
church. In the family were five children, three 
of whom are now living : Myron, a resident of 
Henry county, Illinois, who enlisted in an Illi- 
nois volunteer regiment and in the second 
battle in which he participated became almost 
totally deaf, so that he was discharged because 
of this disability; Mrs. Charlotte Houghton, of 
Henry county, Illinois; and S. S., the subject 
of this review. 

S. S. Dilenbeck was educated in the common 
schools and at the high school in Geneseo, Illi- 
nois. Because of impaired eyesight he was 
obliged to give up his studies when only seven- 
teen and he began working on a farm for thir- 
teen dollars a month. Not satisfied with this, 
he sought for something that would put hira 
upon a more substantial basis and devised the 




Mil. AND .MR8. S. S. DILENBECK 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



f555 



I^lan of buying eighty acres of land from his 
father, on which he was to make payments as 
he was able. So successful was he in this ven- 
ture that it was not long until his farm was 
paid for and he was able to add eighty acres 
more to his original purchase. He brought his 
farm up-to-date in every particular, employing 
the most modern methods in his agricultural 
work. For fifteen years he continued and at 
the end of that time had a well stocked farm 
with fine buildings and was enjoying the re- 
turns of abundant crops. He was offered a 
price which well repaid him for the labor he 
had expended upon this piece of land and he 
accordingly sold his farm. He lived for some 
time in Geneseo and then removed to Ida 
Grove, Ida county, Iowa. He had made ex- 
tensive land purchases in Ida and in Sac 
counties and became identified with the real- 
estate interests of this section. Soon after his 
removal to Ida Grove he became associated with 
the banking interests, assisting in organizing 
the First National Bank of that place, of which 
he became assistant cashier and director. Later 
he and his associates added branches at Hol- 
stein. Battle Creek, Sioux City, Gushing, Cas- 
tana and Danbury, erecting new buildings for 
each one of the branches. When he had put 
these institutions on a sound paying basis he 
disposed of his holdings in them and organized 
a private bank at Arthur, Ida county, Iowa. 
In addition to his interests in the banks he 
had become the owner of six hundred and forty 
acres of land and after seven years at Arthur, 
Iowa, he sold out his banking interests and 
came to Perry, Iowa, where he continued his 
real-estate deals and where he has accumulated 
a fortune in this line of business. He has never 
entirely given up his banking business but 
bought a controlling interest in the Citizens 
State Bank of Perry and has been its efficient 
president ever since. His real-estate operations 
have put him in possession of eighteen hundred 
acres of land in Iowa. 

Mr. Dilenbeck was married, December 25, 
1868, to Geneva L. Seaton, the daughter of 
William and Malinda (Williams) Seaton, of 



Bureau county, Illinois. Mrs. Dilenbeck's 
grandparents were pioneers in the days when 
the Indians were numerous and demanded 
their share of the pioneers' provisions. This 
made their journey of eighty miles, which they 
were obliged to make in order to reach the 
mill, one that was fraught with danger on every 
hand. We talk about the simple life today 
but these good people out of necessity led a life 
of simplicity of which we have scarcely 
dreamed. They ate out of wooden dishes and 
the grandmother baked her bread in the fire- 
place on old hoes and shovels, which she 
scoured for that purpose. They kept a half- 
way house between Princeton and Seatonville 
and in that way were widely known. William 
Seaton, the father of Mrs. Dilenbeck, was born 
in Indiana, while his wife was a native of Put- 
nam county, Illinois. He came to Illinois with 
his parents, who were Kentuckians, when he 
was a mere boy, and passed ay^ay in 1853. His 
widow later married Joseph A. Pinnell but she 
passed away while on a visit to Rhode Island, 
on April 8, 1891. To Mr. and Mrs. S. S. 
Dilenbeck have been born three children: Wil- 
liam Otis, who died at the age of four years; 
Arthur A., who passed away at the age of two; 
and B. C, who was born at Edford, Illinois, is 
now cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Perry 
and whose sketch appears on another page of 
this volume. 

Jlr. Dilenbeck is a stanch republican but 
has never cared to hold any office, preferring 
to devote his time to his business interests. He 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
church, which Mr. Dilenbeck joined at the 
age of thirteen. He has always led the life of 
a sincere, Christian man and though he has 
amassed a fortune he is modest and unassum- 
ing but very pleasing in manner. From a boy 
ho has been quick to see the future value of 
property and has been patient in holding his 
land until an advantageous price could be se- 
cured. The property in his hands has always 
been of benefit to the county or city in which 
it was located, for he improves every piece of 
land he buys and is eager to assist in all that 



656 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



advances the growth, of the city. Though this 
has added to the value of his holdings, that has 
not been his primary aim, for he is public- 
spirited to an unlimited degree. He is much 
admired by a wide circle of friends, who real- 
ize that he has earned his way to his present 
position by his own unaided efforts. 



NICHOLAS H. GILL. 

Nicholas H. Gill, who opci'ates a farm on sec- 
tion 17, Des Moine.s township, where he i.s en- 
gaged in general farming and stock-raising, 
owning three hundred and forty acres of well 
improved ground, has been a resident of this 
countj'^ since he was one year old. He was 
born in Coles county, Illinois, June 6, 1884, 
and was a son of Sylvanus Gill, a native of 
Ohio, where he was an influential farmer. He 
came to Illinois when a verj^ yonng man and 
there married Aseneth Bush. Shortly after 
their marriage they removed to Iowa, settling 
in Des Moines township, where they bought 
eighty acres of land. Later they added one 
hundred and sixty acres to their original pur- 
chase, living for a time in Des Moines township 
and afterward building their home on their 
farm in Beaver township. It was here that Syl- 
vanus Gill passed away in 1905, at the age of 
seventy-one, while his wife had died in 1884, 
at the age of forty-three. 

Nicholas H. GUI was the second in a fam- 
ily of seven children and received his early 
education in the common schools, remaining 
at home to assist his father upon his farm until 
he had attained his manhood. He then rented 
ground for a year or two and farmed with 
marked success, for he had been well trained 
in agricultural pursuits. With the capital 
which he had saved he purchased two hundred 
acres of section 31, Des Moines township, where 
he built himself a good home, erected a bam, 
several outbuildings, fenced and tiled the en- 
fire place and brought the farm to a condition 
where it yielded him abundant crops. For 



five years he made this his liome and then he 
purchased the eighty acres where he now re- 
sides. He ha.s lately been engaged in tiling 
this land, improving the buildings and adding 
in every way to the value of the place. In 
addition to his general farming he is engaged 
in raising and feeding stock. As a matter of 
sentiment he bought the old home farm of 
sixty acres, which he now uses as hay ground. 

On Februai-y 22, 1888, Mr. Gill was united 
in marriage to Clara Heffelfinger, a native of 
Illinois and a daughter of Martin Heffelfinger, 
who pa.ssed away in Illinois. Mrs. Gill came 
to this county with her mother, and by her 
marriage has one .child, Susie, who is a grad- 
uate of the Woodward high school. 

Mr. Gill has always given his support to the 
men and measures of the republican party. 
The cause of education has ever found in him 
a warm friend and he has for some years been 
director and secretary of the board of educa- 
tion, in which he has done effective work. He 
is also a stockholder and director in the Wood- 
ward Telephone Company. Fraternally he is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows of Woodward and in his religious 
opinions is of the faith of the Christian church, 
but formerly was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. He is still a young man 
but he has attained more than the average man 
of his age. A good farmer today implies more 
than it did a few years ago and means a care- 
ful study of conditions and of soil to insure 
a successful crop. Mr. Gill has never been 
sparing of his efforts in this direction and has 
won his way to succe.ss by his industry, thrift 
and enterprise. 



MRS. SARAH MERCER. 

Mrs. Sarah Mercer, living in Adel, Iowa, is 
the owner of an excellent farm of two hun- 
dred acres on section 2, Adams township. She 
was bom in Indiana, on the 6th of September, 
1830, and is a daughter of Elisha and Eliza- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



657 



beth (Palmer) Mercer. The father was a na- 
tive of JIaryland, while the mother's birth 
occurred in South Cai'olina. At an early day 
they removed to Indiana, making the jour- 
ney across the country with teams and both 
died in that state. Their daughter Sarah was 
reared on the old home farm in Indiana and 
was trained to the duties of the household, so 
that she was well qualified to take charge of a 
home of her own at the time of her marriage, 
which was celebrated in 1847. In that year 
she became the wife of Valentine Mercer, who 
was born in Ohio, July 22, 1822. He acquired 
his education in the cominon schools and in 
early manhood engaged in teaching for 
.-several years. After their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Mercer continued to reside in Indiana for 
eight years, or until 1855, when they disposed 
of their business interests in that state, bade 
adieu to their friends and journeyed westward 
to Iowa, their destination being Dallas county. 
Here l\Ir. Mercer purchased a farm and with 
characteristic energy began its development and 
improvement. As the years went by he brought 
his fields under a state of rich fertility and an- 
nually gathered good crops. He also placed 
substantial buildings upon his farm and be- 
came recognized as one of the leading and 
prominent agriculturists of the community. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mercer were born ten 
children : Henry, a resident of Arkansas ; Nancy 
Jane, the wife of Darius Francis, who is liv- 
ing in Adel, Iowa; Eliza, the wife of J. P. 
College, whose home is in Adel township ; Rob- 
ert, deceased; AVilliam, who is now living in 
MadL'<on county, Iowa; Sarah, the wife of J. 
H. Alexander, a farmer of Adams township; 
Mary, the wife of Julian Overton, who is now 
living in North Dakota ; Valentine, who makes 
his home in this state; Emma, the widow of 
T. R. Davis, and a resident of Adel; and Clin- 
ton, who is living in California. The death of 
the husband and father occurred on the 28th 
of December, 1883, and his loss was greatly 
regretted by many friends as well as by his 
immediate family. He was a democrat in 
politics and a citizen of progressive spirit who 



was much interested in all that pertains to the 
public welfare. His business insight, energy and 
perseverance brought to him a goodly measure 
of success and Mrs. Mercer is now the owner of 
an excellent farm property of two hundred 
acres on section 2, Adams township, from 
which she derives a good income. She also 
has a fine residence in Adel, where she is now 
living and thus is comfortably situated in life. 
She belongs to the Uiiited Brethren church and 
is a lady of many good traits of heai-t and 
mind, her life being in harmony with her 
Christian professions. She has lived in the 
county for more than a half century and has 
a wide acquaintance among the older settlers 
as well as among those who have arrived at a 
later day. She has so long witnessed the 
growth and development of this part of the 
state that she has intimate knowledge of the 
history of Dallas county and relates many in- 
teresting instances of pioneer times. 



GEORGE E. STAKER. 

George E. Staker, who is engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising on section 8, Des 
Moines township, owns two hundred and forty 
acres of land, of which eighty acres is in his 
home place. He has resided in this county 
since the fall of 1867, or for a period of forty 
years. He was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, 
in 1860, and is a son of Peter Staker, a native 
of Pennsylvania, who removed to New York 
and subsequently to Ohio. He was a farrher 
by occupation and thus provided for the sup- 
port of his family. In Ohio he was married 
to Miss Susan Yercley, a native of Ashland 
county, Ohio, where they resided for several 
years after their marriage. At a later date they 
came to Iowa, settling in Jasper- county, where 
Mr. Staker bought land, making his home 
there for two and a half years. On the expira- 
tion of that period he came to Dallas county 
and in 1867 took up his abode in Des Moines 
township, where he purchased forty acres of 



658 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



land aud made a home. As his financial re- 
sources increased and opportunity offered he 
extended the boundarj' of his place by addi- 
tional purchases until he became the owner of 
three hundred acres, and this constituted the 
excellent farm upon which he made many im- 
provements while the fields were brought under 
a high state of cultivation. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Staker have been born 
nine children, seven of whom reached mature 
years, while four are now living. George, the 
youngest, was reared upon the home farm and 
acquired a common-school education. He re- 
mained at home with his parents until they 
were called to their final rest, the death of the 
father occuning October 5, 1896, when he was 
seventy-six years of age, while the molher died 
in 1892, at the age of sixty-eight. They were 
worthy people and left behind them miuay 
warm friends. 

As stated, George E. Staker was reared under 
the parental roof and afterward cared for his 
parents in their later day.s. He was married 
on the 1st of September, 1895, to Miss Minnie 
Snyder, a native of Polk county, Iowa, and a 
daughter of Christian Snyder who resided near 
Polk City. George Staker remained at home 
but spent one and a half years in the northern 
part of the state and returned to the farm. He 
built a house, two barns and other outbuildings, 
did much fencing and ha? laid many rods of 
tile, having now about thirteen hundred rods 
on his place. He is one of the energetic and 
suoce.ssful agriculturists of the community and 
in addition to tilling the soil he is successfully 
engaged in raising short horn cattle, draft 
horses and Poland China and Duroc hogs, fat- 
tening about three carloads of hogs each year. 
He operates and manages his own farm of two 
hundred and forty acres, which is a valuable 
property and gives evidence of his careful super- 
vision in its fine fields and well kept appear- 
ance. 

Mr. Staker has served as director of schools 
and is president of the school board and has 
always given his support to the cause of educa- 
tion. He is connected with the Knights and 



Ladies of Security of Woodward but his time 
and energj' are mostly given to his business in- 
terests. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Staker have been 
born two children : Bertha and Lorna. The 
parents are highly esteemed in the community 
where they have long lived and their many good 
qualities of heart and mind have won for them 
a large number of friends. Mr. Staker's busi- 
ness operations have gained for him success, for 
although he started out in life empty-handed 
he is now numbered among the progressive and 
leading farmers of Des Moines township. 



THOMAS M. EEDFIELD. 

Thomas M. Redfield, one of the extensive 
and mdely known agriculturists of Dallas 
county, was born in Redfield, March 28, 1857, 
a son of Colonel James and Achsah (Moore) 
Redfield. James Redfield was the twelfth child 
and the youngest son of Luther and Mary 
(Dryer) Redfield, and was born in Clyde, 
AVayne county, New York, March 27, 1824. 
His ancestors were among the earliest settlers 
of New England and were noted for theii- 
sturdy characters and unremitting zeal. The 
great-grandfather of James Redfield was Cap- 
tain Peleg Redfield, who fought in the French 
and Indian war under General Wolfe and par- 
ticipated in the battle of Quebec, while four of 
his grand uncles were in the Revolutionary war, 
holding commissions under Washington, and 
two of them were killed in battle. Mr. and Mrs. 
Luther Redfield were both natives of Richmond, 
Berkshire county, Massachusetts. They were 
married on May 19, 1803, and two years later 
Luther Redfield started with his family for the 
"far west," which at that time was western New 
York. After a long journey he reached Junius, 
Seneca county. New York, where he purchased 
and cleared a large farm. In 1822 he removed 
to the town of Galen (now Clyde) in Wayne 
county, adjoining Seneca county, New York. 
During the war of 1812 he was captain of the 
militia of the town of Junius and at the time 





MRS. ACIISAll M. HKDFIKLI) COL. JA.MKS KKDFIELD 




TIIO.MAS M. KKDFIELD 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



061 



of the landing of the British at Sodus, on Lake 
Ontario, in June, 1813, he and his company 
which was attached to Colonel Swift's regiment, 
were summoned to that place. They started 
at once, marching all Sunday afternoon and 
night and reaching Sodus at sunrise, just in 
time to see the burning village and the retreat- 
ing vessels of the enemy. Mrs. L\ither Redfield 
passed away at Clyde, May 7, 1853* while her 
husband's death occurred in 1868. 

James Redfield, who was born March 27, 
1824, and was killed at AUatoona Pass, Geor- 
gia, October 5, 1864, supplemented his early 
education by a course in the high school of 
Clyde and in 1841, at the age of seventeen, 
entered Yale College as a freshman. While in 
college there was perhaps no member of his 
class more generally respected, his exceedingly 
genial manners and known integrity securing 
for him the esteem of the pupils with whom 
he came in contact. In scholarship he ranked 
above the average, but academic honors were 
less to him than the benefits of a thorough 
preparation in his college course for his future 
life work. His mind was well balanced. If 
not of the largest mental calibre, his great en- 
ergy and indomitable perseverance, with a 
large share of self-reliance, compensated for 
any lack there may have been in other re- 
spects. His geniality and gentlemanly deport- 
ment, as well as his generous nature, made him 
popular among his cla.ssmates, he being always 
ready to do his full share in any class benefit 
or movement of a like character common to the 
interests of college students. He was in the 
main judicious, somewhat positive in express- 
ing his opinions, quick and impulsive but noble 
of spirit and brave even to a fault, for he 
seemed almost morbidly sensitive on the subject 
of personal bravery. If occasion or duty seemed 
to him to deem it necessary, he was utterly 
oblivious to danger or fear — a trait which dom- 
inated his actions throughout his entire life. 
In 1848 he became a resident of Albany, New 
York, where he acquired a reputation for utter 
fearlessness in the discharge of whatever duty 
was entrusted to him. As his subsequent mili- 



tary career fully proved, he was born to be a 
soldier, and, with his dauntless courage and 
bravery, his death at his post of duty in the 
midst of fearful conflict seemed almost inevit- 
able. Upon graduating from Yale, James 
Redfield returned to his home in Clyde, where 
he began the study of law with Hon. Coles 
Bashford, Avho was afterward governor of Wis- 
consin and subsequently attorney general and 
congressional delegate of Arizona. The follow- 
ing year Mr. Redfield was elected county super- 
intendent of common schools of Wayne county, 
New York, taking the oath of oflSce on Decem- 
ber 3, 1846. He acted in this capacity for two 
years and in 1848, at the invitation of Hon. 
Christopher Morgan, secretary of the state of 
New York, he went to Albany. Abandoning 
the law, Mr. Redfield accepted a position in 
the office of Hon. Morgan which virtually made 
him supervisor of common schools of the state. 
While at Albanj^ he became exceedingly popu- 
lar among all classes of people, perhaps no 
young man being better known or more highly 
esteemed throughout the entire city. He is 
not known to have had an enemy there, for he 
ever manifested the same geniality of manners 
which had made him so popular and well liked 
at college. After retiring from the office of the 
secretary of state he engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits in Albany, but in May, 1855, came to 
Davenport, Iowa, where he made the acquaint- 
ance of Thomas Moore, his subsequent father- 
in-law, and in company with him spent some 
time prospecting for a location. Mr. Redfield 
and Mr. Moore, in connection with a Mr. 
Stevens, at length purchased a large tract of 
land in the beautiful valley of the middle 
branch of the Raccoon river in Dallas county, 
Iowa, near the original Dodge sui-vey for the line 
of the Chicago," Rock Island & Pacific Railway, 
where they founded a village which they called 
AViscotta. This .siirvey was afterward abandoned 
and a narrow gauge road was built from Wau- 
kce to Herndon in 1879. The town of New 
Ireland had been established at an early date 
but aV)nut 1882 the name was changed to Red- 
field in honor of Senator Redfield. 



66'J 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



On May 7, 1856, Jaine; Redfield wao united 
in marriage at Redfield, Iowa, to Miss Achisah 
Moore, a daughter of Thomas and Achsah 
(Haney) Moore, both of Beaver, Pennsyl- 
vania. Thi-ee children were born to this union : 
Thomas, of this review ; Martha H. ; and Mary 
L. The first born at Redfield and the two lat- 
ter at Wiscotta. The mother, born June 31, 
1837, pa.ssed away June 5, 1907. 

In October, 1861, after a very heated can- 
vass, James Redfield was elected to the state 
senate of Iowa on the republican ticket. That 
legislature, of which Senator Redfield was a 
member, was a notable body in the history of 
Iowa, furnishing a member of a president's 
cabinet, two members of congress, two lieu- 
tenant governors, two supreme and several 
district judges, two United States district at- 
torneys, one state treasurer and other promi- 
nent oflrtcials. In this distinguished body Sena- 
tor Redfield at once took high rank and ac- 
quired great influence, being placed on the 
committee of ways and means, schools and pub- 
lic lands. This was the legislature that made 
provisions for organizing Iowa's quota of the 
grand Union army and hLstory has long since 
recorded how wisely and well that work was 
done. Senator Redfield had so distinguished 
himself by sound judgment and marked abil- 
ity as a member of the senate in this most im- 
portant session that he was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Kirkwood as lieutenant colonel of the 
Thirty-ninth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, 
having previously, with characteristic prompt- 
itude and energj', organized a company of vol- 
unteers which, on his appointment, became in- 
corjjorated in the regiment of which he was 
made lieutenant colonel. However, a.s the 
colonel, Henry J. B. Cummings (afterward 
member of congress), was almost immediately 
detailed to court-martial duty. Lieutenant Col- 
onel Redfield w-as in command of the regi- 
ment until his death. This regiment was at 
once ordered to the front. Their first encounter 
with the enemy was with the Confederate Gen- 
eral Forrest's brigade at Parkers Crossroads, 
near Lexington, Tennessee, on December 30, 



1862. Lieutenant Colonel Redfield was espec- 
ially conspicuous for coolness and courage in 
this engagement and though severely wounded 
he seemed wholly oblivious to his own sufiFer- 
ings in his effort to rally his men, and con- 
tributed not a little toward the victory which 
followed. As soon as he had recovered from 
his wounds he hastened to rejoin his regiment 
and was soon again in active service in the 
division commanded by General Dodge, see- 
ing much hard marching and frequent en- 
counters with the enemy up to October, 1864, 
when his command was attached to the brigade 
of General J. M. Corse and followed General 
Sherman to Atlanta, Georgia. On October 5, 
1864, General Corse was stationed at Allatoona 
Pass with orders to hold the same, as it was 
essential to the safety of General Sherman's 
army, which was then beginning its march to 
the sea. An overwhelming force of the enemy 
encircled Allatoona, and the story of General 
Sherman's signaling General Corse from the 
top of Kenesaw Mountain the laconic "Hold 
the fort for I am coming" is familiar, while 
the heroic and successful defense of the pass 
is historic. Colonel Redfield received orders 
to hold the pass at all hazards and with the 
fealty of the truest soldier determined to hold 
it or die. \Ye quote IngersoU's graphic de- 
scription of this desperate struggle : "The bat- 
tle increased in fury. The enemy, failing to 
break our lines after repeated charges, at 
length moved in mass against them. Then 
ensued the most terrible combat in which 
American troops ever took part and well-nigh 
as terrible as any of which history speaks. Men 
bayoneted one another over the works, officers 
thrust their swords through the bodies of hos- 
tile officers. Corse and his little band fought 
against fearful odds many long hours, many 
brave officers and men were already dead or 
wounded and the fate of the battle was tremb- 
ling in the balance. The rebels again charged 
in compact masses on the works. Our gunners 
double-shotted their pieces and, waiting until 
they could almost shake hands with the en- 
emy, poured into their faces such a terrific 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



663 



dischcOi'ge of grape and canister that they stag- 
gered under it. Volley after volley followed 
in such rapid succession that human courage 
could not endure it longer, the column was 
thrown into confusion, fell back and finally 
fled in disorder, and the desperate battle was 
won. Allatoona was called the Thermopylfe 
of the war. Colonel Redfield commanded his 
regiment in this bloody battle and no regiment 
at Allatoona Pass fought more gallantly than 
his, none suffered so heavily. The regiment 
was posted three hundred yards in advance of 
the fort to check the rebel advance. After it 
had repulsed several charges of the rebel army 
it slowly retired to the cover of the fort. It 
fought with a courage and obstinacy never 
surpassed by any troops on any battlefield. 
The heroic colonel was first wounded in the 
foot but he stood at his post, dragging him- 
self along the line where duty called him. A 
second shot shattered his leg but he still re- 
fused (though entreated) to leave his post of 
danger and, seated on the ground, he con- 
tinued to direct the fight; but soon a third ball 
pierced his heart and the soul of as brave and 
generous a man as ever lived passed into the 
undiscovered coi;ntry." Colonel Redfield's re- 
mains were removed from Centerville and 
brought by his nephew, Ward Redfield, in the 
spring of 1S65, and interred in the cemetery 
in the village which bears his name. In 1868 
a fine marble monument w-as erected over his 
grave by his widow. It is twelve feet from 
the base to the summit and the name is set 
oufin large letters above the inscription. Above 
is a pillar four feet long draped with the Ameri- 
can flag with two swords crossed in front, be- 
low these is the square and compass and sur- 
mounting the pillar stands an eagle of life 
size with wings spread as if to soar — fitting 
emblems all, of the brave man who sleeps be- 
neath. 

Thomas Redfield was the first white child 
born in Union town.ship, Dallas county, and 
his parents were the first white couple mar- 
ried in Union township. The family have 
been connected with nianv "first things:" the 



first work harness in Dallas county was made 
by C. B. Lamb for James Redfield ; the first 
reaper brought into the county was purchased 
by James Redfield; the first sewing machine 
and first kerosene lamp brought into the county 
and the first piano brought to Union township 
were purchased by Mrs. Redfield, while T. M. 
Redfield — in 1871 — brought the first pair of 
club skates into Iowa. He attended the com- 
mon schools at Redfield and the Tarrytown 
jMilitary Institute at Tarrytown, New York, 
for two years, after which he spent two years 
in the high school at Des Moines, Iowa, from 
which he was graduated. He finished his edu- 
cation at Woodland College at Independence, 
Missouri. He has always followed agricultural 
I^ursuits as his life work and is now the owner 
of three hundred and twenty acres of land in 
Union township, known as the Colonel Redfield 
Farm — one of the best farms in the county. 
He has followed modern methods in the cul- 
tivation of his land and the present splendid 
improvements and equipments which are found 
upon the place are largely the result of his 
untiring industry and sound business judg- 
ment. He has made a specialty of the raising 
and feeding of stock and also finds this a 
profitable undertaking. 

Thomas Redfield ha.s two sisters: Martha, 
the wife of Judge Wolf, a resident of Tipton, 
Iowa; and INIary, who makes her home with our 
subject. Mr. Redfield also has one son, James 
B. In his political views he is a republican 
and has held several township offices, while 
fraternally he is connected with Wiscotta lodge, 
A. F. & -V. M., at Redfield, which was organ- 
ized in the house of his father, Colonel Red- 
field, who was a charter member thereof and 
in whose home meetings were held through- 
out one winter licfore the war. Thomas Red- 
field is also a member of Redfield lodge. No. 
34(3, K. P., his sterling traits of character win- 
ning him the warm regard and esteem of the 
brethren of the fraternities with wliicli he is 
connected, as well as the admiration and re- 
spect of those with whom he has come in con- 
tact in other ways. He has prospered from 



664 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



year to year and has conducted all business 
matters carefully and successfully, and in all 
his acts displays an aptitude for successful 
management. 



CHARLES E. COOK. 



Charles E. Cook, a genial, social and hospi- 
table gentleman, who is familiarly called 
Charley by his numerous friends, is the owner 
of the Maple Grove Farm, which is situated 
on section 10, Boone township. Here he owns 
one hundred and twenty acres of rich and 
productive land, while he controls and operates 
two hundred and forty acres in all. His birth 
occun-ed in Boone town.ship, August 26, 1876, 
his father being William Cook, of whom men- 
tion is made on another page of this volume. 
He was reared to manhood in the usual man- 
ner of farm lads of the period and in the com- 
mon schools of the county acquired his 
education. Through his boyhood and youth 
he remained with hi.s father on the fai'm and 
assisted in the work of the fields from the time 
of early spring planting until crops were 
har\-ested in the late autumn. 

Having attained his majority Mr. Cook was 
married, in Walnut township, on the 21st of 
Febmary, 1900, to Miss Hattie Smith, a daugh- 
ter of Clark Smith, now a resident of Waukee. 
Mrs. Cook is a native of the county, where her 
entire life has been passed, and like her hus- 
band she has a wide acquaintance here. 

After his marriage INIr. Cook operated rented 
land for three years and then took charge of 
the home place, comprising two hundred acres, 
of which he now owns one-lialf, including the 
old home and the improvements surrounding 
it. He has remodeled and repaired the dwell- 
ing, ha- built a front porch and has made it 
a very comfortable and attractive residence. 
It is tastefully furnished and is well finished 
throughout, having floors of quarter-sawed 
oak and many of the modern equipments. 
Not far awav is a good barn and sheds furnish 



shelter for farm implements and stock. There 
is a large orchard on the place with a fine 
variety of fruit, furnishing many a palatable 
meal for the table. The fields l)ring forth 
good crops of corn, wheat and other grains, and 
in addition to their cultivation Mr. Cook raises, 
feeds and fattens stock, making a specialty of 
Duroc Jersey hogs, annually shipping about 
two or three carloads. He also ships about the 
same number of cars of fat cattle each year. 
He is one of the active, progressive and suc- 
cessful farmers of Boone towoiship. 

Since age conferred upon him the right of 
franchise ilr. Cook has given his allegiance to 
the reiniblican party, but has never sought or 
desired office, preferring to give his undivided 
time and attention to his business interests. 
He and his wife are members of the Maple 
Grove Methodist Episcopal church, which is 
located on their farm, and of which Mr. Cook 
is a trustee and the secretary. He also belongs 
to the Masonic fraternity, his membership be- 
ing in ^^an Meter lodge. His life exemplifies 
its principles, for in all relations he is actuated 
by a sense of justice, of right and of considera- 
tion for others. Mr and ilrs. Cook have an 
interesting little daughter, Ethel Lucile. 
Their home is a hospitable one and their 
friends are manv. 



J. P. COLLEGE. 



.J. P. College, whose well improved farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres on section 1, 
Adams township, gives evidence of the life of 
industry and enterprise led by the owner, has 
for several years been closely identified with 
the agricultural interests of Dallas county. 
He is one of the worthy citizens that West Vir- 
ginia furnished to Iowa, his birth having oc- 
curred in the former state in 1855. His par- 
ents were James and Ruth (Cedar) College, 
natives of Virginia, who at an early day re- 
moved to Illinois where they lived for a num- 
ber of years. In 1875 they became residents 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



(5(')5 



of Dallas county, Iowa, but both are now de- 
ceased. The menibers of their family were: 
Edward, who is now living in South Dakota; 
John, who resides in Van Meter township; 
Dallas county; Sarah, the widow of George 
Hinzie, a resident of Nebraska; Lena, the wife 
of Marion Roberts, also living in Nebraska. 

J. P. College, whose name introduces this 
record, ha^ always been a hard worker and as 
a result of his industry he is now the owner 
of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, 
well improved, on section 1, Adams township. 
Throughout his entire life he has carried on 
the woi'k of the fields, raising corn, wheat and 
other crops best adapted to the soil. He has 
also raised and fattened hogs and has found 
this a profitable business. 

In 1879 Mr. College was married to Miss 
Louisa Mercer, who was born in Dallas county 
and is a daughter of Valentine and Sarah 
(Freels) Mercer, both of whom are natives of 
Indiana. The father is now deceased but the 
mother is still living and makes her home in 
Adel. In their family were nine children. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. College five children have 
been born: Ellen, Carrie, Delia, Jessie and 
James. The second daughter is the wife of 
William College and now lives in Adams town- 
ship. The family are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and Mr. College gives 
his political support to the democracy. He 
was a young man of about twenty years when 
the family came to Iowa and he has been an 
energetic farmer, working earnestly for the suc- 
cess that he has acquired. 



GEORGE W. McKEAN. 

George W. McKean is one of the honored 
pioneer settlers of Dallas county, having re- 
sided within its borders since 1848. He is now 
a retired farmer, having in previous years been 
closely associated with agricultural interests. 
Mr. McKean was born in Cole county, Mis- 
souri, October 24, 1843, and is a son of Nath- 



aniel J. and Mary M. McKean. He was only 
five years of age when brought by his parents 
to Dalla.s county in 1848 and here he was 
reared to farm life, early becoming familiar 
with the duties and labors that fall to the lot 
of the agriculturists. In the winter seasons 
he attended school and at the age of twenty 
years he started out in life on his own account 
as a fanner. On the 23d of May, 1864, several 
months before he attained his majority, he of- 
fered his services to the government, enlisting 
as a member of Company C, Forty-sixth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, in defense of the Union 
cau.se. He was enrolled at Adel and mustered 
in at Davenport, whence he went to INIemphis, 
Tennessee. He was engaged in guarding rail- 
road most of the time and was honorably dis- 
charged on the 24th of October, 1864, upon 
the expiration of his term of enlistment. He 
is now a member of Redfield post. No. 26, G. 
A. R., and thus maintains pleasant relations 
with his old army comrades. 

For a year after his return from the war 
Mr. McKean was ill and then gave his atten- 
tion to the stock business, which he followed 
for two years or more. He next engaged in 
farming upon eighty acres of land, to which 
he added until he and hi.s wife owned two hun- 
dred and fifty acres in Boone and Dallas covm- 
ties. ' Farming was hLs real life work and he 
continued actively in that pursuit until 1887, 
when he removed to Perry, where he has since 
lived retired. 

On the 4th of April, 1875, Mr. McKean 
was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Howard, 
who was born in Yorkshire, England, at Hali- 
fax, January 18, 1838, a daughter of Charles 
and ]\Iarie (Harnaise) Howard. The father 
was also a native of H;ilifax, born Febiniary 
9, 1809, and died at the age of seventy-six 
years. The mother, who was born in Bur- 
lington, Yorkshire, England, died at the age 
of thirty-six yeai's. They were married March 
13, 1830, and in their family were five chil- 
dren, of whom three sui^vive: Emily, the widow 
of George Reeves and a resident of St. Law- 
rence. South Dakota : Sarah, now Mrs. 



fUifi 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



McKcaii ; and Ida, who i.-^ living in Perry. Mr. 
Howard was an auctioneer in early life and 
later i'ollowed fai-ming. He came to this coun- 
try by sailing ship in 1844, being six weeks 
upon the water, after which he landed at 
Statcn Island in Now York harlior. He made 
his way to Butl'alo by canal and by the lakes 
to Chicago, where he secui'ed lodging in a log 
hotel. There he hired a team to take him and 
his family to St. Charles, Illinois, about thirty- 
five miles west of Chicago. He remained at St. 
Charles for about a month, after which he pur- 
chased a farm fourteen miles from tliat place. 
Ho paid one hundred dollar.* for a tract of 
eighty acres ii]>on wliicli two log houses had 
been built. He received his patent from the 
United States government «igned by President 
Polk. Later he added forty acres to that tract. 
He was one of the pioncei-s of the locality and 
in early days co-operated in many movements 
which led to general progre.s.s and improve- 
nioiit. His wife was a member of the Baptist 
church and he contributed to its support. 
While in England he was a supporter of the 
liberal party and after coming to the United 
States he voted with the republican party. 

Mr. McKean has never cared for public of- 
fice, but exercises his right of franchise in sup- 
port of the men and measures of the republi- 
can party. He belongs to the Baptist church 
and is one of the esteemed and worthy citi- 
zens of this section of Iowa. Few have longer 
resided in Dallas county than has Mr. Mc- 
Kean, who has lived here for almost six dec- 
ades. There were y;-! many evidences of In- 
dian occupancy at the time of the arrival of 
the family. Wild game of all kinds was 
plentiful and the prairie was largely covered 
with its native grasses and wild flowers. The 
timber, too, was uncut and there was little to 
show that the seeds of civilization had been 
planted, but other settlers soon came and, like 
the McKean family, bore their part in the work 
of general improvement. George W. McKean 
can relate many interesting incidents of the 
early days and the modes of life which were 
then pursued and which are in startling con- 



trast to the habits and customs of the people 
at the present day, when invention has largelj' 
revolutionized the mode of living and the ways 
of the business world. 



H. H. NOLTE. JR. 



H. II. Nolte, Jr., who is carrying on agri- 
cultural pursuits in Union township, Dallas 
county, was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, 
November 8, 1855, a son of H. H. and Sarah 
(Padget) Nolte, who are inentioned in the 
sketch of W. P. Nolte on another page of this 
volume. 

H. H. Nolte acquired his education in the 
district schools, and since attaining his ma- 
jority has carried on agricultural pursuits with 
the exception of three years which he spent 
at the stonema-son's trade. In the fall of 1906 
]\Ir. Nolte sold his farm and purchased one- 
quiirter section of Kansas land, but intends to 
continue his residence in Dallas county. 

Mr. Nolte was joined in wedlock, in 1879, to 
Mi.ss Anna M. Passmore, who was born in Bu- 
reau county, Illinois, in 1859, a daughter of 
Samuel B. and Hannah Piissmore. The father 
is a native of Pennsylvania, where his birth 
occurred in 1829, while that of his wife oc- 
curred in Ohio in 1831. The former has now 
]iassed away, but Mrs. Passmore still survives 
her husband and now makes her home in 
Spokane Falls, Washington, with one of her 
sons. She became the mother of ten children, 
seven of whom are still living: Ella, the wife 
of A. J. Lipp, who resides at Griswold, Iowa; 
Orlando C, who makes his home in Colorado; 
Ida, who married .John Morris and resides at 
Spokane Falls, Washington; Mrs. Nolte; Ellis 
P., also of California; William L., a resident of 
Nebraska; Lincoln G., who has also taken up 
his abode in Spokane Falls. Mr. and Mrs. 
Xolto arc tlio parents of seven children: Or- 
lando, who died when eleven months old ; Bes- 
sie L., Chester H., Ellis P.. Arthur E., Lula M. 
and Boulah B. 




II. II. NOLTE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Mr. 'Nolte gives his political support to the 
republican party and has served as school di- 
rector for five years. He has served as a min- 
ister in the Friends church for eighteen years, 
both he and his wife being members thereof, 
and has thus been an effective and important 
factor in the moral development of the com- 
munity. He is public-spirited, giving his co- 
operation to every movement which tends to 
promote the moral, intellectual and material 
welfare of the county, and by reason of his 
kindly nature and noble manhood has won the 
admiration and esteem of all with whom he has 
been brought in contact. 



FREDERICK MILLER. 

Frederick Miller is one of the few remain- 
ing veterans of the Civil war and the woimds 
which he received in battle attest his splen- 
did defense of the old flag and the cause it 
represented. For a quarter of a century he has 
been numbered among the active and public- 
spirited citizens of Woodward, where he is 
well known in business circles. He dates his 
residence in Iowa from 1869, first locating in 
Boone county, whence he came to Dallas county 
in 1881. 

Mr. Miller is a native of Sweden, his birth 
having occurred in that land on the 1st of 
December, 1835. His father, Adolph Miller, 
was also born in Sweden, where he was reared 
to manhood and he there married Elizabeth 
Lundberg, of the same country. Her death 
occurred there and Mr. Miller afterward emi- 
grated to the new world, settling first in Kane 
county, Illinois, remaining five years and then 
removed to Minnesota, where he died in 1863. 
In the family were six children, of whom 
Frederick Miller is the youngest. Five of the 
number were sons and all reached adult age. 
The eldest, the Hon. John Miller, was a pio- 
neer and prominent farmer of Goodhue 
coimty, Minnesota, and represented his dis- 
trict in the state legislature. His son, G. 0. 



Miller, is a leading business man, who estab- 
lished and built up the town of White Rock, 
Minnesota, where he opened a creamery and 
engaged in the manufacture of butter and 
cheese, oftentimes shipping his products by the 
carloads. He now has a wholesale house in 
St. Paul, Minnesota, and in Seattle and Taco- 
ma, Washington. He has developed his busi- 
ness to mammoth proportions and is well known 
as a most prosperous, enterprising, reliable and 
successful business man. Another brother of 
Frederick Miller is Louis Miller, a prosperous 
farmer of Goodhue county, Minnesota. A sis- 
ter, Mrs. Sophia Donaldson, is a widow and 
resides in Goodhue county. Gustave Miller 
makes his home in Sweden. He was for years 
in the government employ, being connected 
with the arsenal at Eskelstuna, and one of his 
sons is now superintendent of the arsenal of 
that place. August Miller, another brother, 
was a blacksmith and carried on business in 
Sweden until his death, which occurred in the 
winter of 1907. 

Frederick Miller, whose name introduces 
this record, spent the first seventeen years of 
his life in Sweden. He came to the new world 
in 1852 and located in Chicago, where he was 
in the employ of the McCormick Harvester 
Company. Subsequently he worked for the 
Danford and Whitaker Reaper Companies in 
Geneva and in St. Charles, Illinois, and in 
1858 he removed to Goodhue county, Minne- 
sota, where he settled upon government land, 
securing a claim which he improved, continu- 
ing its cultivation for three years. In 1860 
President Buchanan ordered the land sold 
and Mr. Miller being unable to buy traded his 
interest for a span of horses, a wagon and 
twenty-five dollars in gold. It was not long 
after this that in response to the country's call 
for aid he offered his services in defense of the 
Union, enlisting in October, 1861, as a mem- 
ber of Company D, Third Minnesota Volun- 
teer Infantry. He went to the south and WBS 
under command of General Buell in Kentucky. 
Subsequently the regiment proceeded to Nash- 
ville, where they guarded Governor Johnson 



670 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



for a time and were afterward sent to Mui"- 
freesboro. Mr. Miller particijjated in the bat- 
tle of Stone River, where he was captured, but 
a few days later he was paroled and sent to 
Benton Barracks, St. Louis. Not long after, 
his command was ordered to the plains against 
the Indians and he was wounded at Wood Lake, 
Minnesota, by a gunshot in the arm, which 
disabled him for a time. In the spring of 
1863 he rejoined the regiment in Tennessee 
and went into the Viclcsburg campaign, par- 
ticipating in the capture of the rebel strong- 
hold. The troops then proceeded to Helena, 
Arkansas, and later to Little Rock, taking part 
in the battle of that place. The regiment lost 
more men there from illness than in the en- 
gagement, eleven members of Company D dy- 
ing and about the same proportion throughout 
the entire command. At the close of his term 
of senace Mr. Miller was mustered out and 
was honorably discharged at Duvall's Bluff, 
Arkansas. While he was at the front the gov- 
ernment had confiscated his horses for use in 
the Indian campaign but later he was reim- 
bursed. 

Returning to Minnesota after his discharge 
from the army, Mr. Miller purchased forty 
acres of land there, which he broke und brought 
under cultivation. He also bought another 
forty-acre tract, on which he made some im- 
provements, but in 1869 he removed from Min- 
nesota to Iowa, settling in Peoples township, 
Boone county, w-here he secured one hundred 
acres of land, which he improved and culti- 
vated for a number of years, successfully carry- 
ing on his farm work. During that period he 
was also postmaster at the Prairie Hill post- 
office for eight years. In 1881 he came to 
Woodward and built a business house which 
he stocked with a line of general merchandise. 
He also formed a partnership with Mr. Chan- 
dler, with whom he engaged in the implement 
and hardware business. After two years he 
sold out his interest in the general store and 
has since given his time to the hardware and 
implement business. His present partner, L. 
W. Saker, is a man of enterprise and good ex- 



ecutive ability and the firm is therefore a 
strong one, for Mr. Miller possesses those qual- 
ities which go to make up the successful mer- 
chant. Thej' carry a large stock of heavy hard- 
ware and implements and a fine line of bug- 
gies, windpumps, etc. They have built up a 
good trade, receiving now a liberal share of 
the public patronage. Mr. Miller has also 
aided materially in building up the town, has 
erected two good business houses and owns 
three. He also has a comfortable residence 
here and in addition he owns a well improved 
farm near Woodward. His investments have 
been carefully made and have brought to him 
a good return. 

Mr. Miller has been married twice. His last 
marriage was celebrated in Beloit, Wisconsin, 
in September, 1869, Miss Julia E. Steves, a 
native of New York, becoming his wife. He 
has no children by either marriage but adopted 
an infant son, Charles E. Miller, whom he and 
his wife have reared and who is now a young 
man. 

Mr. Miller's position ujDon political ques- 
tions is never an equivocal one. It is well 
known that he is a stanch republican where 
national issues are involved but at local elec- 
tions he does not consider himself bound by 
party ties. He believes in the principle of pro- 
hibition and is a strong temperance man, 
while his influence is always, given on the side 
of right, improvement and progress. He has 
never sought nor desired office but served as 
president of the first school board of Wood- 
ward. Both he and his wife are members 
of the Baptist church and Mr. Miller was the 
largest contributor to the erection of the new 
house of worship. He also gave generously 
toward the constraction of the Christian and 
Methodist Episcopal churches and to the Bap- 
tist church in Boone county near his old home, 
of which he was a member before his remo\'al 
to Woodward. He is well known in Boone, 
Dallas and Polk counties and his w'orth as a 
business man and individual is widely acknowl- 
edged. He has gained a goodly fortune but 
moreover he has won an honored name in the 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



671 



land of his adoption aud is one of the most 
valued and respected citizens of Woodward. He 
deserves much credit for what he has accom- 
plished and all through his life — as a citizen, 
as a soldier and as a merchant — he has dis- 
played sterling traits of character. 



JOHN ANDERSON. 



John Anderson, who is now living retired 
in Perry, was at one time a leading landowner 
of Dallas county. His birth occurred in county 
Longford, Ireland, in 1830, his parents being 
James and Mary (Merto) Anderson, who were 
also natives of the same county in which they 
spent their entire lives. The son John was reared 
and educated on the Emerald isle. He was an 
only child and he remained in Ireland until 
1855, when he came to America. He had 
heard favorable reports concerning the oppor- 
tunities and business advantages of the new 
world and in hope of bettering his financial 
condition thereby he emigrated to the United 
State.s, landing at Philadelphia, where he 
spent one year. He then returned to the old 
country, again making the voyage on a sailing 
ves-sel, and spent the succeeding year in Ire- 
land. In 1858 he once more embarked on a 
voyage to this country and at length lauded at 
New York city, after a voyage of >six or seven 
weeks. He spent altogether about nineteen 
weeks on the water. After his second arrival in 
the new world he did not tarry in the east but 
came at once to the middle west, spending a 
few days in Chicago, after which he made his 
way to Rock Island, Illinois. He then crossed 
the Mississippi river into Iowa and took up 
lii.< abode in Scott county where he worked as 
a farm hand. He saved his money until ho 
had enough to buy a team and then went to 
work with his team in Clinton county, Iowa, 
for the Midland Railroad Company. That was 
at the time of the "wild cat currency" and he 
was paid forty dollars in this kind of monev, 
which i)ractieally had no value. He then re- 



turned to Clinton county where he was mai'- 
ried, having just purchased forty acres of land 
for which he paid ten dollars per acre. The 
timber had been cut away but the stumps re- 
mained and it was an arduous task to clear 
and delevop the farm. He built a house, 
twelve by sixteen feet, and began clearing the 
land. Later he bought forty acres of the same 
kind of land, which he also improved, and 
when he sold that property he bought one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of prairie land upon which 
he lived until 1874. He then sold this land 
and came to Dallas county in 1875. Here he 
purchased two hundred and eighty acres and 
at different times he bought tracts of eighty, 
one hundred and twenty and one hundred and 
sixty acres respectively. Again he added to 
this property, as opportunity offered, until his 
land aggregated seven hundred and seventy 
acres. His generous spirit prompted his divi- 
sion of this land, however, and he has given 
to his children six hundred and forty acres. 
The remainder he sold, and in March, 1893, 
he retired to j^rivate life since which time he 
has been living in Perry. 

On the 25th of November, 1858, Mr. Ander- 
son was married to Miss Catherine McCallister, 
who was born in the city of Montreal, Canada, 
February 25, 1828, her parents being Bern- 
hard and Margaret (McCallahan) McCallister, 
both (if whom were natives of county Antrim, 
Ireland, in which country they were married. 
They had a family of seven daughters and four 
sons, of whom five are now living: Catherine, 
Ann, Patrick, Bernhard and Elizabeth. Mr. 
ilcCallister crossed the Atlantic from Ireland 
on a sailing vessel and then went to Montreal. 
At an early date he came to Clinton, Iowa, and 
spent his life as a railroad man. He was a 
member of the Roman Catholic church. LTnto 
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born four 
children : Mary, Margaret, John and Bern- 
hard F. 

At the time of the Civil war Mr. Anderson 
was drafted for sers'ice in 1864 but paid a sub- 
stitute eight hundred and twenty-five dollars 
to go to the front in his place. He is a mem- 



672 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



ber of the Roman Catholic church and in that 
faith has reared his children. He has been 
a devoted husband and father and has given to 
his children large tracts of land, thus enabling 
them to make a good start in life. In politics 
he is a Jackson democrat. Mr. Anderson has 
never had occasion to regret his determination 
to seek a home in the new world, for he has 
found the opportunities which he sought. He 
has improved the advantages afforded him and 
as the years have gone by he ha.s gradually 
worked his way upward until he has become 
one of the most prosperous farmers of this sec- 
tion of the state. Today he is living in well 
earned ease, enjoying the comforts and many 
of the luxuries of life. 



GEORGE GRAY. 



George Gray was born in Preble county, 
Ohio, October 29, 1822, and died on the 9th 
of December, 1885, upon his farm in Dallas 
county, Iowa, being then sixty-three years of 
age. Such were his good qualities that he is 
entitled to mention among the honored dead 
of this part of the state. He did not seek to 
figure prominently in public life but in the 
field of business activity, in which nearly every 
individual must labor, he made a good record 
by his diligence and fidelity. In the paternal 
line he was a representative of an old New 
York family, while in the maternal line he 
was descended from Virginia ancestry. His 
father, Nathaniel Gray, was born in the Em- 
pire state and after arriving to years of matur- 
ity wedded Katherine Smith, a native of Vir- 
ginia. They became the parents of ten chil- 
dren but only three of the number are now 
living, namely: Lemuel, who resides in Ran- 
dolph county, Indiana; Mrs. Richard Kunard, 
living in Kansas; and Mrs. Nancy Willis, who 
is in Cold Water, Michigan. The parents re- 
moved from Ohio to Indiana, where the father 
purchased a farm, which he cultivated up to 
the time of his death. He was quite successful, 



his agricultural interests bringing him a desir- 
able competence, and by a further judicious 
investment of his means he left quite a large 
estate at the time of his demise. 
" George Gray acquired a common-school edu- 
cation, early becoming familiar with those 
branches of learning which constitute the cur- 
riculum of most public schools When not 
busj' with his text-books he spent his early 
life on the farm, continuing with his parents 
up to the time of his marriage. That impor- 
tant event in his life was celebrated on the 4th 
of September, 1851, when Miss Lydia Jane 
Macey became his wife. She was born October 
10, 1830, a daughter of William and Lucy 
(Diggs) Macey, both of whom were natives of 
North Carolina. The father was born in Surry 
county, North Carolina, March 22, 1802, while 
the mother's birth occurred in Anson county, 
on the 30th of January, 1812, Both have now 
passed away. The death of Mr. Macey oc- 
curred January 2, 1881, when he was in his 
seventy-ninth year, while his wife died on the 
24th of February, 1882. They were the par- 
ents of twelve children, of whom five are yet 
living: Mrs. Gray, of this review; William W., 
who is living in Minnesota; Cyrus, who resides 
in Long Beach, California; Littleberry, who is 
living in Wisconsin ; and Mrs. Phoel)e L. Can- 
non, who lives in Ontario, California. 

After his marriage Mr. Gray began farming 
on his own account on land belonging t« his 
father-in-law and also worked on railroad con- 
struction for four years. He then bought forty 
acres of land in Indiana, cultivating the fields 
there until 1864, when he removed to Jo 
Daviess county, Illinois. At that time he 
bought forty acres of land but this he sold 
after six months and later bought eighty acres. 
In due course of time he disposed of that prop- 
erty and on the 14th of September, 1874, ar- 
rived in Iowa, taking up his abode upon the 
farm where his widow now resides. At that time 
only twenty acres of the land had been broken 
and the improvements were very meager. 
There was a little house of rude construction 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and a prairie stable but with characteristic en- 
ergy, Mr. Gray began to cultivate the land and 
in due course of time had transformed the farm 
into e.xcellent property. He was practical in 
all his methods, understood the best ways of 
raising crops best adapted to the soil and cli- 
mate, and received a liberal market price for 
the grain which he sold. 

Unto ^Ir. and Mrs. Gray were born seven 
children : William M., the oldest, who is now 
a resident of California ; Alonzo, who died in 
infancy ; Orlando Thomas, who resides with 
his mother and operates the home farm; Os- 
car L., who is living in Dallas Center, Iowa; 
Leonard S.. who died when only three years 
of age; Caroline L., who is now the wife of 
George AVard, of Long Beach, California, and 
has six children, Lawrence, Mabel, Josephine, 
Lena, Herbert and Helen : and Albert H., the 
oldest of the family, who died in infancy. 

Mr. Gray, the father, continued active in 
the operation of his farm for the support of 
his family until called to his final rest in 1885. 
During the years of his residence in Iowa he 
had gained the respect of all who knew him 
for he was honorable and straightforward in 
business, faithful in friendship and devoted to 
the welfare of his familv. 



FRED C. YOUNG. 



Fred C. Young, living on section 1, Boone 
tiiwnship, is prominent among the young, en- 
terprising and progi-essive agriculturists of Dal- 
lii.s (iivnity. He is proprietor of Fairview 
Farm. He devotes his entire time to farming 
and tfi raising and feeding .stock and is a busi- 
ness man of Tinfaltering diligence and pei^e- 
verance, his ideas being both practical and pro- 
gressive. He dates his residence in Dallas 
county and on his present farm from 1895. 

Mr. Young is a native son of Iowa, his birth 
having occurred in Marion county, near Knox- 
ville, on the 18th of October, 1869. His father, 
Asbury G. Young, is a native of Pennsylvania 



and when a young man removed to Ohio 
whence he afterward went to Illinois, settling 
in Sangamon county, where he engaged in 
farming and teaching school. He came to 
Iowa about 1848 and settled first in Van Buren 
county but after a short time removed to 
Marion county, being at that time twenty- 
eight years of age. There he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Boord, a native of this state. 
Both had engaged in teaching school prior to 
their marriage and Mr. Young taught one 
term after his marriage, having to walk twelve 
miles from his home to the schoolhouse. He 
then turned his attention to farming and al- 
though he started out empty-handed he be- 
came one of the substantial agriculturists of 
his conmiunity. He died in Marion county, 
December 6, 1898, at the age of seventy-five 
years, having for sixteen years survived his 
wife who died on the 8th of August, 1880, at 
the age of forty-eight years. They were the 
parents of five children, all of whom reached 
adult age. 

Fred C. Young was the fourth in order of 
birth and spent his boyhood days on the old 
homestead attending the common schools. He 
remained with his parents until he had at- 
tained his majority and was then married, on 
the 29th of October, 1890, to Miss Ada Essex, 
a native of Iowa. She was born in Marion 
county and is a daughter of Hiram Essex. 
After his marriage Mr. Young made his home 
on his father's farm, remaining there for five 
years. On the expiration of that period he 
came to Dallas county, and in the spring of 
1895 he took up his abode on his present place, 
which was partially improved. He has since 
purchased one hundred and twenty acres, mak- 
ing his farm a valuable tract of two hundred 
acres. He has also built a modern two-story 
dwelling, supplied with bath, furnace, gas light 
and other modern conveniences, and no equip' 
ment of the modern farm is lacking. 

Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of fiye 
children but they lost their fourth bom, Laura 
L., at the age of one year. The living are; 
Gordon A., a young man who is assisting in 



676 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



the farm work and is attending tlie high school 
at Des Moines; Merritt J., Lillie and Kenneth, 
all at home. 

Mr. Young has been a lifelong republican 
being a supporter of the party on national 
issues. At local elections, however, he does 
not consider himself bound by party ties. He 
and his wife are members of the Hanover 
Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday- 
school. While he has resided in Dallas county 
for only a comparatively few years, he has 
identified himself with the best interests of the 
community and is regarded as a valued addi- 
tion to the ranks of its citizens. He is a man 
of strong individuality and marked character, 
standing as a splendid type of the progressive 
business man. He utilizes his opportunities to 
the best advantage, and conforms adverse con- 
ditions to his own ends. In all his business 
dealings he is reliable and energetic and is 
justly accounted one of the representative 
farmers of the community. 



J. W. HUNT. 



J. W. Hunt, who throughout his entire life 
has followed the occupation of farming, is now 
the owner of one hundred acres of good land 
on section 12, Adams township, and tlio 
thrifty appearance of his farm is proof of his 
careful supervision and practical methods. He 
was born in Warren county, Indiana, on the 
13th of November, 1856, his parents being 
Henry and Ann Eve Hunt, who are mentioned 
elsewhere in this work. His boyhood days 
were spent under the parental roof and his ex- 
periences were those which usually fall to the 
lot of the farmer's son. He worked in the 
fields through the summer months, and in the 
winter seasons was a student in the district 
school near his father's home. The occupation 
to which he was reared he chose as a life work 
and has always carried on farming. He has 
been a resident of Iowa since 1859 and pur- 
chasing the farm on which he now resides, it 



has been his home continuously for twenty 
yeai-s. It is a well developed tract of land, 
which is naturally rich and productive and the 
alluvial soil brings forth bounteous harvests in 
reward for the care and labor which he be- 
stows upon the fields. He practices the rota- 
tion of crops and all modern methods of farm- 
ing and his laboi-s are bringing him excellent 
results. 

Mr. Hunt has been married twice. He fii'st 
wedded Miss Cornelia M. Young, who was 
born in Michigan in 1857. They became the 
pai-ents of four children : Estella, who is now 
the wife of Levi Conley, a resident of Adel 
township ; Lenora L., who is a graduate of the 
high school at Shannon City; Beatrice, a stu- 
dent in the high- school at Adel; and Anna B., 
the yomigest child of that marriage. For his 
second wife Mr. Hunt chose Eliza E. Seeders, 
who was bom in Virginia in 1872. Her par- 
ents are John T. and Mary E. (Moreland) 
Seeders, both of whom were natives of the Old 
Dominion, whence they came to Dallas county, 
Iowa, in 1885. Here they still make their 
home. In their family, were six children, five 
of whom still survive, namely: Ida, now the 
wife of C. C. Brown, a resident of Illinois; 
Mr.<. Hunt : Effie E., the wife of -lohn S. Kil- 
len, who i^ living in this county; Albert AV., 
also of this county; and Lela K., at home. 
Mrs. Hunt has been twice married, her first 
union being with William Henze, who was 
born in Bureau county, Illinois, and by whom 
she had two children, Mary E. and Ollie M., 
both at home. It was on the 7th of February, 
1900, that Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were married 
and three children have come to bless their 
imion, Henry Erven, Grace and Alta Leola. 

Mr. Hunt is a supporter of the republican 
party but is not a politician in the sense of of- 
fice-seeking, preferring to give his time and 
attention to his business interests, in which he 
is meeting with excellent success. He has 
served as school director, and the cause of edu- 
cation find^ in him a stanch friend. He be- 
longs to the Odd Fellows society of Adel and 
he and his wife are supporters of the Christian 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



677 



church, while to every worthy movement for 
the benefit of the community they give their 
eiu'nest endorsement. They are much esteemed 
in the community and their own home is just- 
ly noted for its gracious and warm-hearted hos- 
pitality. 



FREMONT MrCLATCHEY. ' 

Fremont McClatchcy, an enterprising agri- 
culturist of Dallas county, owns and operates 
a \\ell improved tract of land comprising two 
hundred and fifty -six acres, situated on section 
7, Lincoln township, and in addition to the 
home place also own^ an eighty-acre tract in 
Guthrie county. He wa.s born in Franklin 
co>mty, Pennsylvania, March 10. 1856, a son 
of William and Margaret (Foster) McClatchey, 
both of whom were likewise natives of the Key- 
stone state, their parents having been eai'ly 
settlers of that state. The father was a farmer 
by occui^ation and in 1866 removed westward 
to Illinois, settling on a, farm in Knox county. 
His la.st years were pa.sscd in Galesburg, his 
death there occurring in 1897. His wife .sur- 
vived him for a few years and passed aw'aj^ in 
1903. 

Fremont McClatchey is one of a family of 
three sons and five daughters, of whom two 
sons and four daughters still survive. He was 
reared on the home farm in Knox county and 
liis school advantages were somewhat limited. 
He remained under the parental roof until he 
had reached mature years and then in LSSl 
made his way to Dallas county, where he ]inr- 
chased one hundred and .seventy-six acres of 
land. On the place stood a .small house but 
liure were few other improvements. 

After living alone upon his farm for one 
year Mr. McClatchey was here married on 
April 11, 1882, to Miss Nellie Rose, who wa.s 
]iiiY\\, reared and educated in Lucas county, 
Iowa, and prior to her marriage successfully 
( iigagcd in teaching school in Guthrie and 
Dallas counties. Seven children bless this 



union, four sons and three daughters, namely : 
Glen R., Charles, Rex, Bert, Rose, Ruth and 
Faith. 

Mr. and Mre. McClatchey began their do- 
nie.-itic life upon his farm in Lincoln township 
and later he erected a good residence, two 
barns and substantial outbuildings for the shel- 
ter of grain and stock. He also added to his 
projjcrty a tract of one hundred and sixty 
acres and now has two hundred and fifty-rfX 
acres in his home farm and another eighty 
acres in Guthrie county. He devotes consider- 
able attention to the rai.sing and feeding of 
high grade stock and usually ships from two 
to three carloads of fat steers and a carload of 
fat hogs to the city markets. He is a progress- 
ive, up-to-date farmer, who thoroughly under- 
stands his business and has met Avith most 
gratifying success in his undertakings. For 
twent^'-six years he ha.s now made his home 
in Dallas county and has aided materially in 
its development and upbuilding, doing all in 
hi.s power for the improvement of his locality. 
jMr. McClatchey gives his political support to 
the republican party and has served one term 
as township trustee, but has never cared for 
political honors, preferring to devote his atten- 
tion to his business interests. His wife is an 
earnest member of the Christian church and 
both are held in high regard by all who know 
them . 



DAVID BLUE. 



David Blue, who now resides in Perry, de- 
riving his income from the valuable farming 
[jroperty which he owns netu: the city, was born 
in ]\Iontour county, Pennsylvania, March 81, 
18.3;;, his parents being Reuben and Elizabetli 
(Davis) Blue, who were also natives of that 
state. The father died when his son David 
was only eight years of age and he wa.s thus 
left an orphan for his mother had died three 
years previously. Reuben Blue followed the 
occupation of farming as a life work. ?Ic gave 



678 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



his political suj^port to the principles of Jack- 
sonian democracy. Both he aud his wife were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal chvirch. 

David Blue i^ the only surviving member of 
a family of four sons and two daughters. At 
the age of fourteen years he came to the west, 
having run away from home. He made his 
way to Illinois and first worked for twenty-five 
cents per day as a farm hand near New Boston, 
Mercer county, Illinois. He was diligent, fi-u- 
gal and economical and in the course of years 
he saved from his earnings a sufficient sum to 
enable him to purchase land at ten dollars per 
acre. As years passed by he added to this 
property from time to time until he became 
the owner of thirteen forty-acre tracts and ten 
acres of timber land. In 1881-82 he sold this 
property in Illinois and came to Iowa locating 
in Perry. He purchased a farm south of the 
town and' another north of the town but he 
makes his home in Perry. Here he built a 
livery barn in 1881 and conducted the busi- 
ness until 1885 when he sold out. He has 
since lived practically retired, merely superin- 
tending his farming interests from which he 
derives gratifying financial returns annually. 

Mr. Blue was married on the 1st of April, 
1858. to Miss Mary E. Guffey, who was born 
in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
July 4, 1838. Her parents were Samuel and 
Mary (Pollock) Guffey, both of whom were na- 
tives of Pennsylvania. The father died in Illi- 
nois at the age of fifty-four years and his wife's 
death occurred in that state when she was 
seventy-seven years of age. He was a drug- 
gist and in 1848 went to Illinois settling in 
Mercer county. There he took up government 
land, becoming one of the pioneers of that lo- 
cality. He built a frame house and turned 
his attention to general agricultural pursuits. 
His religious faith was that of a Presbyterian 
and in politics he was a whig. In his family 
were five sons and one daughter, of whom four 
are living, namely: Sheriff, Richard, Scott. 
and Mary E. 

Mr. and Mrs. Blue have become the parents 
of seven children of whom six vet survive: 



Belle, John, Jeanette, Nora, Rosa B. and Low- 
ell. One daughter, Ella, died at the age of 
nineteen yeai-s. 

ilr. Blue is a member of Otley Lodge, No. 
299, A. F. & A. M., and his political support 
is given the democracy. He may truly be 
called a self-made man for he deserves all the 
praise which that term implies. He started out 
at the early age of fourteen years to fight life's 
battles alone and he has come off conqueror 
in the strife. His strong characteristic* have 
been those of an unabating industry and unfal- 
tering purpose. The word fail has had no part 
in his vocabulaiy and he has overcome diffi- 
culties and obstacles by determination and per- 
sistent purpose until he is now one of the fore- 
most citizens of Dallas county, comfortably 
situated in a pleasant home in Perry, where 
he has all of the necessities and many of the 
luxuries of life. 



WILLIAM COOK 



William Cook, of Waukee, is esteemed and 
respected by all who know him as one who has 
been an active and honorable factor in busi- 
ness life and public interests of Dallas county. 
He located here at an early period when there 
were many evidences of frontier life. Much 
of the land was wild and unclaimed and a 
number of the now thriving towns and villages 
had not yet been founded but the district was 
rich in its possibilities and, hoping to find 
opportunity here for successful work, he took 
up his abode in Dallas county in 1862. Forty- 
five years have since passed and he is today 
the owner of six hundred acres of rich and val- 
uable land, while with the farming and stock- 
raising interests he has long been actively asso- 
ciated. 

Mr. Cook was born in Saxony, Germany, 
•June 8. 1831. His father, .John G. Cook, was 
also a native of that country and was there 
reared and married. Five children were added 
to the household ere the parents crossed the At- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



681 



lantic to the new world in 1845, settling in 
Buffalo, New York. The father was a carpenter 
and cooper — in fact possessed considerable me- 
chanical ingenuity and abilitJ^ Both he and 
his second wife remained residents of Buffalo 
until called to their final rest. The first wife, 
however, died in Germany. 

\A"illiam Oook was reared in Buffalo and in 
Erie county and, starting out in business life for 
himself, he was employed at farm labor for 
about five years. About 1850 he went to Illi- 
nois, settling in Warren county, where he was 
employed on a farm near Monmouth. He spent 
five years in that county, after which he re- 
moved to Gentry county, iSIissouri, now Worth 
county. There he continued to work as a farm 
hand and it was while he was living in Gentry 
county that he was married, on the 2d of Sep- 
tember, 1860, to Miss Eliza Robinson, who was 
born in Shelby county, Ohio, January 10, 1832, 
and was a daughter of William B. and Sarah 
(Madearis) Robinson. Her great-great-grand- 
father, John Robinson, came to the new world 
in the Mayflower. Her great-great-half uncle 
was John Bull, who helped to frame the consti- 
tution of the United States. Her grandfather 
was Thomas Robinson, who was a soldier of 
the war of 1812. The family was also represent- 
ed in the Revolutionary war. Her mother's 
cousin, Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth, was a soldier 
of the Civil war — long mourned by the nation. 
It is said that when Lincoln saw him in his 
coffin he wept over him. David Robinson, Mrs. 
Cook's brother, was in the Home Guard in Mis- 
souri. Later he went to a place of safety in 
Illinois with his family and enlisted in the 
Union army as an Illinois soldier. Mrs. Cook's 
father was a farmer and stock-raiser of Ohio, 
whence he removed to Missouri but the family 
were driven out of that state because of the 
troubles which arose just prior to the Civil war. 
His father, Thomas Robinson, had entered one 
hundred and sixty acres of land from the gov- 
ernment in Shelby county, Ohio, at an early 
day and later William Roljinson purchased that 
farm. As stated, however, he left the Buckeye 
state and went to Missouri. When he was 



forced to leave the latter state in 1860 he went 
to Illinois. His wife was a daughter of Jolna 
R. Madearis. Her great-grandfather was Oliver 
Madearis and belonged to a family related to 
the crown of England. 

Following his marriage Mr. Cook carried on 
farming in Missouri and raised one crop in that 
state. On coming to Iowa he settled in Adair 
county, thence removing to Dallas county, in 
1862, where he rented a farm for three years. 
Desirous of having a home of his own, he then 
invested hLs savings in eighty acres of land, to 
which he afterward added forty acres. The 
original tract was raw prairie land, which he 
placed under the plow and in its midst he 
erected a comfortable residence. As the years 
passed he continued the further improvement 
and development of the place and bought more 
land from time to time. At length he sold his 
fii-st farm and purchased two hundred and 
eighty acres in Calhoun county, Iowa. This 
he rented, however, and bought another farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres, adding there- 
to at a later date until he had four hundred 
acres. Here he built a commodious and com- 
fortable residence and large barn, and in fact 
added all the modern equipments and acces- 
sories to his place. He tiled the land, thus add- 
ing much to its productiveness, fenced the 
fields, set out an orchard and made an excellent 
property. The years passed and he annually 
harvested good crops as a reward for the care 
and labor he bestowed upon the fields. He also 
made a business of raising and feeding good 
stock and he continued upon the farm until 
1902, when he purchased a residence in Wau- 
kee, where he has since resided. He has been 
interested in mining for three or four years, 
having investments in gold and silver mines 
in Colorado near Colorado Springs, from which 
the minerals ai'e now being taken. 

As the years passed by five children were 
added to the Cook household who are still liv- 
ing. Emma J. becanie the wife of John C. Em- 
erick, now deceased, and by that marriage had 
four children. She has since married James 



682 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Richie, of Valley Jiuu-tion, and they have two 
children. William J. Cook, the second of the 
family, is a farmer and stock-raiser, having a 
large ranch in South Dakota. Harvey J. mar- 
ried Rosella Nutt, by whom he has four chil- 
dren. He follows farming in Calhoun county, 
Iowa, and also engages in merchandising at 
Farmville. B. R. wedded Myrtle .J. Lord and 
has one child, their liome being upon a fann 
in Boone township. Charles E.. who married 
Hattie Smith, is a farmer and stock-raiser of 
Boone township, living on the old homestead. 
He has one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Cook lost 
a daughter in infancy. 

In March, 1907. Mr. Cook gave to each of his 
children a farm of one hundred acres valued 
at one hundred dollars per acre. He has al- 
ways been very generous with his family and 
has found his greatest happiness in i^roviding 
for the welfare and comfort of those dependent 
ujxin him. He still retains one hundred acres 
and his home upon his farm is one of the fin- 
est of the county. 

Mr. Cook exercises his right of franchise in 
support of the men and measures of the repub- 
lican party and while living on the farm served 
as road .supenasor and justice of the peace. 
He was also connected with the school board for 
a number of years and did much to further the 
interests of good schools. He belongs to the 
Methodi.st Episcopal church at Waukee and is a 
Master ilason of A'an Meter lodge. He has 
also been connected with the Odd Fellows for 
many years, affiliating with Commerce lodge, in 
which he has passed all of the chaii*s and is now 
a pa.st grand. In the early days of his residence 
here he could drive half way to Des Moines 
without seeing a house or fence, such was the 
unimproved condition of the country. Great 
changes have occurred as man has wrought for 
the improvement and development of this por- 
tion of the state and in the work of general 
progress he has borne his full share. His busi- 
ness career is that of a man whose strong pur- 
pose and laudable ambition have constituted 
the secret of his success. He has ever been 
straightforward and upright in his dealings, 



has displayed keen sagacity and unfaltering 
diligence and as the years have gone by has 
made a most creditable record. 



A. D. DICKEY. 



A. D. Dickey, who owns and operates a well 
improved farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres, situated on section 18, Lincoln township, 
is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Oil City, 
June 5, 1858, a son of David D. Dickey, who 
was likewise bom and reared in the Keystone 
state. He was there married to Margaret 
Hayes, also a native of that state and the father 
was there engaged in business. He later re- 
moved with his family to Sterling, Illinois, 
operating a ferry boat at that place, and there 
his death occurred several years later. 

A. D. Dickey was reared in Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois, and acquired his education in the 
Sterling .schools. Coming to Iowa he first 
settled in Crawford covmty, where he spent five 
years, and there with a breaking plow he broke 
several hundred acres of wild land. Later he 
removed to Dallas county, where he operated 
a threshing machine for several seasons. After 
some years spent in Dallas county he once 
more returned to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
operating a tract of rented land there for eight 
years. Later he bought the farm but after a 
few years disposed of that tract and returned 
again to Dallas county and in 1901 purchased 
his present homestead property. He is here 
engaged in general agricultural pursuits and 
likewises raises pure-blooded shorthorn cattle, 
Scotch-top and Poland China hogs and .stand- 
ard bred horses, having sold five verj^ fine ani- 
mals. He is practical and progressive in his 
methods of labor and thus is meeting with 
gratifying success. 

Mr. Dickey was united in marriage, July 8, 
1888, to Miss Mary Eveland, a daughter of H. 
A. Eveland, whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this volume. They have become the parents of 
ten children, four sons and six daughters, aU 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



683 



of whom survive and are enjoying good health. 
These are David D., Harmon E., Edra C, Nel- 
son R., L. May, Eunice E., Viola P., Daisy M., 
Alice C. and Mary L. 

Mr. Dickey gives his jiolitical sujiport to the 
repuhlican party and during his residence in 
Whiteside county served as township clerk and 
also served as a member of the school hoard. 
He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, having joined the order at Yale. He 
likewi.se affiliates with the Modern AA^oodmen 
of America and the Mystic Workers. Mrs. 
Dickey is a member of the Alethodist Episco- 
pal church. Mr. Dickey began life empty- 
handed but through his own energy and perse- 
verance and the assistance of his estimable wife 
he has accumulated a goodly competence and is 
today numbered among the progressive and en- 
terprising men of Dallas county. 



ELI BARNARD. 

Eli Barnard, who is living in Perry but de- 
rives his income from a good farm property 
about a mile and a half from the city, was born 
in McLean county, Illinois, September 1, 1843. 
His parents were Melmon N. and Sina (Phil- 
pot) Barnard. The father, who was born in 
North Carolina March 7, 1806, died October 4, 
1873, having for several years survived his wife, 
who was born in Pennsylvania, April 17, 1804, 
and died September 18, 1868. They were mar- 
ried in Tennessee, July 10, 1828, and their fam- 
ily numbered six sons and five daughters, of 
whom seven are yet living, as follows : Frances 
J., who is a widow and lives in Lexington, Illi- 
nois ; .lames 0. ; Samuel F. ; William E. ; Aus- 
tin Y. : and Eli and Levi, twins. The father 
was a farmer's son and in the fall of 1828 made 
his way to Illinois with ox-toauis. He and his 
wife located near Bloomington and cast in 
their lot with the early settlers of that locality. 
They called upon a pioneer by the name of 
McCulley and Mr. Barnard made arrnn-iomeul- 
with him to occupy an old log house that .Mc- 



Culley owned. He made repairs uison the 
j)lace and moved into it, he and his wife spend- 
ing their firet winter in Illinois in that humble 
abode. In the spring of 1829 he entered land 
from the government and built a log cabin, 
stopping up the chinks with mud and sand. 
He had seventy-^ve cents in money when he 
came here and he spent fifty cents for salt and 
kej^t the remaining twenty-five cents in order 
to pay the postage upon a letter which he wrote 
to his father. His nearest trading points were 
Chicago and Springfield. He drove his hogs 
to the Chicago market and there received a 
dollar and a quai'ter per hundred pounds. He 
also hauled wheat to Chicago. At one time he 
and six other men were on their way to that 
city, driving six hundred head of hogs, when 
they were caught in a storm. It turned very 
cold and in crossing a stream the oxen went 
over the side of the bridge. There were some 
hogs in a wagon and the men had a hard time 
in saving the oxen and hogs. AVhen they got 
them out of the water the hogs in the wagon 
were frozen and the men's clothing was frozen 
upon them so that they could not bend. This 
was in the year 1831 — the year memorable as 
the winter of the deep snow. For months the 
snow lay upon the ground and the deer could 
travel over the crust which had formed upon it. 
On one occasion Mr. Barnard met an Indian 
who had shot a deer and made signs to the red 
man that he wanted meat and some of the 
deer hide to make himself a pair of shoes. This 
the Indian gave him. Many were the hard- 
ships and trials borne by the pioneers of that 
early day but as the country became settled the 
difficulties and obstacles which confi-onted 
them wei-i' not so grievous. As time passed 
M. N. liarnard purchased more land vnitil he 
was tlie owner of four hundred and eighty 
acres, in the midst of which he built a fine 
friUiie house. He became fine of the substan- 
tial and progressive agriculturists of his com- 
immity and his .success was well merited, as it 
was the reward of his own labor. He never 
cared for public office but gave his political 
sujiport to the democracy until the time of the 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Civil war, when he became a republican. He 
held membership in the Christian church. Two 
of his sons, Joseph and Austin Barnard, and 
three of his sons-in-law, enlisted for ser%'ice in 
Company I, Ninetj--fourth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry. Two sons-in-law died in army hos- 
pitals, Arthur Busick passing away at Spring- 
field, Missouri, while John Kieger died at Jef- 
ferson Barracks, Missouri. The parents re- 
mained residents of Illinois for many years but 
spent their last days in the home of their son 
EU. 

In the common schools of his native county 
Eli Barnard acquired his early education and 
when not busy with his text-books he was 
trained in the work of the fields. When twenty- 
three years of age he began farming on his 
own account on the old homestead and later 
he owned two hundred acres of this land. He 
was quite successful in his farming operations, 
bringing his fields under a high state of culti- 
vation and gathering good crops as the reward 
of his labor. He continued a resident of Illi- 
nois until 1896, when he sold his farm in that 
state and came to Dallas county, Iowa, purchas- 
ing two hundred and twenty-seven and one- 
half acres of land, a mile and a half east of 
Perry. There he lived until 1900, when he 
bought a fine home in Perry, so that he might 
provide his children with the educational ad- 
vantages afforded by the public schools of this 
city. 

After the war Eli Barnard made a trip to 
Tennessee in search of his aunt, Mrs. Alice 
Duffy, his father's sister. They had lost trace 
of her during the war and Mr. Barnard's father 
sent him to seek out her location and bring her 
to Illinois, which he did. It was in the following 
year, on the 1st of January, 1868, that Mr. 
Barnard was married to Miss Cirilda Shaw, 
who was born near Bloomington, Illinois, Jan- 
uary 5, 1843. She is a daughter of Joseph S. 
and Eleanor G. (Beaty) Shaw, who were mar- 
ried Januarj' 8, 1836. Her father, who was 
bom in Ohio, October 15, 1810, died February 
4, 1865. The mother, who was born in Ohio, 
June 16, 1815, passed away December 4, 1904. 



In their family were twelve children, of whom 
seven survive: Rachel, the wife of John Cun- 
ningham; Mrs. Barnard; Henrietta, the wife 
of Thomas Batey; Lafayette, who married 
Miss Delia Lewis; Anna M., the wife of Duff 
Rayburn; Ellen J., the wife of Wilham Gen- 
der; and Florence C, the wife of N. Gilmore. 
Mr. Shaw was an extensive farmer of Franklin 
county, Ohio, and also raised stock on a large 
scale. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal 
church and his political views were in har- 
mony with the principles of the whig party. 

Unto Mr. and ^Irs. Barnard have been bom 
seven children, of whom six are yet living: 
Sina, who is a school teacher; Josephine, who 
formerly ■ engaged in teaching school and is 
now the wife of A. Reichenbach; Leslie, who 
is a graduate of the dental department of the 
Northwestern University of Chicago and is now 
located in Kelso, Washington ; Anna, who was 
also a teacher and is now the wife of Earl 
Smith, an attorney at Mason City, Iowa; Grace, 
a teacher in Boone, Iowa; and Alta, at home. 
The family are well known in Perry and this 
section of the county and are highly esteemed, 
the members of the household occupying an 
enviable position in the social circles in which 
they move. 



ELEAZAR JOHNSON. 



Eleazar Johnson, who is now living retired 
in the village of Linden, was at one time one 
of the most extensive agriculturists of Dallas 
county. He was born in Clinton county. Ohio, 
June 12, 1824, of the marriage of Edward R. 
and Mary (Cherry) Johnson, the former a 
native of Maryland and the latter of Indiana. 
The father removed to Kentucky with his pa- 
rents in an early day and later accompanied 
them to Highland county, Ohio, where they 
both passed away. Edward R. Johnson fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits throughout his en- 
lire life, and by his marriage to Mary Cherry 
became the father of ten children, four of 



PAST AND PEESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



687 



whom still survive : Eleazar, of this review ; 
Martha, the widow of Joel Brewer and a resi- 
dent of Ohio; Angeline G., the wife of Robin- 
son Woodell, also living in Ohio; and Smith 
L., who makes his home in Oklahoma. 

When Eleazar Johnson had attained ma- 
ture years he learned the blacksmith's trade, 
which he followed for twelve years. Since that 
time, however, he was always engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits and that he was peculiai-ly 
fitted for this line of work is evidenced by the 
large degree of success which has attended hi< 
efforts. In 1858 he went to Marion county, 
Iowa, where he remained for twenty-seven 
years, after which he took up his abode in 
Dallas county, purchasing land in Linn town- 
ship. At one time he owned thirteen hundred 
acres here, but has since divided twelve hundred 
and fifty acres among his children and pur- 
chased one hundred and eighty acres for him- 
self and his wife, which they still retain. He 
also handled and fed stock while living on his 
farm, this enterprise being another source of 
gratifying profit to him. In 1895 Mr. John- 
son removed to Linden, where he has since 
resided in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, 
having through his own industry and enter- 
prise acquired a competence which no longer 
made it necessary for him to engage in active 
business. 

On the 16th of December, 1845, Mr. John- 
son was united in marriage to Miss Jane Cham- 
berlain, who was born in New Jersey in 1824, 
her parents also being natives of that state. 
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain had a family of 
six children, and removed to Ohio in an eai'ly 
day, where the mother's death occurred. The 
father then came to live with our subject in 
Iowa, remaining here until he too passed away. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of ten 
children, of whom seven yet survive: Charles 
R., who now lives in Linden, Iowa; Marj' E., 
the wife of W. A. Summy, who resides in 
Marion county, Iowa; Albert and W. E., both 
residents of Kansas ; Emma, who married P. J. 
Gose and lives in Dallas county: James, who 
also resides in this county; and S. L., who re- 



sides in Canada. Hannah C, the wife of David 
Horsman, is now deceased. 

In his political views Mr. Johnson is a re- 
publican. He has held the office of supervisor, 
justice of the peace and several other township 
positions. Both he and his wife support the 
Christian church, in the work of which they 
are actively and helpfully interested. The sub- 
ject of this review is a self-made man who, 
without any extraordinary family or pecuniary 
advantages at the commencement of life, has 
battled earnestly and energetically, and by in- 
domitable courage and integrity has achieved 
both character and fortune. Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnson are now living retired in their beauti- 
ful home in Linden and throughout the entire 
connnunity are well and favorably known by 
reason of their sterling traits of character and 
upright lives. The rest which has come to 
them in their declining years is the reward of 
their own labors and enterprise in former yeai"s. 



THOMAS E. NEWELL. 

Thonia.-i E. Newell is one of the old residents 
of Dallas county, having lived within its bor- 
ders for more than half a century. He arrived 
here in 1852 and has therefore witnessed the 
greater part of its development and growth as 
time and man have wrought the changes which 
have transformed this from a wild, unsettled' 
region into one of the rich and productive 
counties of this commonwealth. For many 
years Mr. Newell has been engaged largely in 
farming and stock-raising and has had good 
success in his business, which is now carried on 
in Des Moines township, his home being on. 
section 22. He was born in Parke county, 
Indiana, May 4, 1850, and is a son of Alex- 
ander C. Newell, a native of Ohio, who in his 
youth went to Parke county, where he was 
reared. It was in that state that he married 
Miss Elizabeth Robbins, a daughter of I<aac 
Robbins, and they all came to Iowa together. 
For three years after his marriage, however, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Mr. Newell resided in Indiana and then came 
to this state, driving across the country. Most 
of the land belonged to the government at that 
time and he entered two hundred acres near 
the present farm of Thomas E. Newell. There 
he built a log house and began to cultivate 
the fai-m. He made rail fences and as the 
years passed he brought his fields into a state 
of rich fertility so that he annually harvested 
good crops. For years he was one of the best 
known and most substantial farmers in this 
community and continvied actively in agricul- 
tural pui-suits until 1893, when he removed ti> 
Woodward where his remaining days were 
passed, his death occurring there in May, 1906, 
when he wtkf seventy-four years of age. His 
widow still survives him and is now living in 
California at the age of seventy-six years. 

Of their family of eleven children nine 
reached years of maturity. Thomas E. Newell, 
the eldest, was but two years of age when 
brought to Iowa and was reared upon the home 
farm amid the conditions and environments of 
pioneer life. The school system was then in 
its primitive condition and his educational ad- 
vantages were necessarilj^ somewhat limited. 
He remained at home until twenty-one j'ears 
of age, receiving practical training in the work 
of the farm, and then went to Colorado where 
he engaged in farming for four years. On the 
e.xpiration of that period he returned to hi- 
father's farm and later he bought eighty acres 
west of Woodward which he broke and im- 
proved, building a good house thereon but sell- 
ing it to advantage the same year. He next 
purchased one hundred acres on sections 22 
and 23, Des Moines town.«hip, erected a dwell- 
ing, broke the prairie and developed another 
farm. His life has always been one of un- 
faltering activity and diligence and what he 
has enjoyed ha~ come to him as the logical re- 
ward of his labor. 

On the 7th of May, 1876, Mr. Newell further 
completed his arrangements for ha\ing a homo 
of his own through his marri.age to Miss Emma 
Mills, a native of Polk county. Iowa, and a 
daughter of Sanford Mills, a farmer of Polk 



county, ilr. Newell took his bride to his farm 
where lie built the home ^\hich he ha.s since 
remodeled and improved. He al.so built four 
barns and other necessary outbuildings for the 
shelter of grain and stock. He likewise fenced 
the land which is well tiled, for he has put 
eight hundred rods of tiling on the place. At 
different times he has extended the boundary 
of his land, purchasing forty acres, a second 
tract of sixty acres and a third of one hun- 
dred and seventy-six acres, so that he 
now has three hundred and eighty-three acres 
in his home place, while his possessions also in- 
clude one hundred and thirty acres in Miller 
county. Mis.souri, and one hundred and twenty 
acres in Beaver township, Dallas county. In 
connection with the tilling of the soil he has 
been raising good graded .stock and fattening 
for twenty-five years. His annual sales amount 
to from eight to eleven thousand dollars per 
year. He sold seven carloads in one bunch in 
the year 1907 and his annual shipments 
amount to from ten to twelve carloads. He i.« 
indeed one of the leading stock feeders and 
dealers in this part of the state, conducting an 
extensive and successful business. No one in 
Des Moines township surpasses him in the ex- 
tent of his business and there are but one or two 
larger stock dealers in Dallas county. In addi- 
tion to his agricultural interests he is a director 
and stockholder in the Woodward State Bank. 
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Newell has been 
blessed with five children: Fred, operating a 
farm adjoining his father's, married Miss Mae 
Thompson and they have one child, Vera; 
Alva, who wedded Edith Haines and is on hi? 
father's farm in Missouri; Carl, who married 
ilabel Sullivan, and is living on the farm in 
Beaver township: Cassie and Leslie at home. 
The sons all had the advantage of studying in 
a business college at Des Moines and were thus 
well equipped for life's practical and respon- 
sible duties. ^Ir. Newell has been a lifelong 
republican since casting his first presidential 
ballot for U. S. Grant. At local elections, how- 
ever, he votes an independent ticket regarding 
only the capability of the candidate. He has 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



689 



been treasurer of the school board for twenty 
years but otherwise has never sought or desired 
office. He attends Robbins chapel of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a 
charter member, and his interests center along 
those lines of life which work for the benefit 
of the community. He has known what pio- 
neer life in Dallas county has meant, for in 
early boyhood he broke prairie and assisted in 
the arduous task of developing new farms in 
a district where few of the advantages of the 
older east were to be enjoyed. His life of in- 
dustry has been crowned with a gratifying 
measure of success and in his business rela- 
tions he has manifested the sterling qualities 
of perseverance, industry and integrity which 
won an honored name as well as prosperity. 



J. H. McCLINTOCK. 



J. H. McClintock is the owner of four hun- 
dred and eighty acres of rich farming land on 
sections 25 and 26 Adams township. It is a 
valuable property, well improved, and in its 
further development the owner is giving evi- 
dence of a thorough understanding of the most 
modern and progressive methods of agricul- 
ture. 

Mr. McClintock is one of Iowa's native son-:, 
born on the 10th of February, 1857, his par- 
ents being Eston and Huldah (Rush) McClin- 
tock, both of whom were natives of Somerset 
county, Pennsylvania. They came to this state 
in the year 1853 and are still residents of De 
Soto, having for more than a half century 
Ijccn identified with the interests of the com- 
monwealth. The father served for one year in 
the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-sev- 
enth Iowa Infantry and after the close of hos- 
tilities he removed to Jasper county, where he 
purcha,sed a farm, giving his time and energies 
fo general agricultural pursuits for many 
years. In 1902, however, he removed to De 
Soto, Dallas county, where he now makes his 
home in honorable retirement from further 



labor. Unto him and his wife have been boiTi 
six children : Mary, the wife of C. Taylor, 
who lives in Jasper county, Iowa; Jennie, the 
wife of Clinton Taylor, wlio makes his home 
in De Soto ; J. H., of this review ; J&ssie, living 
in Missouri; Grant, who is located in South 
Dakota; and ilinnie, the wife of Charles Hum- 
mel, of Madison county, Iowa. 

In taking up the personal history of J. H. 
McClintock we present to our readers the life 
record of one who is w'ell known in Dallas 
county as an energetic agriculturist and a man 
of determined spirit. He was reared to the oc- 
cupation of farming and has always followed 
that pursuit in its various phases. In addition 
to the tilling of the soil he also makes a spe- 
cialty of raising stock and this proves a profit- 
able source of income to him. His place of 
four hundred and eighty acres constitutes a 
large and valuable farm of Adams township, 
the soil being arable and responding readily 
to the care and labor bestowed upon it. The 
place is well kept in every particular, the 
buildings are modern and the stock raised is 
of good grades. 

In 1884 Mr. McClintock was united in uuir- 
riage to Miss Delphia ^lontgomery. who was 
born in Jasper county, Iowa, in the year 1860, 
and is a daughter of William and Delena J. 
(Rein) Montgomery. Her father was born in 
Pennsylvania and her mother in Ohio. They 
were married in Jasper county, Iowa, where 
they lived for many years, and the mother still 
makes her home there, but the father died in 
the year 1891. At the time of his demise he 
was the owner of valuable farming land, 
amounting to five hundred acres, and was ac- 
counted one of the pro.speroas agriculturists of 
his community. His family numbered thir- 
teen children, including Mrs. McClintock, who 
by her marriage has become the mother of four 
children : Maud and Jennie, who are gradu- 
ates of the De Soto high school; Ross, who is 
a student in the high school : and Esther, who 
is yet in the grammar school. 

Mr. and Mrs. McClintock are members of 
the Christian church and Mr. McClintock gives 



690 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



his political support to the democracy. He 
has served as a school director for several years 
and his influence is given for the furtherance 
of educational and other interests which he 
deems essential to the welfare and upbuilding 
of the county. 



E. H. MALLORY, M. D. 

Dr. E. H. Mallory, who is prominent in his 
profession in the village of Linden and through 
the surrounding district, was born in Delaware 
county, New York, on the 13th of September, 
1855, his parents being David M. and Sarah M. 
(McDonald) Mallory, of whose family of three 
children two are yet living, the brother of our 
subject being John A. ilallorj*, now engaged in 
the drug business in Linden. The father was 
born in Delaware county. New York, in 1828, 
and was there reared and married. In 1854 he 
came to the middle west, settling at Fort 
Dodge, Iowa. He found a pioneer district, and 
as much of the land still belonged to the gov- 
ernment he pre-empted a claim of a quarter of 
a section. In the spring of 1856, however, he 
returned to New York where he remained until 
the fall of 1857 when he again went to Fort 
Dodge. In the Empire state he had learned 
the millwright trade and had followed it in the 
east, but after coming to Iowa he prepared 
himself for the work of the Alethodist Episco- 
pal ministry and for years filled pulpits 
throughout the central part of Iowa. In the 
latter TOs he took up the study of medicine 
and in 1880 began the practice of his chosen 
profession in Linden. The town was organized 
about that time and he was one of its first phj'si- 
cians. He was an indefatigable worker and an 
earnest student and became one of the well 
known men in his profession in this part of the 
state. He was equally well known as a preach- 
er and able speaker, and thus he ministered 
to the spiritual as well as to the physical wel- 
fai'e of his fellowmen. His life was indeed one 
of usefulness and at all times was actuated by 



an honorable purpose that commanded for him 
the esteem and confidence of those who knew 
him. He engaged in preaching the gospel for 
fifteen years and was said to have been one of 
the ablest ministers in the upper Iowa confer- 
ence. It was in 1866 that he took up the study 
of medicine and began practicing in 1870. He 
then located in Rippey, Greene county, Iowa, 
where he successfully practiced until 1880 
when he removed to Linden, where his remain- 
ing days were passed, his death occurring in 
1885. He was offered the presiding eldership 
of his church but refused to accept it. Entirely 
free from ostentation or displaj- and entirely 
without egotism, his life was given to service 
for his fellowmen and his memory is now en- 
shrined in the hearts of all who knew him. 
In politics he was a stalwart republican until 
1880 when he joined the ranks of the green- 
back party and in 1884 supported Grover 
Cleveland. He served for two years, from 1860 
to 1862, as county superintendent of schools 
of Greene county, but otherwise has never 
sought or desired offide. His wife survived him 
for many years, passing away on the 27th of 
March, 1904. She was born in Delaware coun- 
ty. New York, February- 29, 1832, and was 
thus seventy-two years of age at the time of 
her demise. 

Dr. Mallory, whose name introduces this 
review, was reared amid the refining influences 
of a good home and in the public schools of 
central Iowa acquired his education. The 
school system of the state, now unsurpassed by 
that of any state in the Union, was then in its 
primitive condition and many of the schools 
were built of logs and seated with slab benches. 
Amid such surroundings, however, he mastered 
the elementary branches of learning and later 
he attended Albion College in Marshall county, 
Iowa. His father's profession attracted him 
and at an early age he began reading medi- 
cine under his father while at intervals he be- 
came familiar with the drug business, securing 
a certificate as a pharmacist when the phar- 
macy law went into effect. On the 1st of April, 
1880, he came to Linden and established him- 




Di;. !•:. II. MALLom' 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



693 



self in the drug business. His knowledge of 
medicine was such that his fellow townsmen 
practically forced him to attend them profes- 
sionally, he being called upon for such service 
when his father was absent from the town. 
This led him to prepare more fully for the prac- 
tice of medicine and in 1880 he attended med- 
ical lectures at the Iowa College of Ph3'sicians 
and Surgeons at Keokuk, from which institu- 
tion he was graduated in the spring of 1882. 
He then returned to Linden and was immedi- 
ately accorded an extensive practice. In the 
winter of 1890 and 1891 he attended the Jef- 
ferson Medical College at Philadelphia and 
was there graduated in the class of 1891. He 
then returned to Linden and has continued his 
practice here with excellent success, being one 
of the well known and capable members of his 
profession in Dallas county. He is a member 
of the Dallas and Guthrie Medical Society and 
of the Iowa State Medical Society and an ex- 
aminer for six or seven of the leading life in- 
surance companies. 

On the 23d of April, 1883, Dr. Mallory was 
married to Miss Jennie Lair, of Greene county, 
who died December 26, 1900. In June, 1902, 
he married Miss Hattie Gander, of Guthrie 
county. By the first marriage there were two 
children ; Morris W., born January 6, 1896, 
and Mary R., born November 29, 1900. 

Dr. Mallory is a member of Linden lodge, 
No. 428, I. .0. 0. F., and has also taken de- 
grees in the encampment and in the Rebekah 
lodges. He is a Modern Woodman and also 
belongs to the Brotherhood of American Yeo- 
men, and for forty-two years has been a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. 
Mallory has been identified with the interests 
of Linden since the village was founded and 
is one of the best known citizens in this part 
of the county. His life has been actuated at all 
times by high and honorable principles, mani- 
fested in his professional labors and in his pri- 
vate life. Anything which tends to bring to 
man the key to that complex mystery which 
we call life is of interest to him, and he has 
been a close and discriminating student of the 



science of medicine, realizing fully the obliga- 
tions that devolve upon him in the practice of 
his chosen calling. 



H. P. CALONKEY. 



It has been again and again proven that 
energy is the key which unlocks the portals of 
success and this finds verification once more 
in the life record of H. P. Calonkey, one of the 
most energetic and progressive business men of 
Dallas county, conducting at Woodward the 
largest butter factory in this part of the state. 
He was born near Galena, in Jo Daviess coun- 
ty, Illinois, on the 1st of January, 1848. His 
father, C. N. Calonkey, was a native of France 
and when ten years of age came to America 
with his parents, who settled first near East 
St. Louis, where they continued to reside for 
several years. They then went to Jo Daviess 
county, Illinois, where C. N. Calonkey was mar- 
ried to Miss Julia Bonnitel, also a native of 
France. He then followed farming in Illinois 
for several years, after which he brought his 
family to Iowa, settling in Boone county, 
where he engaged in caipentering for some 
time. He is now living retired in the city of 
Boone and is in his eighty-fifth year. His wife, 
however, died in Illinois during the early youth 
of the subject of this review. 

H. P. Calonkey was reared upon his father's 
farms in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and in 
Boone county, Iowa, and early became familiar 
with all the duties and labors that fall to the 
lot of the agricultuiTst. His education was ac- 
cjuired in the common schools, and he is one 
of the well informed men of his community, 
his knowledge being of a broad and practica.1 
character. 

It was in his early manhood that Mr. Calonk- 
ey was married, in 1871, to Miss Alice Wade, 
a native of Michigan and a daughter of Wash- 
ington Wade, who was a Boone county (Iowa) 
farmer. His death occurred at his home in 
Woodward, in 1905. Following his marriage 



694 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Mr. Calonkey rented land and thus engaged in 
farming for twenty years, after which he 
bought a farm of forty acres, upon which he 
lived for two years. He then traded that prop- 
erty for river land, upon which he lived for ten 
years and in 1892 he bought sixty-five acres 
adjoining Woodward. This he improved, 
putting up a good house and buildings and for 
several years he was successfully engaged in 
carrying on general agricultural pursuits there. 
In 1893 he purchased the creamery business 
in Woodward and has since conducted it with 
constantly growing success, until the enter- 
prise is now a large and profitable one. His 
building was destroyed by fire in 1900, but he 
quickly replaced it with a modern and up-to- 
date plant, supplied with the latest machinery, 
while recently he has added a storeroom and 
cooler to meet the demands of the increasing 
business. He also has a large warehouse for ice. 
The business ha^ constantly grown along sub- 
stantial lines, owing to his careful management 
and modern methods, and is now the largest 
enterprise of this character in this section of 
the state. In 1901 Mr. Calonkey traded his 
sixty-five acre farm at Woodward for an eighty- 
acre tract in Peoples township, Boone county. 
The same year he built in Woodward a good, 
two-story, modern dwelling, with bath, elec- 
tric lights, furnace, and in fact all the modern 
conveniences known to the city home. 

Aside from his agricultural interests he is 
now a director in the Woodward State Bank 
and in the Woodward Improvement Company 
and from his investments derives a gratifying 
income which supplies him with the comforts 
that go to make life worth the living. 

Mr. and Mrs. Calonkey are the parents of 
five children: A. B. Calonkey, the eldest, is as- 
sociated with his father in business, having 
previously taken a course in dairying in the 
Ames Agricultural College. He married Car- 
rie Gott, a daughter of F. M. Gott, and they 
have one child, Byron. Lucy, who for five 
years was a teacher in the city schools of Boone, 
Iowa, is now teaching in California. Clyde, 
who married Dolly Armstrong, is a farmer in 



Des Moines township. Olive and Josephine are 
both graduates of the Woodward high schoow 
and both are attending college at Ames, Iowa. 
In his political views Mr. Calonkey is inde- 
pendent. While in Boone county he served 
as school director and as township trustee for 
several years and has been a member of the 
school board of Woodward. He has likewise 
served as mayor of Woodward for two years 
and in these various public duties he has been 
earnest and painstaking in meeting the re- 
quirements of the office. He belongs to the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows and is a past 
grand of the lodge at Woodward and in every 
relation in which he is found he is loyal to 
his convictions, efficient and trustworthy. In 
his political service and in fraternal offices he 
has won and merited high regard, and in his 
business life has met with a large measure of 



C. B. PIERCE. 



C. B. Pierce, who is familiarly called Char- 
ley by his numerous friends, has been engaged 
in the livery business in Woodward for the 
past five years. He is well known in the town 
and county in this connection, and throughout 
the state as a member of the team of the Odd 
Fellows lodge, being an enthusiastic represent- 
ative of this order — and well may he be proud 
of the record of the team, which has won the 
highest honors in the country in two out of 
three national contests. 

Mr. Pierce is a native of Boone county, Iowa, 
his birth having occurred in Cass township, 
November 18, 1862. His grandfather, EU- 
jah Pierce, went to Boone county, Iowa, in 
1857, from Sangamon county, Illinois. He had 
previously married Cynthia Nance. He, to- 
gether with his two sons, Newton and John, 
Ijought three hundred and twenty acres of wild 
land, which they improved. Elijah Pierce had 
ten children: Jane, living in Woodward the 
widow of John Darrell ; John ; Newton living in 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



695 



Perry; Alice, wife of Silas Biggs, of Boone, 
Iowa; Jasper, living in Woodward; Mrs. Lik- 
ens, deceased, who was the widow of Andrew 
Likens; James, living in Woodward; Halsey, 
of Woodward; Hepsey, wife of George Zeck- 
naan; and Melvin, of Boone county. Halsey 
and James are bachelors. They lived with and 
kept house for their parents for four years and 
then for eighteen years continued to live on 
the place. They did the cooking, washing, 
farming and all work done on the place. They 
lived on the farm which their father settled on 
in 1857 until the spring of 1907 when they 
sold and moved to Woodward, where they now 
own a home in which they do all the house 
work. 

John Pierce was born near Springfield, 
Sangamon county, Illinois, and there grew to 
manhood. Coming west to Iowa in 1856, he 
settled in Boone county, where he broke land 
and opened up a farm. He is still actively en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits in that locality. 
After his arrival his father and brothers joined 
him, in 1857, and the Pierce family and their 
relatives were among the pioneer settlers of 
Boone county, being well and favorably known 
in this section of the state. In the early '60s 
John Pierce killed an elk and buffalo on the 
old home place. John Pierce was married in 
Boone county to Miss Margaret Ellison, a na- 
tive of Indiana, and to them were born three 
sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet 
living, with the exception of one daughter. 

C. B. Pierce was reared to manhood in the 
county of his nativity and the common schools 
afforded him his educational privileges. He 
remained with his father until twenty-two 
years of age and assisted in carrying on the 
home farm, thus gaining a practical business 
e.xperience which has been a strong element 
in his success in later life. He was married at 
the age of twenty-three years, on the 1st of 
July, 1886, to Miss Mary Preston, who was 
born April 10, 1868, and reared in Des Moines 
township. Her father, Zean Preston, was one 
of the first settlers of this part- of the state. He 
was the postmaster at old Xenia and is the 



present postmaster at Woodward, having served 
in that capacity at dififerent times for about 
twenty-five years. 

Following his marriage Mr. Pierce engaged 
in mining coal for about six years in Boone 
and Polk counties and later turned his atten- 
tion to farming in Dallas county. He owned 
a small tract of land and also rented other 
farms, thus carrying on the work of tilling the 
soil until 1902, when he sold his property and 
removed to Woodward. He purchased a livery 
business, in which he has since been actively 
engaged, and now has a liberal and growing 
patronage, for he has a good line of vehicles 
and a number of horses, and does all in his 
power to meet the wishes and demands of his 
patrons. He has a good barn and he has also 
purchased a residence in the town, thus closely 
allying his interests with those of Woodward. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have been born 
three children: Floyd, born January 15, 1887, 
who is assisting his father in business; Mabel, 
born September 1, 1888, a graduate of the 
Woodward high school and now engaged in 
teaching; and Elva, born August 3, 1890, at 
home. 

Politically Mr. Pierce is a democrat on na- 
tional issues but does not consider himself 
bound by party ties and casts an independent 
local ballot. His chief activity, outside of his 
business, is in connection with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs to Wood- 
ward lodge, in w'hich he has filled all the 
chairs, and is a past grand, while his wife is 
connected with the Rebekah lodge. Mr. Pierce 
belongs to the celebrated degree-team workers, 
consisting of thirty-two members of the Wood- 
ward lodge. This is the most noted lodge 
team in the United States. They appeared 
with many other teams before the sovereign 
grand lodge at Des Moines, where they compet- 
ed and won the first and second prizes over all 
other competing teams from various states. 
They also appeared before the sovereign grand 
lodge at a later meeting in Baltimore, Mary- 
land, where they went through the drill fn 
competition with a great many teams and 



696 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



again won first- and second premiums. They 
made their third appearance before the last 
meeting of the sovereign grand lodge at Toron- 
to, Canada. There was a very strong contest 
between lodges of both the United States and 
Canada and the noted "W'oodward team carried 
off second prize. Mr. Pierce is an enthusiastic 
Odd Fellow, justly proud of his lodge and the 
degree team, which has met with and assisted 
many lodges in Iowa in initiations and degree 
work. Moreover he is loyal to the helpful and 
beneficent teachings of the order and he has the 
high regard and friendship of his brethren, 
while in his home locality he is widely known 
for that genuine worth of character which 
transcends all assumed superiority or acquired 
polish and is of value because it is real. 



JOHN C. ROBISON. 



John C. Robison is operating about three 
hundred acres of the old Robison homestead 
on section 13, Boone township and in his work 
he shows thorough familiarity with modern 
methods of agriculture. He is a native son of 
Dallas county, having been born on the old 
homestead in Boone township, February 6, 
1864. His father, James Robison, was a na- 
tive of Washington county, Pennsylvania, bom 
March 11, 1823, and the grandfather was of 
Irish parentage, the family having been estab- 
lished in ^^^ashington county at an early day. 
James Robison was married there in 1843 to 
Miss Mary Cain who was also born in that 
county. For a number of years he continued 
to follow farming in Washington county and 
there seven children were born unto them. In 
1856 Mr. Robison removed westward to Iowa 
and made a permanent location in Boone town- 
ship, Dallas county, after a residence of two 
years in Jackson county. Here he purchased 
raw land and opened up a farm. He owned 
three hundred and sixty acres and had a well 
improved and valuable place, becoming one of 
the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of 



Dallas county. The soil responded readily to 
the care and cultivation he bestowed upon it 
and annually brought forth rich crops. For 
many years he was active in the work of the 
farm but in his last days the labors of the 
fields were left to others. Here Mr. Robison 
died on the 8th of December, 1906, at the ven- 
erable age of eighty-three years, having long 
sur\'ived his wife who passed away on the 12th 
of March, 1888. 

John C. Robison is the youngest of a family 
of ten children, all of whom reached adult age 
while nine are still living. The eldest son, 
William R., is a farmer, stock raiser and ship- 
per of Booneville, Iowa. Thomas C. is a sub- 
stantial farmer of Boone township, located on 
section 3. Henry is also a farmer in Boone 
township. The sisters are Margaret, the wife 
of William Z. Swallow, who owns and conducts 
a good farm in Boone township; Nancy, who 
resides at the old homestead ; Mary, the widow 
of Henry Swallow and a resident of Boone 
township ; Ellen Jane, who resides with her sis- 
ter Nancy on the old home farm ; Sarah, the 
wife of Alexander Ham, a farmer of Boone 
township; and Ro.?e, who became the wife of 
Martin Dunn and died about the year 1900. 
Of the surviving members of the family, all 
are residents of Boone township and seven of 
the number have reared families of their own. 

On the old homestead farm John C. Robison 
spent the days of his boyhood and youth as- 
sisting his father in carrying on the work of 
the fields, while in the winter season he attend- 
ed the public school and thus acquired his 
education. He was married in Boone town- 
ship, March 6, 1888, to Miss Margaret Helen 
Boone, a daughter of Joshua Boone, who is 
mentioned elsewhere in this work. He then 
located on a part of the old homestead farm, 
where he now resides, and has since been en- 
gaged in the cultivation of the fields and in 
raising and feeding stock. He is a prosperous 
and progressive agriculturist and in all of his 
work accomplishes satisfactory results. He 
owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
on section 22, Boone township, which he now 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



697 



rents. He is a mau of good business ability, of 
upright character and of unfaltering integrity. 
By his father's wishes he was made aduiinistra- 
tor of the estate and has managed the prop- 
erty personally, giving his time and labors to 
the care and improvement of three hundred 
acres of the old homestead. 

Politically Mr. Robison has always been a 
democrat, where national Lssues are concerned, 
hut ca.«t.s an independent local ballot. He was 
nominated and elected assessor for Boone town- 
ship, wEis re-elected and served for four consec- 
utive years. He has never sought or desired 
office, liowever, preferring to give his undivid- 
ed time and attention to his business affairs 
in which lie has made signal success. The 
family have an interesting old relic in the 
.^liai^e of a public sale bill that has been owned 
by them for nearly half a century. It is an 
advertisement of a sale held by the grandfather 
in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Both 
.Mr. and Mr.s. Robison are members of the 
Presbyterian church at Waukee. He is well 
known in Dall;i.s and Polk covuities and has 
seen nuich of the developuient of thi- part of 
the state. His entire Hfe has been spent upon 
the farm. 



H. R. NAIDEX. 



H. R. Naiden was the first station agent at 
Woodward and for nearly twenty years has 
been actively engaged in mei'chandising in the 
town, his labors contributing to its commercial 
activity and consequent growth. His life hi-- 
tory began on the 9tli of April, 1859, in Rock 
county, Wisconsin, and in that state he was 
reared to manhood. He acquired his primaiy 
education in the common schools, supplement- 
ed by a few terms' study in the Edgerton high 
school, and subsequently he entered the rail- 
road ser\'ice. He worked at several places in 
his native state along the line of the Wisconsin 
Central Railroad and afterward entered the 
employ of another road in Minnesota. Subse- 
quently he went to Kansas, being stationed at 



Atchison and other places in that state, and 
later was at Las Vegas, New Mexico, as station 
agent on the Santa Fe for a short time. Re- 
turning to the north he was connected with 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, 
after which he came to Woodward. He con- 
tinued in the railroad service at different 
places, acting as city ticket agent at Council 
Bluffs for a time, and from there went to Colo- 
rado, repi'esenting the Union Pacific Railroad 
Company at Denver and Black Hawk. Subse- 
quently he returned to Woodward as station 
agent, continuing here for a year, when he 
again returned to the Union Pacific service in 
Denver. He was also in the general offices of 
(he company at Omaha, Nebraska, and upon 
his retirement from the railroad service, in 
which he had continued so long and faithfully 
— for a period of thirteen years — he turned Iris 
attention to merchandising. 

In the meantime Mr. Naiden was married, 
in 1884, to Miss Carrie L. Sanks, a daughter 
of Dr. J. A. Sanks, who was one of the pioneer 
physicians in this part of the state and in 
active pi'actice here for a number of year's. He 
also engaged in the drug business here and was 
well known as a practitioner and business man, 
remaining as an active factor in the life and in- 
terests of Woodward up to the day of his death, 
which occurred .January 2, 1891. Mrs. Naiden 
wa.s born -and reared here and was educated 
in the convent at Ottiuiiwa, Iowa. Following 
his marriage Mr. Naiden joined Dr. Sanks in 
the drug business, in 1890, and a few years 
later added a stock of hardware, implements 
and groceries. He is a practical and successful 
business man and has a large store, mth an 
implement warehouse adjoining. As a rrier- 
chant he has made a creditable and enviable 
record, both for success and the straightforward 
methods he has followed, and aside from his 
mercantile interests he is a member and secre- 
tary of the Woodward Improvement & De- 
velopment Company, in which connection he 
has done much for the upbuilding of the city. 

Mr. and Mrs. Naiden have a family of three 
sons and five daughters: Fred S. and .James 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



H., who are students in the Agricultural Col- 
lege, at Ames, Iowa; Viva G., who is a student 
in the Iowa State University; Winnie; Mary; 
Earl; Elma; and Vera. 

Mr. Naiden has taken a prominent part in 
the affairs of the town, serving as a member of 
the town council and as mayor, and is much 
interested in the work of public education. He 
has been president of the school board for 
several years, in which connection his labors 
have been extremely beneficial. Mr. Naiden 
is a prominent Mason, belonging to Woodward 
lodge, A. F. & A. M., in which he has served 
in all the chairs and is a past master, while 
he has also represented the subordinate body 
in the grand lodge of the state. He has like- 
wise attained the thirty-second degree in Des 
Moines consistorj' and is well known in Mason- 
ic circles as one familiar with the craft and its 
tenets and true to its teachings. His progress 
in the world has been made along lines bene- 
ficial alike to himself and the communities in 
which he has lived. He has been and is num- 
bered among the world's workers and realizing 
the truth of the old saying: "Earn thy reward: 
the gods give naught to sloth," he has put forth 
strenuous and eff'ective effort, gaining a credit- 
able position in the business life and in the re- 
gard of his fellowmen. 



MRS. SARAH BRITTON. 

Mrs. Sarah Britton was born in Bureau 
county, Illinois, in 1853. She was a daughter 
of William and Philena Whipple, the father a 
native of Rhode Island and the mother a na- 
tive of Indiana. This worthy couple, who set- 
tled in Illinois at a very early day, have long 
since passed a-svay. To their union were born 
five children, three of whom are now living; 
John, who is in California; Hattie, the wife 
of B. Andrews, who is a resident of Missouri; 
and Mrs. Britton, the subject of this sketch. 

Her educational advantages as a girl were 
limited, because it was not deemed necessary 



that the daughters have so extensive an edu- 
cation as the sons. She was early initiated into 
all of the hard work which women must do on 
the farm. Little did she think how appro- 
priate this training would be for the misfortune 
that later overtook her. 

In 1873 Sarah Whipple was married to Ira 
Britton and to their union were born eight 
children : Eunice P. is the wife of Chester 
Reed, of North Dakota, and has one daughter, 
Opal Irene, five years of age. Nellie M. is the 
wife of Frank Brown, also of North Dakota, 
and they have a son and daughter: Dallas 
Ward, two years of age; and Elva Darling, in 
her first year. William B., who makes his 
home in North Dakota, is married and has two 
children: Lela Violet, six years of age; and 
Lyl'^ Bowen, not yet a year old. C. F., resid- 
ing in North Dakota, is married and has a 
daughter, Norma Marie, in her first year. A. 
L., also of North Dakota, is married and has a 
son, Hiram, two years of age. Bessie M. is 
the wife of Frank Beaver of Minburn. 
Goldie E. is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Britton 
came to Iowa in 1877 and bought a farm in 
Washington township. They worked dili- 
gently to bring this place to a state where it 
would yield the returns that would insure 
them a substantial living and had just reached 
the point where they felt they were beginning 
to attain their desire when Mr. Britton was 
drowned while out fishing with a party of 
friends in 1889. Mrs. Britton was thus left 
a widow with eight children but she was not 
one of the kind to sit down in idleness and 
grieve. She realized that she must rear and 
educate her family and in order to do this as 
she desired she must carry on the farm. By 
determined effort she succeeded and is now the 
owner of three hundred and twenty acres of 
land on sections 28 and 29, Washington town- 
ship. While she has been through some try- 
ing experiences she has learned by each one 
and IS now able to manage and attend to all 
of her financial aft'airs. She has been enabled 
to carry out the plans which she and her hus- 
band bad taken so much pleasure in making. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



701 



She is an active member of the Christian 
church. The women of America are equal to 
almost anything and today are invading nearly 
every line of industry. The hard work of the 
farm has long been done quite as much by the 
wives of the land as by the husbands, but the 
woman who can manage and conduct the out- 
door work of the farm is an exception, and Mrs. 
Britton has been able to attain this distinction. 



JOSHUA BOONE. 



Few if any of the residents of Dallas county 
have longer resided within its borders or have 
more intimate knowledge of its development 
and its history than Joshua Boone, who is liv- 
ing on section 20, Boone township, and who 
came to the county in 1847, to find here a wild 
and unsettled district which was at times the 
hunting ground of the red men, and the haunt 
of deer and other wild game. Now all this 
has changed. The then uncultivated prairie 
is today rich and fertile fields ; the streams have 
been bridged and the forests cut, while here 
and there towns and villages have sprung up 
and the county gives every evidence of a pro- 
gressive and modern civilization. 

Mr. Boone, as one of the first pioneers, well 
deserves mention in this volume. He was born 
in Rush county, Indiana, January 29, 1834, 
a son of William Davis Boone, a native of 
Boone county, Ohio, the grandfather being one 
of the earliest settlers there. It was in that 
county that W. D. Boone was reared. He 
learned the tanner's trade in Cincinnati and 
followed it to some extent, going to Harrison 
county, Indiana, when a young man and there 
working as a tanner. While there he was united 
in marriage to Miss Susannah Farnsley, a na- 
tive of Kentucky, who went with her father to 
Indiana. In the year 1846 William D. Boone 
came to Dallas county, where he purchased a 
claim of several hundred acres, and the follow- 
ing year he removed his family to his new 
home. Here he cultivated his land and opened 



up a farm, upon which he reai'ed his family 
and spent his last days, although his death oc- 
curred in Des Moines, whither he had gone 
on a business trip. He was then fifty-eight 
years of age. His wife survived him for a num- 
ber of years and died on the old home farm. 

Joshua Boone is one of a family of two sons 
and seven daughters, of whom he and four 
sisters are yet living. His life, in youth and 
early manhood, was spent upon the frontier, — 
first of Indiana and later of Iowa. He came 
to this state when a young man of seventeen 
years and assisted in the arduous task of break- 
ing the sod, planting the crops and otherwise 
developing the farm. He remained upon the 
old home place until he had attamed his ma- 
jority and assisted to carry on the farm until 
after his father's death. He was about twenty- 
four years of age when he won a companion 
and helpmate for hfe's journey, through his 
marriage in Boone township, March 22, 1858, 
to Miss Emiline Speer, a native of Ohio and a 
daughter of William Speer, who died in the 
Buckeye state. Mrs. Boone came to Dallas 
county in 1854. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Boone 
located on the farm where they now live, oc- 
cupying the house in which his father had first 
lived on coming to this county. It was their 
home for four years when Mr. Boone built a 
commodious, neat, frame dwelling. Recently 
he has erected a large barn and has put up 
other outbuildings, affording ample shelter for 
grain and stock. He broke and fenced his 
land and made the farm what it is today — 
one of the finest properties in the county. He 
owns five hundred acres in the home place, 
with three hundred and twenty acres east, in 
Boone township, and one hundred and twenty 
acres in Van Meter township. His possessions 
aggregate nine hundred and forty-three acres, 
including three acres purchased later from his 
mother, making him one of the extensive land- 
owners of the county — and for this he deserves 
much credit, as nearly all has been acquired 
through his perseverance and diligence. He 
has planted an orchard, set out shade trees and 



702 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



made a very valuable place of his home farm, 
and in connection with the cultivation of grain 
he has been engaged extensively and success- 
fully in the raising and feeding of stock. He 
received two hundred acres of land from his 
father, but otherwise has gained through his 
own labor all that he now owns. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boone were born five 
sons and five daughters: William D., who is 
in business for himself; Frank, a farmer near 
Waukee, who is married and has five children ; 
Charles, now on his father's farm; John, a 
farmer of Boone township, who is married and 
has one daughter; Harry, who is married and 
lives on the home fai-m; Mrs. Flora Smith, 
who is a widow and is teaching in Linden; 
Helen, the wife of John Eobison, a resident 
farmer of the township ; Stella, the wife of El- 
mer Robison, of Boone township; Hattie, at 
home ; and one, Jennie, who died in infancy. 

In his political views Mr. Boone is a republi- 
can. He has served as township trustee, was 
road supervisor for years and has been officially 
identified with the schools. Few men from 
personal obsei-vation are so well acquainted 
with the history of the county. Events which 
to others are matters of record are to him mat- 
ters of experience or of personal obsei-vation. 
He has been particularly helpful in reclaiming 
Avild land and converting it into rich farm.s 
and has thus contributed largely to the agri- 
cultural development of the county. 



JOHN STUBER. 



John Stuber, formerly actively connected 
with the agricultural interests of the county, 
owning and operating three hundred acres of 
land, is now living retired in Woodward, where 
he has made his home since 1893. The rest 
which he is now enjoying is well merited for 
all that he possesses has been earned through 
his well directed labor. 

Mr. Stuber was born in Holmes county, 
Ohio, September 24, 1838, a son of Daniel 



Stuber, a native of Germany, who came to 
America when a young man of nineteen years.- 
He worked in glass factories in Philadelphia 
for several years and was married there to 
Miss Mai'y Boda, a native of Pennsylvania, 
who was born in Philadelphia but was of Ger- 
man parentage. In the first year of their mar- 
riage, 1835, the}' removed to Holmes county, 
Ohio, where Mr. Stuber entered from the gov- 
ernment one hundred and sixty acres of land 
and made a home. There all of his children, 
seven in number, were born. Three of the 
family reached mature years. In 1894 the 
father came to Iowa and made his home in 
Woodward until his death, which occurred 
in 1897, when he was eighty-seven years of 
age. He had been married a second time, in 
Henry county, Illinois, his second union being 
with Christina Boostrum, whose death occurred 
in Illinois. 

John Stuber was reared upon the home 
farm and is indebted to the district-school sys- 
tem of his native state for tjie educational privi- 
leges he enjoyed. He went with his parents to 
Illinois in 1858 and, settling in Henry county, 
purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres which he improved and made his home. 
He had lived with his father until his twenty- 
ninth year and was then married. It was on 
the 24th of September, 1867, that he wedded 
Priscilla Roberts, a native of Mercer county, 
Illinois, and a daughter of E. S. Roberts, a 
fanner of Rock Island and Henry counties, 
who on leaving Illinois came to Iowa. He was 
born in Maine and in 1884 removed from 
Adair county to Dallas county, living in Wood- 
ward until his death, which occurred in 1886, 
when he was sixty-nine years of age. His 
widow is still residing in Woodward, at the 
age of seventy-seven years, making her home 
with Mr. and Mrs. Stuber. 

After his marriage Mr. Stuber purchased 
eighty acres of land which he improved and 
he also rented the home farm. He tiled his 
eighty acres and converted it into a good tract 
of land, which he continued to cultivate until 
1881. when he sold that property and came to 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



703 



Iowa. In the previous year he had purchased 
one hundred and foi"ty acres of land in Des 
Moines township, Dallas county, and the next 
fall he bought one hundred and sixty acres in 
Beaver township. He improved both places, 
made a road and fenced his land in Beaver 
township and converted his property into ex- 
cellent farms. He made his home upon the 
Des Moines township place, added to and re- 
modeled the house, built a barn and other out- 
buildings, did some tiling on both farms and 
carried on his work in keeping with the spirit 
of progressive agriculture, which has so largely 
revolutionized methods of farming in the last 
third of a century. In connection with the 
cultivation of the fields he raised and fed both 
cattle and hogs, making a specialty of Aber- 
deen cattle and Poland China hogs, selling 
about two carloads each year. He continued 
actively in the farm work until 1893, when 
he retired to private life and has since lived 
in Woodward, enjoying the fruits of his former 
toil without further i-ecourse to labor, save his 
supervision of his farming interests. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stuber have been born 
five children: Leon, who is a graduate of the 
Woodward high school, married Effie Gill and 
is conducting a draying business in Wood- 
ward ; Mary Louise, who was engaged in teach- 
ing school for several years, is the wife of C. W. 
Holcomb, of Madrid, Iowa; Sena, who also en- 
gaged in teacliing school prior to her marriage, 
is now the wife of Richard Elliott and they live 
upon her father's farm ; Emma, wlio was a suc- 
cessful teacher for six years, is the wife of 
Joe Storms, Jr., a resident farmer of Des 
Moines township; Gladys is a student of the 
Woodward high school of the class of 1908. 

Mr. Stuber has been a lifelong democrat 
where national issues are involved, but at local 
elections casts an independent ballot, voting 
for men and measures rather than party. He 
has filled the office of township trustee for 
three terms and was tax collector in Illinois, 
but since coming to Woodward has always re- 
fused office. He has, however, been a delegate 
to convontiniis at Pon-v. Adel and Des Moines. 



He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity 
and to the Knights and Ladies of Security. 
He became a charter member of the latter, has 
filled all of its offices and at present is the 
treasui-er and collector. He has been identified 
with school boards in Illinois and Iowa for a 
cjuarter of a century, in which connection he 
has done effective work for the cause of edu- 
cation. His life has ever been an active and 
useful one and his work in business lines and 
for the public good has been effectual and 
beneficial. His property has all been acquired 
through his own diligence and well directed 
labor, making him one of the prosperous resi- 
dents of Woodward and Dallas county. 



SAMUEL S. McKIBBEN, JR. 

Samuel S. McKibben, Jr., a resident farmer 
of Adams township, born on the place which 
is now his home, his natal day being February 
15, 1859, is a son of Samuel S. McKibben, 
Sr., and further mention of the family history 
is made in connection with the sketch of his 
brother, G. S. McKibben, on another page of 
this work. His boyhood and youth were spent 
at home and his education was acquired in 
the district schools. He was a student in one 
of the typical pioneer log schoolhouses of the 
period, with its greased paper windows, slab 
benches and huge fireplace. The curriculum 
was not extensive but it brought to the stu- 
dent a good knowledge of the fundamental 
principles of English learning. At an early 
age, almost as soon as he could hold a plow, 
Mr. McKibben was at work in the fields, and 
long before he had attained his majority he 
and his brother, G. S. McKibben, were operat- 
ing the farm for the father, who for years was 
in poor health. After his death the brothers 
continued the management of the property for 
the mother and subsequent to her demise the 
estate was divided, Samuel McKibben receiv- 
ing as his share of the estate one hundred and 
six acres of the home farm. He has made 



704 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



agriculture his life work and has prospered in 
the undertaking. In December, 1896, he pur- 
chased of the railroad an adjoining forty- 
acre tract, so that the place now comprises one 
hundred and forty-six acres of rich and pro- 
ductive land. The farm is well tilled and every- 
thing about the place indicates his careful su- 
pervision and practical, progressive methods. 
The fields bring forth rich crops and the latest 
improved machinery is used to facilitate the 
farm work. In 1903 Mr. ilcKibben erected 
one of the handsome and modern farm resi- 
dences of Adams township, supplied with hot 
and cold water, bath, and all conveniences 
known to the model home of the present day. 
This residence is built on the site of the old 
home of the family and is one of the attractive 
features of the landscape. The place in all its 
departments shows the work of the master 
farmer, the improvements being the best, at- 
tracting the attention and admiration of all 
who pass by. 

On Christmas day of 1878 Mr. McKibben 
was united in marriage to Miss Lillie A. Mark, 
a daughter of AVilliam A. Marks, one of the 
pioneer settlers of Adams township and a vet- 
eran of the Civil war, who is yet one of the 
old and respected citizens of this locality. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. McKibben have been born six 
children, three sons and three daughters : Eva- 
lina Dell, the wife of Leonard H. Cook, a resi- 
dent farmer of Union township; Byron B., liv- 
ing in Adams township; L. Scott, who is a 
graduate of the Highland Park College, at Des 
Moines, and is at home ; Samuel C, Lulu May 
and Veta Loyone, all yet at home. 

At the polls Mr. McKibben exercises his 
right of franchise in support of the men and 
measures of the republican party and has held 
the office of justice of the peace. He and his 
family are members of the L^nited Brethren 
church and are interested in its work and the 
extension of its influence. He is regarded as 
one of the substantial and highly esteemed 
residents of Dallas county. His entire life 
has been spent upon the farm -which is yet his 
home and his time and energies have ever been 



given to agricultural pursuits with the result 
that has unabating labor and unremitting dili- 
gence have brought him a goodly measure of 
prosperity. He is a worthy representative of 
an old pioneer family and his honorable rec- 
ord adds further luster to an untarnished fam- 
ily name. 



JOHN PERRY. 



John Perry is living on section 5, Des Moines 
township. His success in business makes him 
a leading citizen of the commimity, but more- 
over he is entitled to mention in this volume 
by reason of the fact that he is one of the old 
settlers of Dallas county, having arrived here 
in 1853, at which time he took up his abode 
at High Bridge in Des Moines township. There 
was then only one house between the Perry 
farm and Raccoon river, a distance of eighteen 
miles. Mr. Perry was born in Montgomery 
county, Ohio, his birth having occurred where 
the city of Dayton now stands, May 7, 1837. 
His father, Peter Perrj', was born in Highland 
county, Ohio, in 1810, and was there reared 
and married, the lady of his choice being Miss 
Priscilla White, also a native of that county. 
He continued his residence in Ohio until 1845, 
when he removed to Tippecanoe county, Indi- 
ana, where he followed farming for eight years 
and then came to Dallas county, Iowa, in 1853. 
He drove across the country with ox-teams and 
the slow, plodding movements of those animals 
made it necessary for him to spend four weeks 
on the road, so short a distance did the oxen 
travel in a daj'. At length, however, he reached 
his destination and entered from the govern- 
ment one hundred and sixty-one acres of land 
upon which he built a house, making his home 
there for about twenty years, or until 1872, 
when he removed to Perry. He conducted a 
hotel in the town for several years and then re- 
tired from business life. He continued to reside 
in Perrv' for some time longer, after which he 
removed to the city of Des Moines, where he 
died in 1892, at the age of eighty-two years. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



707 



His wife died in 1895 at the age of seventy- 
seven years. They had a large family of fif- 
teen children, twelve of whom reached adult 
age. 

John Perry, the eldest of this family, was 
reared on the home farm, where he remained 
until he reached his majority. He is largely a 
self-educated man, for his school privileges in 
youth were limited, as he was reared in a pio- 
neer district. He was married in Boone county, 
near Boone, on the 9th of December, 1858, to 
Mlss Catherine Fruit. Mrs. Perry's parents 
were Harmon and Susan (Foster) Fruit, the 
former born in Indiana February 17, 1813, and 
the latter in Ohio April 12, 1813. The father 
died in Boone county in 1889, and the mother 
in the same county in 1895. They went to 
Marcy township, Boone county, in 1857 and 
took up one hundred and twenty acres of gov- 
ernment land, improved it and lived there 
until their death. Mrs. Perry was one of six 
children, of whom three are living. 

After his marriage Mr. Perry rented land in 
Des Moines township until 1866, when he 
made his first purchase — fifty acres on section 
16, Des Moines township. It was on this place 
they resided for fifteen years. Mr. Perry, in 
1867, purchased forty acres on section 10. He 
thus had ninety acres in all in Des Moines 
township, Dallas county, and he bought eighty 
acres more in Boone county which he improved 
and sold. He has gone through all the ex- 
periences of early pioneer farming, breaking 
the prairie, making rail fences and bringing 
his fields under cultivation. In the early days 
he split nine hundred posts, hauled them to 
market at Dallas Center and sold them to John 
Slyer. His farming operations were inter- 
rupted in 1862 by his enlistment at Des Moines 
in defense of the old flag. He joined Company 
I, Thirty-ninth Iowa Vohmteer Infantry, and 
wa.'^ mustered in at Davenport. The first en- 
gagement of the company was at Jackson Cross- 
roads, but Mr. Perry had been ill and could 
not participate in the battle. In 1863 he wa-^ 
discharged for disability and rtturni d fo the 
farm. 



He then rented land until 1866, after which 
he purchased, as previously stated, remaining 
upon this farm until 1881, when he sold out 
and removed to Xenia. He purchased three 
lots and later added to this until he owned 
four blocks. There he remained for fifteen 
years, conducting a meat market for only a few 
months. Subsequently he opened the first 
meat market in the town of Woodward, con- 
ducting it for a year. Then he bought eleven 
acres of land where he now resides, between 
Xenia and Woodward. He erected a nice modern 
residence, barns and sheds, fenced and cleared 
his land, and set out both fruit and shade 
trees and now, in the midst of pleasant surround- 
ings, he is living a retired life, enjoying in 
well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. 
About the middle of July, 1907, Mr. Perry sold 
the property where he now lives and bought 
a house and five lots in Woodward and expects 
to move there soon. He received twenty-five 
hundred dollars for his place, or two hundred 
and fifty dollars per acre. In addition to his 
property in Des Moines township Mr. Perry 
owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in 
South Dakota. In 1879 Mr. Perry contracted 
with the government to carry mail from Des 
Moines to Moingona, Iowa, — a distance of 
forty-five miles. Every other day he went 
from Xenia to Moingona and on the other days 
to Des Moines, making a drive of sixty miles 
a day. When going to the latter place he drove 
a stage wagon and carried passengers and bag- 
gage. He conducted this business from July 
1879, to July, 1880, for the sum of eight hun- 
dred dollars and did not miss a day in the 
entire year. 

Mr. and Mrs. Perry became the parents of 
ten children, of whom seven have reached ma- 
ture years. They also have twenty-five grand- 
children and two great-grandchildren. Their 
eldest son, Ellsworth Perry, who resides in 
Madrid, owns a farm in South Dakota. He 
married Miss Ida "Gibson and they have one 
son, Paul. Alice became the wife of E. K. 
Rnwley, who died in Alaska. She is living 
in Woodward and has two children, La Verne 



708 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALL.\S COUNTY. 



and Kenneth. Emma is the wife of Milton 
Reynolds, a business man of South Dakota, 
who owns two hundred and forty acres of land 
there. They have six children : Mamie, Susan, 
Alice, Alger, Fred and Emma, and their oldest 
child, Mamie, is married and has two children, 
her home being in Oklahoma. Laura Perry, 
the fourth member of the family, is the wife 
of Albert Snogren, a farmer of Des Moines 
township, and they have four children: Earl, 
Elsie, Lula and Eva, while one son, John, died 
in infancy. Mattie Perry is the wife of Emil 
Snogren, a miner of Des Moines township, and 
they have eleven children : Delia, Henry, Nina, 
Hazel, Gladys, Otis, Ruby, Roy, Marie, Mildred 
and a babj'. James Brady Perry married Ida 
Crank, by whom he has two children. Fern 
Beatrice and Ralph. They reside in Wood- 
ward. John Perry, the youngest of the family, 
is a barber in Adair, Iowa. 

Mr. Perry has been closely associated with 
the history of the county in many ways. He 
helped to make the brick for the first brick 
courthouse of Adel. He has never failed to vote 
at a presidential election in support of the can- 
didates of the republican ticket since casting 
his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln. He filled 
the office of road supervisor for several years, 
ran the first grader in the township, helped 
to open up new roads and thus assisted ma- 
terially in promoting the welfare and progress 
of the county. He was also identified with the 
school board for many years and the cause of 
education has always found him a warm friend. 
He belongs to Guthrie post, G. A. R., of Wood- 
ward, and has been a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church since 1857, becoming a char- 
ter member at Woodward. Mrs. Perry, who is 
now in her seventieth year, is also equally de- 
voted to the church and they are both earnest 
Christian people. The number of their friends 
is almost co-extensive with the number of their 
acquaintances, for their many good qualities 
have won for them the warm regard and good- 
will of all with whom they have come in con- 
tact. 

Mr. Perrv can relate manv interestino; inci- 



dents of pioneer life. He remembers to have 
seen a steamboat loaded with salt go up the Des 
Moines river in the spring of 1857, proceed- 
ing as far north as Fort Dodge, while another 
got as far as Colonel Roe's in Boone county, 
near old Boonesboro. In those days it was a 
common occurrence to see rafts of timber float 
down the river to Fort Des Moines. In the 
spring of 1858 Mr. Perry saw another boat 
go north, passing his father's place, which was 
on the bluff near where the high bridge now 
-pans the river. When the family located in 
Des Moines township in the fall of 1853 the 
following were heads of families living there: 
Juda Teaming, Aaron T. Johns, 0. D. Smal- 
ley, Richard Piatt, Mrs. Elizabeth Howland, S. 
Peloher, Isaac Robbins, A. C. Newell, David 
Ray, William Chestnut, Dr. Speer, Washing- 
ton K. AVatson, Elisha Teaming, James Ince, 
II. Ince, Jaduthan Waldo, Almarian Waldo, 
Daniel Rhodes, Dan Skinner, Ed Thornley, 
John Bailey, Harvey Biggs, Peter Harvey, 
John Newland, Joseph Newland, Washington 
Rinker and Samuel Warden, of those only Mrs. 
Elizabeth Newell now survive. 



FREDERICK SEARS. 

There is particular satisfaction in reverting 
to the life history of the honored and venerable 
gentleman whose name initiates this review. 
He has lived here from early pioneer days, has 
been a loyal citizen of the county and in his 
business life has gained an honorable success. 
He still resides on the old home farm — now 
being operated by his two sons — and has at- 
tained the age of eighty-four years. 

Mr. Sears was born in Switzerland, May 19, 
1823, and his parents, Christ and Magdalena 
Sears, were also natives of that country. They 
sailed for America in the year 1834 but the 
father died during the trip westward from the. 
sea coast, his death occurring in a hospital 
at Buffalo, New York. The mother and her 
children then continued on their way to Mon- 
roe county, Ohio, where she bought a farm 




MR. AND MRS. JOHN PERRY 



TAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



709 



and made her home until her death, which 
occurred thirty-two years later — in 1866. In 
the family were ten children but only two 
are now living, the sister, Susan, b.eing a resi- 
dent of Monroe county, Ohio. 

When a youth of eleven years Frederick 
Sears bade adieu to friends and native land 
and with his parents came to the new world. 
He acquired his education in an old log school- 
house in Ohio, living in that state amid pio- 
neer surroundings. When he reached the age 
of seventeen years he began working on a 
steamboat on the Missis.sippi river that ran be- 
tween Cincinnati and New Orleans and was 
thus employed for fourteen years, — this being 
his first independent venture. 

During this time Mr. Sears was married, in 
1849, to Miss Amanda Harrison, who was 
born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1827, a 
daughter of John and Mary Harrison. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sears have become the parents of 
ten children, eight of whom are yet living: 
Bates, who is upon the home farm; Fleming, 
who is living in Audubon county, Iowa; 
Charles, a resident of Adair county, Iowa; Lin- 
coln, whose home is in Council Bluffs; Mar- 
shall, who is associated with his eldest brother 
in the management and operation of the home 
farm ; John, of Adel ; and Mary and Elsie, at 
home. 

It was in the year 1854 that Mr. Sears came 
to Iowa, settling in Dallas county where he 
entered a farm of two hundred acres in Adams 
township. He yet resides upon this place, al- 
though the present highly improved property 
bears little resemblance to the tract which he 
secured from the government at a dollar and 
a quarter per acre. It is now valued at one 
hundred dollars or more per acre, owing to the 
settlement of the county and the many splen- 
did improvements that Mr. Sears has made 
upon his farm. When he arrived in Dallas 
county he built a small log house of two rooms 
and lived in it for a long time, but as the 
years passed by atid his financial resources in- 
creased, his desire for a better home saw ful- 
fillment in the erection of a fine residence. 



lie also put up excellent outbuildings and set 
out a large orchard of fine varieties of fruits. 
Indeed all the modern accessories and equip- 
ments of a model farm were added, including 
the latest improved machinery to facilitate the 
work of the fields. All this is in marked con- 
trast to the conditions which existed at the 
time of his arrival. People of the present pe- 
riod can scarcely realize the struggles and 
dangers which attended the early settlers, the 
heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon 
the borders of civilization, the hardships en- 
dured, the difficulties overcome. These tales 
of the early days read almost like a romance 
to those who have known only the modern 
prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer 
of the early day, far removed from the privi- 
leges and conveniences of city or town, the 
struggle for existence was a stern and hard 
one, and these men and women must have pos- 
sessed indomitable energy and sterling worth 
of character as well as marked physical cour- 
age, when they thus voluntarily selected such 
a life and successfully fought its battles under 
such circumstances as then prevailed in Iowa. 
Mr. Sears, however, has lived to see all this 
changed and today is enjoying the fruits of 
his former toil in a pleasant home, amid com- 
fortable surroundings. 

In politics Mr. Sears has always been a demo- 
crat and for several years served as school direct- 
or. He and his wife, who has always been a 
faithful companion and helpmate on the jour- 
ney of life, are supporters of the Christian 
church. They are a most highly esteemed and 
venerable couple and this history would be in- 
complete without their record. 



G. H. THORNLEY. 



G. H. Thornley, as a financier of Dallas 
county whose watchfulness of opportunity, 
strong executive force and business ability have 
gained for him distinction among the most suc- 
cessful business men, has lived in Woodward 



710 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



for nearly twenty years and is therefore widely 
known. He is, moreover, a native son of Iowa, 
his birth having occurred in Des Moines town- 
ship, Dallas county, on the 17th of April, 1853. 
His father, Henry Thornley, was born in Illi- 
nois, was there reared to manhood and in that 
state was married. About 1849 he removed to 
Iowa, settling in Dallas county, where he se- 
cured a tract of wild land and opened up a 
farm in Des Moines township. There he died 
in the prime of life in 1853 and his was the 
first interment made in the old cemetery. His 
wife survived him for many years and passed 
away in 1901, at the age of sixty-nine. 

G. H. Thornley is one of two sons, his 
brother, S. M. Thornley, being a retired mer- 
chant of Perry, Iowa. The subject of this 
review was reared in Dallas county by his 
grandfather, J. Waldo Thornley, who was one 
of the pioneers of this part of the state and 
who in an early day entered land from the 
government on Beaver creek near the present 
city of Perry. Later he disposed of that prop- 
erty and secured a claim in Des Moines town- 
ship which he improved. Upon this place he 
added modern equipment, spending his re- 
maining years there upon the excellent farm 
which he had developed. It was as a member 
of his father's household that G. H. Thornley 
grew to manhood, assisting in the work of the 
farm as his age and strength permitted. He 
acquired his primary education in the com- 
mon schools but is largely self-educated, gain- 
ing the greater part of his knowledge through 
reading, experience and observation since at- 
taining to mature j'ears. He possesses an ob- 
serving eye and retentive memory and has 
thus greatly supplemented the learning of his 
early school days. He was married in Des 
Moines township, near Woodward, to Miss Mar- 
ion McCoU, who was born in Caledonia, New 
York, and was there reared. She is a sister of 
A. M. McCoU who is mentioned elsewhere in 
this volume. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thornley began their domestic 
life upon the farm and in 1887 Mr. Thornley 
came to Woodward, where he established a 



store, opening up a general line of merchan- 
dise. He built a good brick house and con- 
tinued in the sale of goods for a number of 
years, gradually securing a large and profitable 
trade. He carried on the business until 1904 
when he helped to organize the Farmers Bank 
of Woodward with Charles Brenton as presi- 
dent and G. H. Thornley as vice president. 
They are now conducting a general banking 
business with almost unlimited capital and 
the institution has become recognized as one 
of the strong moneyed concerns of the city. 
They have put up a neat brick bank building 
and are receiving a good share of public pa- 
tronage. Mr. Thornley has erected two busi- 
ness houses and several residences and has 
helped to build up and make the town, con- 
tributing of his time and means to many pro- 
gressive public movements. In addition to his 
other business afl'airs he has become the owner 
of several hundred acres of land, near Wood- 
ward, which are cultivated under his personal 
ouper\dsion. In all of his business life he has 
displayed keen discernment and sound judg- 
ment and has carried forward to successful 
completion whatever he has undertaken. 

L'nto Mr. and Mrs. Thornley have been bom 
two daughters: Clara Belle and Hazel K., 
young ladies at home. 

Politically Mr. Thornley is a republican but 
he has never sought or desired office, prefer- 
ring to give his undivided attention to his busi- 
ness interests. He is a member of the Wood- 
ward lodge of Odd Fellows, has filled all of 
the chairs and is a past grand, while his wife 
has been equally honored in the Reljekah lodge 
with which she affiliates. She belongs to the 
Methodist Episcopal church and is much in- 
terested in the work of the church and Sunday 
school, acting as one of the teachers in the 
latter. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thornley have 
many warm friends in Dallas county and the 
hospitality of their own home is greatly en- 
joyed by those with whom .they have social 
relations. Mr. Thornley has spent his entire 
life in this county and therefore its history is 
largely familiar to him. He has done not a 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



711 



little to mold public policy in Woodward and 
Des Moines township and his co-operation has 
been given along those lines which work for 
public improvement and substantial progress. 



ELMER ROBISON. 



Elmer Robison, whose home farm is an ex- 
cellent tract of land of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 22, Boone township, is engaged 
in feeding and shipping stock in connection 
with the cultivation of grain, and is well known 
as one of the practical and progressive agricul- 
turists of his community. He was born in the 
township where he still resides, on the 30th 
of July, 1871. His father, William Robison, 
was a native of Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania, born in December, 1847, and was a son 
of James Robison, who in 1857 removed from 
the Keystone state to Iowa, spending the first 
two years in Dubuque. In the latter part of 
1858 he came to Dallas county, taking up his 
abode in Boone township, where he opened 
up a farm and reared his family. He died 
in December, 1896, at an advanced age. 

William Robison was only ten years of age 
when brought by his parents to this state. 
Here he was reared amid the wild scenes of 
pioneer life at a time when Indians were nu- 
merous in the district and when deer and 
other wild game were to be had in abundance. 
Having arrived at years of maturity, he was 
married here to Miss Ellen Knight, a native 
of Indiana, who left that state, however, when 
a child of five years in company with her 
father, George Knight, who was also one of 
the early settlers here. He later joined a son 
in Nebraska, where he died in 1900, at the 
advanced age of ninety-five years. William 
Robison was for a considerable period actively 
engaged in general agricultural pursuits and 
thus acquired a comfortable competence. In 
1902 he removed to Booneville, where he now 
resides, being there engaged in buying and 
shipping stock. He is one of the active and 



energetic men of the community and one of 
the oldest settlers of the county, having for 
almost six decades resided within its borders. 
In his family were two children, the daughter 
Ellen being now the wife of Frank Griffith, 
a resident farmer of Boone township. 

Elmer Robison was reared on the old home- 
stead and at the usual age became a pupil in 
the district school, where he mastered the com- 
mon branches of English learning. He re- 
mained with his father during the period of 
his boyhood and youth and then engaged in 
farming on his own account. As a companion 
and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss 
Stella Boone, a daughter of Joshua Boone, who 
is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Their 
wedding was celebrated on the 12th of Febru- 
ary, 1896. Mrs. Robison was born and reared 
here and acquired a public-school education. 
After their marriage Mr. Robison rented land 
and engaged in farming in this township, also 
raising stock. He afterward bought a farm in 
Missouri but later sold that property and in 
1904 located where he now resides. Here in 
connection with general farming he raises, 
fattens and ships stock, sending out about two 
carloads of stock per year. His business in- 
terests are well managed and are bringing him 
a good financial return. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Robison have been born 
three children, Clara Belle, J. Earl and Doris 
Irene. Mr. Robison votes with the republican 
party on national questions, having stanchly 
supported its policy since casting his first presi- 
dential ballot for Benjamin Harrison. He was 
elected and served for four terms as assessor 
and is now secretary of the school board. He 
has likewise been a delegate to various county 
conventions and is recognized as one of the 
strong advocates of republicanism in this 
county. Fraternally he is connected with the 
Modern Woodmen. A native son of the county, 
his memory goes back to the time when he 
had seen various tribes of Indians pass through 
this section of the state. It was a period of 
primitive development here when much of 
the land was unclaimed and uncultivated but 



il2 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



the rapid growth of the county has wrought 
a wonderful transformation, and, like others, 
Mr. Robison has borne his full share in the 
work of agricultural development. 



THOMAS BILDERBACK. 

The farming interests of Adams township 
find a prominent representative in Thomas 
Bilderback, one of the extensive landowners of 
this part of the county. His property interests 
comprise six hundred and forty acres and his 
farm is splendidly improved, indicating the 
spirit of enterprise and progress which has ever 
dominated him in his business life, making 
him one of the prosperous and leading agricul- 
turists of this part of the state. He has now- 
reached the age of three score years and ten 
and is still actively engaged in the supervision 
of his farming interests. He has been closely 
identified with the county and its upbuilding 
since 1856, and prior to that time had resided 
here for a long period, so that he is numbered 
among its oldest settlers. 

His birth occurred in Holmes county, Ohio, 
on the 24th of May, 1837, his parents being 
Masson and Rebecca (Jackson) Bilderback, 
both of whom were natives of AVashington 
county, Pennsylvania, the father's birth hav- 
ing there occurred in 1810, while the mother 
first opened her eyes to the light of day in 
1814. Masson Bilderback became a resident of 
Ohio in 1830 and there remained for two de- 
cades. In the meantime he married and .sev- 
eral children were added to the family during 
their residence in the Buckej^e state. The year 
1850 witnessed his arrival in Iowa, at which 
time he settled in Dallas county, entering a 
claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Adams 
township. He established the first blacksmith 
shop of the district and began the development 
of his farm, but his life's labors were ended in 
death in 1851, when he was but forty-one years 
of age. In 1853 the mother returned with her 
family to Ohio, where her remaining daj^ 



were passed, her death occurring in 1890, when 
she had reached the advanced age of seventy- 
six years. The members of their family were : 
Hannah, now the wife of John Metzler, a resi- 
dent of Ohio; Thomas, of this review; Mary 
Jane, the wife of Cornelius Glick, also living in 
Ohio; Sarah Ann, the wife of RoUin Bowers, 
of the Buckeye state; Joseph, whose home is in 
California; Masson, a resident of Newton, Iowa; 
ajid one deceased, Margaret, wife of D. W. Sny- 
der, who died in Madison county, Iowa, June 
6, 1899. 

Thomas Bilderback was a youth of thirteen 
when he accompanied his parents on their re- 
moval to Iowa and was about sixteen years of 
age at the time of their return to Ohio. He 
had formed a liking for the Hawkeye state, 
however, and in 1856 he came again to Dalhn 
county, where he started in business life as ii 
farm hand, working by the month until 1865. 
Being the eldest son of his father's family he 
had previously provided for the support of 
the other children and although this was a 
heavy responsibility he faithfully discharged 
the trust that devolved upon him. Strenuous 
toil was his lot but he met his duty unflinch- 
ingly and the same spirit of determination and 
courage has characterized him throughout his 
entire life. In Iowa he bore the hardships and 
trials incident to life on the frontier and has 
contributed his full share to the transforma- 
tion of wild land for the uses of civilization. 
In 1862 he made two trips to Denver, Colorado, 
with an ox-team, carrying loads of flour. The 
next year he crossed the plains of California 
with a mule team and in 1865 returned on 
horseback. 

It was on the 26th of December, that year, 
that Mr. Bilderback made preparations for hav- 
ing a home of his own through his marriage to 
Miss Susan Meads, a native of Sangamon coun- 
ty, Illinois, born February 6, 1838, and a 
daughter of William and Sarah (Johnson) 
Meads, the former a native of Illinois and the 
latter of Kentucky. Her father died in his 
native state and the mother afterward removed 
to Missouri, where she lived until 1852, when 




mi;. AM) MRS. 'PIIO-MAS IWLDKHIJACK 



PAST AXT. T^ESEyr tS" HAliAS OC»LM"i. 



Til. 



T^ -fit i^t ^ 



i-T sxBR ^ms -K^s isax^ \m atpnn^i^xBi vHpr one 



fine i 

n: S 



A^H5v V. I>3I«>T- 



,; ^„ ^ - ... £ iia= 

iri? ov J- -dH'-Cct- r - — - jjjjj -go^ jp^ a^ 
Trrnnr- anfi thliggii-- — s -^anrsKr. 

i jcro;. . -a& "ffwiimg agrv 

iT=; jTur-jii;-- " "SfiL aerarmis 

Trmasn : . 7 " - - - --5. -^pu[^ rrtf 

SZVi ■="! ■ -,- ^1^ - - '- _. _ lit Tis^ 

BOOeC T^ ii3 T»''r==r=3rm^ Tit " _ 'V 121? 

pinisr . ~ : - 

JEiiZ :: _ . , J .^ " -_- _- 

L ^M*^ a}«EV(? Ke' It" ~— ^?c 

..: -rr^ IE Tnnii?' '' — J. iS 

- it iK _ 3i£ ^E 

-~^ aid Jhe -ever ar^i'cassd i^ 

- 'ik. 3i i= I. SenjDcsi 



TtTgjtrriit at nnsmss errets- jot jk iicr ij-^^-sr 



pdonees nf X^eltss emnux m li^ hue js a 

XSHCSX Dj "^» *5vil IOC- l»t^TT»p jTfaaM^ BTnnmP 

-m^ Tmiiif£ ■wrmJOTg -i^^m inn sent i; -^^ 

''•III IT 'TTi rtpwnw f nf ^£ SBDS SBS ^^i^^^ rw 

3Utw miss 2^ imrae ic ^&a3^ ^r^br lit s 

Emxssc it '3ff sn^saBooic liii Ti iir t *'l^-> xis 

"iL ' :f:li ~ ?? I_ 'bm far sbbht 3nBS ie "w»s wm 

r ir '^it ^inadfaasfl ^fe ic '3ds 

: . - iOHK- 

miiiBn wmiuT. l<tii^ « pVi *:. 3.SS. ^tv^ tssbssb 

T^if iiOiC- £ miil'lf EC Pf in>-;_i'n.'mi"!ti TC^r miC- 

r:-c ZL TT>gi sHffit- Sf ^r*^ inr snme ~±n»f in 

TuCiaUi- m>n TT ZL^4P £BEK 1I> T teTig^ f-nrrmfTT- 

-— tr 5nr ait ii -i 

-_. . _ - ~ -vint az__ . ._ td 

r-nnTOTTi i~ -^it JndcE- Sic3j= •fgrm. fenr Trnk? 

TWTTi^ nf 4 ftp" iir 'WOH T> nTTir J gwtnr of JuaSfr 
?t nfTv=. Tit iiT'-vi tirrmr- n; 'Hif ibttm ^ 

Tnm tt nrrTTTmn mnmp mr iunst ami ix lifltZ ~i-^' 
'":n'' E •^TBTTtf- T^aOHDH;- St TTHr CUif fif lit 

T^um^ss IE !DtLDB5 emmTT hiib inci ilii 
t; emHasBfi fnnL * - i iir i°- r-aridxaois- £111 c iitcic 

TTT "if f^tidEHnS nf h Tnm trrrr yH ;^pm rrr ±15 
'-:iTi- Ti-pwp -jji Qjis'i nt g ^THTTB «tp*irTni..ii-H THU- 

5IIIE TmrT 18BB. -tcist it 3'5mrn=ic iz -, nfT. . 

Ht T^*? josaK nf ■ait peaet ii. "in !t»zt.~ ^^e: 

" iE rt ^HTT Eiic ir EL •'srjj 

"Tirnncirni: is -ecnr^^ 2rff it 
._ rtfgThr. pm if mflOf tit :»~: 



716 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



use possible of his opportunities. He belonged 
to the Christian church, was a member of the 
Masonic fraternity and in his political views 
wa.* a whig. He died in Adel, at the age of 
sixty-three years, while his wife passed away 
in Perry, when sixty-five years of age. In 
their family were ten children, eight of whom 
are yet living, namely: Sarah E.. the wife of 
John G. Howe, a resident of Los Angeles. Cali- 
fornia; John W. ; Mary E.. the widow of James 
Piatt, and a resident of Perry; Marion L.. who 
married Hattie Tver and after her death 
wedded Rosa Gilroy; Alonzo, who married 
Rachel Robbins and is living in Perry: E. J.; 
Rachel, the wife of Samuel E. Carroll, an 
editor of Iowa City. Iowa : and Nettie, the wife 
of 0. Williams. 

John W. Diddy was a youth of eight years 
when he came with his parents to Iowa. He 
attended school through the winter months and 
worked on the home farm during the sum- 
mer seasons until the 9th of August, 1862. 
when at the age of seventeen j-ears he enlisted 
at Adel as a member of Company C, Thirty- 
ninth Regiment of Iowa "\'olunteers, for three 
years, or during the war. He took part in 
the Atlanta campaign, was in the battles of 
Chattanooga. Lookout Mountain and Buzzard's 
Roost, also in the engagement at AUatoona 
Pass, where the Union troops held the pass 
although with great sacrifice of their own 
men. not more than one hundred of the Thirty- 
ninth Regiment being fit for active duty after 
this engagement. Sherman was at that time 
on Kenesaw Mountain, giving them the sig- 
nal to hold the fort for he was coming. Gen- 
eral Corse was in command at the scene of 
action and the regiment to which Mr. Diddy 
belonged was badly cut up. The commander, 
Colonel Redfield, gave up his life in this bat- 
tle. From AUatoona Pass the regiment went 
to Rome. Georgia, after following General 
Hood down the river for one day. Later they 
were with Sherman on the march to the sea 
through Atlanta to SaA^nnah, thence proceeded 
to Columbia, South Carolina, on through North 
Carolina to Raleigh and to a point thirty 



miles from that city, where Johnston surren- 
dered, Mr. Diddy"s company being on the 
picket line at that place. Subsequently the 
troops proceeded to Pittsburg, to Richmond, to 
Fredericksburg and on to Washington. Mr. 
Diddy was detailed for service in the quarter- 
master's department at Sisters Ferry, Georgia, 
and was discharged at Arlington Heights, be- 
ing mustered out of the army at Clinton, Iowa, 
June 5, 1865. He saw much arduous serv- 
ice, e.xperiencing all of the hardships meted 
out to the soldier on the field of battle. 

When the war was over Mr. Diddy returned 
to Dallas county, where he spent about a year 
and then went to Warren county, Iowa, where 
two years were passed. Following his return 
to Dallas county he located at Thornburg's 
Mill, where he remained for two or three years, 
when he took up his abode on a farm eight 
miles east of Adel and engaged in general agri- 
cultural pursuits. After five years there passed 
he removed to Perry, where he lived for two 
years and then again engaged in farming on 
a tract of land we.'^t of Perry. In 1884 he was 
elected sheriff of Dallas county and removed 
to Adel, entering upon the duties of the office, 
which he discharged so promptly and faith- 
fully that he was re-elected in 1886 and again 
in 1888, serving for six years as sheriff and re- 
tiring from the office as he had entered it, with 
the confidence and good will of all concerned. 
In 1891 he came to Perry, where he has since 
engaged in merchandising, being regarded as 
one of the leading business men of the city. 

Mr. Diddy was married in 1869 to Miss 
Arminta Willis, who was born in Indiana. 
She lost her parents when very young, and 
came to Iowa to live with her aunt and uncle, 
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thornburg. After her 
death Mr. Diddy was again married, his sec- 
ond union being with Nettie Albin, who was 
born in Dallas county and was a daughter of 
Moses and Louise Albin. There were five chil- 
dren by the first marriage: Maud, who died at 
the age of thirty-five years; Claud, who is en- 
gaged in the drug business at Redfield, Iowa; 
Cad, who is western salesman for an eastern 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



717 



wholesale drug house and makes his home in 
Minneapolis; Frank, who is with his brother 
Claud at Redfield ; and Myrtle, the wife of Guy 
Anderson, a resident of Jolly, Iowa. Unto 
the present marriage have been born three chil- 
dren, Harry, Louise and Dorothy. 

In politics Mr. Diddy has always been a 
stanch republican. He served as a member of 
the city council for three terms and in that 
position, as in the office of sheriff, he made a 
most creditable record. He holds member- 
ship with Horeb lodge, No. 408, I. O. O. F.; 
Perry encampment. No. 115 ; and Atkins lodge. 
He belongs to the Christian church and is a 
gentleman whose salient characteristics are 
such as to commend him to the good will and 
trast of all with whom he comes in contact. 
In business he has been reliable, in public serv- 
ive trustworthy, and in the immediate circle 
of friendship he has displayed those qualities 
wiiicli will warm and sincere regard. 



GEORGE W. CURTIS. 

George W. Curtis, one of the leading finan- 
ciers and business men of Dallas county, who 
has been a dominant factor in the upbuilding 
and development of the town of Redfield, is 
now cashier of the State Bank of Redfield. He 
was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 4, 1852, a 
son of George M. and Catherine L. (Bates) 
Curtis, in whose family of two children he 
alone survives. The father was born in Ver- 
mont, removed to Ohio when a young man 
and in 1855 came to Iowa, taking up his abode 
near Clinton. In 1896 he came to Redfield, 
Dallas county, making his home here until 
the time of his death in 1898. 

CJeorgf W. Curtis was reared imder the pa- 
rental roof, acquiring his education in the pub- 
lic schools. In early manhood he took up the 
study of telegraphy and was afterward em- 
f)loyed by the Northwestern Railroad for about 
ten years. On the expiration of this period he 
entered a bank at Westside, Iowa, being there 
emjjloyed as bookkeeper for some two years. 



He was afterward engaged for two years as 
an employee of the Milwaukee road, and then 
went to Dedham, Iowa, where he identified him- 
self with the lumber business as an employee. 
In 1886, Mr. Curtis was one of the organizers 
of the Bank of Dedham, being connected with 
that institution until 1892, when he came to 
Redfield. Soon after his arrival here, in com- 
pany with S. M. Holmes, of Des Moines, Mr. 
Curtis organized the Bank of Redfield, be- 
coming the cashier and practical head of this 
financial enterprise. Mr. Curtis and Mr. 
Holmes built the first brick building in Red- 
field and otherwise aided in its material de- 
velopment. In February, 1907, the bank was 
reorganized into a state bank and is now rec- 
ognized as one of the sound financial institu- 
tions of the county, the reliability and excel- 
lent business ability of its founders and pro- 
moters being unquestioned. Mr. Curtis was 
also one of the organizers of the Smith Produce 
Company, which aggregates some three hun- 
dred thousand dollars' worth of business annu- 
ally, and is serving as secretary and treasurer 
of this company. Since the time of his arrival 
in the town of Redfield there has not been a 
movement or measure instituted for its mate- 
rial prosperity and progress in which Mr. 
Curtis has not been a dominant factor, and it 
is to him that the town is largely indebted for 
its present state of development and progress.' 
Mr. Curtis, in association with Mr. Holmes, 
laid out the East Oak Park addition of Red- 
field and these gentlemen have always been 
foremost in all those things which tend to 
promote the welfare and substantial growth of 
a community. 

In 1874 Mr. Curtis was united in marriage 
to Miss Anna E. Conrod, of Clinton county, 
Iowa, and to this union have been born five 
children: Ida L., who is at home; Francis W., 
also at home; George W., assistant cashier in 
the bank with his father; Claude E., who is 
acting as civil engineer with the Florida & East 
Coast Railroad, the road being built out in the 
ocean; and Mary, the wife of Walter E. Spil- 
lers, a resident of Adel, Iowa. 



718 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



George W. Curtis is a member of Wiscotta 
lodge, No. 158, A. F. & A. M., and also of 
Redfield lodge, No. 346, K. P., the teachings 
of these organizations being exemplified in his 
daily life, for he is ever honorable and straight- 
forward in all his dealings whether in public 
or private life. He is recognized throughout 
Dallas county as one of its leading and repre- 
sentative financiers and progressive citizens, 
whose labors have proved beneficial and effective 
in the upbuilding of his home town. 



BEN.JAMIN B. CAMPBELL. 

In compiling a complete history of Perry it 
is necessary that mention be made of Benja- 
min B. Campbell, who built the first house in 
the town after it was laid out. Throughout 
the intervening years he has been a witness 
of the growth and development of this place 
but has also contributed to its upbuilding. He 
is now living retired in the enjoyment of a 
rest which he has truly earned, having passed 
the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey. 
He was born near Lynchburg, Campbell 
county, Virginia, September 29, 1831, the 
county being named in honor of his great- 
grandfather. The family was founded in 
America in colonial days and representatives 
of the name have ever been valued citizens of 
the various localities in which they have lived. 
The parents, Joshua and Mary (Harris) Camp- 
bell, were also natives of Campbell county, Vir- 
ginia, the former born May 7, 1800, and the 
latter May 21. 1800. They were married De- 
cember 2, 1819, and they became the parents 
of seven sons and four daughters. Four of the 
number are yet living: Benjamin B. ; Charles, 
who was born January 26, 1838, and now re- 
sides in Des Moines, Iowa; Celia, who was 
born April 2, 1842, and is the wife of Charles 
Conway; and Jonas, who was born September 
22, 1846, and is living in Williamsburg, Vir- 
ginia. In 1837 the father removed with his 
wife and son Benjamin to Hunterville, Ran- 



dolph county, Indiana, making the journey in 
a covered wagon, drawn by horses. He was one 
of the pioneers of the locality and purchased 
eighty acres of land, for which he paid one 
hundred dollars. There he built a log house, 
eighteen by twenty-six feet, with a kitchen 
fourteen by eighteen feet. This was a very 
commodious and excellent residence for that 
period. It stood in the midst of the wilderness 
and around it Mr. Campbell cleared the land 
and developed the fields. He made his home 
upon that place until 1868, when he removed 
to Williamsburg, Indiana, where he spent his 
remaining days in retirement from labor, de- 
parting this life there in 1880, while his wife 
passed away August 14, 1872. They were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and Mr. Campbell voted first for the whig and 
afterward for the republican party. 

Benjamin B. Campbell was only six years 
of age when he accompanied his parents on 
the long and tedious journey across the coun- 
try from Virginia to Indiana. He lived at 
home until seventeen years of age, experienc- 
ing the hardships and privations of pioneer 
life and then started out to make his own way 
in the world. He worked for his brother, 
John E. Campbell, as a farm hand at six dol- 
lars per month. This was in the summer of 
1848. The following winter he was employed 
in a sawmill at ten dollars per month, and 
there he worked his way upward until at the 
end of six months he was made head sawyer. 
He spent three years in that employ, being 
head sawyer for two years and a half, when, 
believing that he might find a still more ad- 
vantageous field, he took up cai-pentering 
in 1851. The following years he was employed 
by his uncle, James Harris, of Randolph coun- 
ty, Indiana, and there he took the contract 
to hew the timber for a barn for his uncle, 
John Harris. He also framed and raised this 
barn. Gradually he thoroughly acquainted 
himself with the builder's trade, becoming a 
proficient workman in that line. 

Mr. Campbell was first married December 
31, 1854, the lady of his choice being Miss 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Hannah Tliornburg, who was born in Ran- 
dolph county, Indiana, a daughter of Joseph 
Thornburg. In 186-1 they removed to Iowa 
but a.s his wife was in poor health they re- 
turned to Indiana, where she died on the 25th 
iif August, 1864. There were hve children 
l)y that marriage, of whom three are living, 
Levi H., Laurinda J. and George L. After 
two years spent in Indiana Mr. Campbell re- 
turned to Iowa in 1866 and located at Alton, 
near wliere the town of Perry now stands. 
Here he got out the frame for a house but 
when he found that he could not get a clear 
title to the land upon which he was expecting 
to erect the house he hauled the lumber to the 
present site of Perry and built the first house 
in the town after it was laid out. In 1868 
lie took the contract to build two stage sta- 
tions, one at Beaver and the other at Pilot 
Lake on the line between Des Moines and Coun- 
cil Bluffs. He built the first house in Dexter 
ami in many ways has been closely associated 
with early historic events of the county. He 
employed the first school teacher in Perry — 
Miss Florilla, and the first meeting in Perry 
was held in his carpenter shop, which also 
served as the first schoolhouse. Mr. Campbell 
continued in active connection with building 
operation^ in Perry and thus aided in large 
measure in the substantial improvement of the 
city \intil 1903, when ho retired from active 
life. 

For his second wife Mr. Campbell chose Miss 
Mary Elliott, whom he wedded on the 29th of 
.laiiuary. 1868. She was born in Wayne 
comity, Indiana, September 23, 1842, and was 
a daughter of .Jonathan and Amelia (Huff') 
Elliott. Her father was born in North Caro- 
lina, August 31, 1811, and died January 18, 
1867. Mr. Elliott followed farming through- 
out his entire life, living for many years near 
Chester, in Wayne county, Indiana. He held 
membership in the Society of Friends, or 
Quakers, and his political support was given 
to the whig party. His first wife, who was 
a native of the Hoosier state, died during the 
early girlhood of Mrs. Campbell. She was the 



mother of seven children but only two are now 
living: Eliza, the wife of John Bell, of Cali- 
fornia; and Mrs. Campbell. After losing his 
first wife Mr. Elliott wedded Maria Maxwell, 
on the 17th of August, 1848. She was born 
September 14, 1818, and long survived her 
husband, passing away November 27, 1901. 
By this union there were four sons, John, 
Achilles, Albert and Linus. 

Unto the second marriage of Mr. Campbell 
were born three sons and a daughter. Harry, 
who was the first white child born in Perry 
and the only baby at the first meeting held in 
Perry, is now a conductor on the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railroad, living at Harring- 
ton, Kansas. Charles is a resident of Los An- 
geles, California. Edgar is living in Seattle, 
Washington, where he is engaged in the grain 
and feed business as an exporter. Joanna is 
the wife of Ernest Lester, living in Perry. 

Mr. Campbell belongs to the Odd Fellows 
lodge at Dexter, of which he was made a mem- 
ber in 1868, and he and his wife are comiected 
with Edna Rebekah lodge. No. 263, at Perry. 
In politics he is a prohibitionist in principle 
and at local elections votes for the best men. 
Throughout the long years of his residence in 
this part of the state he has enjoyed to the 
fullest extent the good will and trust of those 
with whom he has come in contact. Strong 
in his honor and his good name he has long 
been a prominent and influential citizen here, 
his labors being of practical benefit in the 
upbuilding and improvement of the county. 
His name is inseparably associated with Perry's 
history and his example is one well worthy of 
emulation. 



L. A. CHESTNUTWOOD. 

L. A. Chestnutwood, who through his entir© 
life has followed farming, is now the owner of 
eighty-five acres of land in Adams township 
and makes a specialty of raising and fattening 
stock. He was born in this county on the 23d 
of January, 1856, and is a son of M. A. and 



720 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Hannah (Collins) Chestnutwood. The father's 
birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1815. while 
the mother, a native of Ohio, was born in 1820. 
In the year 1854 the father brought his family 
to Iowa, settling in Adams township, Dallas 
county, where he entered land from the gov- 
ernment. It was entirely destitute of improve- 
ments, looking just as it did when it came 
from the hand of nature, but with character- 
istic energy he began the arduous task of de- 
veloping a good farm which would support 
and upon which he might rear his family, 
and throughout his entire life he carried on 
general agricultural pursuits and took little 
part in public affairs, although his fellow 
townsmen, recognizing his worth and abilitj', 
placed him in several township offices, the 
duties of which he discharged in prompt and 
faithful manner. His political support was 
given to the republican party. He continued 
to reside in Adams township until called to 
his final rest in 1906, having for four years 
survived his wife, who died in 1902. In their 
family were eleven children, nine of whom are 
still living, namely: Mary A., the wife of 
George M. Mark, a resident of Adams town- 
ship; Sarah, the wife of T. G. Wright, who 
is living in Adel, Iowa; Hannah, the wife of 
D. C. Harper, of this county; Barbara, at 
home; L. A., of this review: Harriet, at home; 
Jacob, who is living in Van Meter township; 
Catharine, the wife of C. M. Conger, of this 
county; and S. S., also living in Dallas county. 
L. A. Chestnutwood has spent his entire life 
in Dallas county where he was reared to the 
occupation of farming, early becoming familiar 
with the duties and labors that fall to the lot 
of the agriculturist. He attended the common 
schools as opportunity afforded, thus acquir- 
ing his education. Through the period of va- 
cation he was busy with the work of the fields 
and after he had attained his majority he be- 
gan farming on his own account. He is now 
the owner of eighty-five acres of good land in 
Adams township and in addition to the culti- 
vation of the fields he is raising and fattening 
stock. 



Mr. Chestnutwood has always given his po- 
litical support to the republican party and has 
served as township clerk and township trustee, 
while at the present writing he is assessor for 
Adams township. As a public official he has 
always been trustworthy and capable. So- 
cially he is connected with the Masonic frater- 
nity, belonging to the lodge at De Soto, and he 
is also a member of the Independent Odd Fel- 
lows lodge. No. 400, at De Soto. 

In the year 1884 was celebrated the mar- 
riage of L. A. Chestnutwood and Miss AUie 
Barnett, who was born in Davis county, Iowa, 
in 1861, her parents being C. T. and M. J. 
(Brooks) Barnett. Her father was born in 
Indiana in 1836 and is still living. Her 
mother's birth occurred in Ohio in 1835. They 
came to Iowa in 1856, settling first in Davis 
county and later i-emoving to MadL-^on county, 
while the year 1878 witnessed their arrival in 
Dallas county. They were the parents of six 
children, of whom four are yet living: Eva; 
B. F. : Mrs. Chestnutwood; and Lizzie, the wife 
of J. A. Wright. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chestnut- 
wood three children have been born but one is 
now deceased. Those still living are Verle, 
now the wife of F. S. Mark, of De Soto; and 
Harry L., at home. The parents attend and 
support the Methodist Episcopal church and 
are well known socially, the hospitality of 
the best homes in this section of the county 
being freelv accorded them. 



FEEDERICK H. FITTING. 

Frederick H. Fitting, cashier of the State 
Bank of Dexter, and well known in financial 
circles in Iowa, was born in Bellville, Richland 
county, Ohio, on August 5, 1863, being a son 
of George H. and Eva Ann (Hoke) Fitting. 
The father was born in Bellville, Ohio, April 
18, 1833, and was there reared and married, 
beginning his business career as an agricultur- 
ist. In the spring of 1869 he came to Des 
Moines, Iowa, in search of a permanent loca- 




F. IT. FJTTINf) 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



723 



tion, and purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of land in Guthrie county a mile and a 
half west of Dexter. He successfully operated 
this tract of land and resided thereon until 
1892, when he retired and removed to the vil- 
lage of Dexter, where he has since resided in 
the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. 
He is a stockholder in the State Bank of Dexter 
and is widely recognized as one of the town's 
leading and influential citizens. In his politi- 
cal atHliations he is a democrat and while liv- 
ing in Guthrie county ser\'ed for many years as 
secretary of the school board. He also served 
as township trustee for some time. Fraternally 
he is connected with Dexter lodge, No. 215, L 
O. 0. F., having been a member of this order 
for more than fifty years. Mrs. Fitting was 
liorn January 27, 1837, at Frederickstown, 
Knox county, Ohio. She passed away October 
24, 1887, being mourned by a devoted hus- 
band and loving children, as well as by the 
many friends she had made during the years 
(if an active Christian life. The Methodist 
Episcopal church of which she was a member, 
never called on her in vain for support in its 
various activities. Mr. and Mrs. Fitting be- 
came the parents of four children, all of whom 
survive: Frederick H., the subject of this re- 
view; Ada L., who is at home; Elizabeth, the 
widow of W. J. Smith, who now also resides at 
home; and May me, a teacher in the Estherville 
schools and also residing under the parental 
roof. F. H. Fitting and his father, also his 
eldest sister, were born in the same house in 
Bellville, Ohio, and were all three attended by 
the same physician at their births — an unusual 
circumstance. 

Frederick H. Fitting was reared on the 
home farm, and the education which he ac- 
quired in the district schools was later supple- 
mented by a course at the Dexter high school. 
On its completion he entered the Dexter Nor- 
mal College and then completed the course at 
tlic D. L. Musselman's Bu.-<iness College, of 
(^lincy, Illinois, in December, 1886. During 
the winters of 1885-6 and 1886-7 he taught in 



the Compton school district of Dallas county, 
and in the spring of 1887 formed a partner- 
ship with J. T. Thrasher for the conduct of a 
hardware enterprise in Dexter. Mr. Fitting 
was identified with merchandising for three 
years, during the latter part of which period 
Mr. Thrasher was postmaster of Dexter and 
therefore the responsibility of the management 
of the business devolved entirely on Mr. Fit- 
ting. In April, 1890, the business was sold 
and in August of the same year our subject 
went to Des Moines as bookkeeper for the oil 
firm of Schofield, Shurmer & Teagle, with 
whom he remained in this capacity until April, 
1891. At the end of that time he resigned, 
though he had been offered the management of 
the business, for he had had an offer to re- 
turn to Dexter in the position of bookkeeper in 
the Bank of Dexter, and felt that he could 
not afford to refuse it. In December of the 
same year Mr. Crawford, one of the partners 
in the bank, retired from the business and Mr. 
Fitting was made cashier of the institution, hav- 
ing since served in this capacity with marked 
efficiency and executive ability. He is one of 
the leading financial authorities of Dallas 
county and in banking circles of the state is 
well and favorably known. 

Frederick H. Fitting has been twice mar- 
ried. On December 11, 1891, he was united 
in wedlock to Miss Belle Gooch, of Avon Sta- 
tion, Polk county, Iowa. This union was 
blessed with twin daughters but both died in 
infancy, while the mother passed away on 
December 10, 1896. On October 26, 1899, Mr. 
Fitting wedded Miss Melissa B. Lcnocker, of 
Dexter, Iowa, and unto them was born one 
child, lone L., on August 18, 1900. The pres- 
ent wife of our subject is a graduate of the 
Slate School at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and has been 
a teacher for several years. She taught for one 
year at State Center and for a similar period 
at Clear Lake, after which she spent another 
year at Dexter. She was afterward connected 
with the schools at Perry for some time, and 
is a lady of culture and refinement who pre- 



724 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



sides with gracious hospitality over her pleas- 
ant home. 

Mr. Fitting is a democrat in his political 
views but at local elections casts an independent 
ballot, always voting for the candidate who 
stands for clean government and an honest 
administration. In 1890 he was the candidate 
of his party for the office of county recorder 
of Dallas county but was defeated because of 
the great republican majorities in this county. 
Fraternally he is a member of Mt. Tabor lodge, 
No. 293, A. F. & A. M., of Dexter; Dexter 
lodge, No. 215, I. 0. 0. F.; also of the Odd 
Fellows camp and canton of Stuart. He is like- 
wise treasurer of the Highland Nobles, a fra- 
ternal insurance order. While Mr. Fitting's 
time and attention have always been in large 
demand, owing to his extensive business and 
social interests, he has never neglected the 
higher and holier duties of life and is now 
president of the board of trustees of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. He is likewise one of 
the teachers in the Sabbath-school and is rec- 
ognized as an influencing factor in the moral 
development of his community. He is public 
spirited to a marked degree, giving his co- 
operation to every movement which tends to 
promote the moral, intellectual and material 
welfare of the county. 



S. B. SHUMWAY. 



S. B. Shmnway, a merchant of Woodward 
and the president of the Woodward Mutual 
Telephone Company, is thus conducting basi- 
ness interests which constitute a force in the 
development and progress of the city and make 
him one of the representative men of the 
town. He was born in Illinois — ^^a native of 
Lee county — August 28, 1853, but became a 
resident of Iowa in 1854, his parents remov- 
ing with their family to Hardin county. He 
is a son of Thomeis and Elizabeth (Robbins) 
Shumway. The former was born at Spring 
Hill, New York, in 1823 and died in Hardin 
county, Iowa, in June, 1856. The latter, born 



near Trenton, New Jersey, in 1823, died in 
Hardin county, Iowa, in December, 1904. 
Thomas Shumway bought two hundred acres 
of government land in Hardin county, Iowa. 
He made few improvements on the farm, as 
his death occurred in less than three years after 
his arrival. Mrs. Shumway continued to re- 
side on the farm until her death and the im- 
provements were all made under her super- 
vision. S. B. Shumway was the third of four 
children, three of whom are living: Bertha, 
wife of Jacob Hutzel, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa; 
S. B. : and Lucretia, wife of Frank McNut, of 
Perkins, Oklahoma. 

Upon the home farm in Hardin county S. B. 
Shumway grew to manhood, his experiences 
l)eing similar to those which most farm boys 
experience. He acquired a good public-school 
education and later had the advantage of a 
course in Grinnell College. For five years he 
successfully engaged in teaching in Grundy 
county, and in the spring of 1875 came to Dal- 
las county, settling on a farm just south of 
Perry, where he engaged in general agricul- 
tural pursuits for a number of years or until 
1878, when he took up his abode in the town. 
He then accepted a position with the firm 
of Lamme Brothers, grain dealers, and later 
joined John ilcGraw in a barb wire factory. 
In 1880 and 1881 he was engaged in clerk- 
ing for Mr. Parmenter and in the fall of the 
latter year went into the shop of Beason Broth- 
ers, with whom he worked for five years. Dur- 
ing the two succeeding years he was with Frank 
Hayne, a blacksmith, after which he removed 
to Minburn. where he carried on a shop until 
1897. In that year he again located in Perry, 
where he was connected with a land and emi- 
gration business, inducing colonists to go to 
South Dakota. He was in the employ of the 
Milwaukee Railroad Company and continued 
in that service for six years or until 1903. 
The family removed from Minburn to Perry, 
where they resided until 1905, and then came 
to Woodward. Mr. Shumway purchased a 
store here in 1903 and carries a good stock 
of general merchandise, having a well ap- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



725 



pointed establishment. Mr. McCracken acted 
as his business manager and was in charge of 
the store until Mr. Shumway located in Wood- 
ward, since which time he has been in con- 
trol of the store. He is doing a good business 
and is regarded as an enteiprising merchant 
who is a valuable addition to the ranks of the 
business men of the town. He is also the 
president of the Woodward Telephone Com- 
pany and po.-sesses that determination and 
sound judgment that enables him to carry 
forward to successful completion whatever he 
undertakes. 

On the 1st of September, 1874, in Ackley, 
Hardin county, Mr. Shumway was married to 
Miss Mary E. Springer, who was born in Free- 
port, Illinois, and came to Iowa with her par- 
ents when ten years of age. The year follow- 
ing their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shumway re- 
moved to Perry and as the years passed five 
children were added to the family circle. They 
lost their first born — Clark Shumway, who 
died at Minburn when sixteen years of 
age. The others are: Charles Roy; Grace B., 
who was graduated as a nurse from the Peo- 
ple's Hospital at Chicago and is now the wife 
of Charles T. Fawcett, who is auditor for the 
Southern Pacific Railroad Company, located 
at Berkeley, California; Orin Fred, Cecil and 
Claud, all at home. 

Politically Mr. Shumway has been a stal- 
wart republican since casting his fii-st presi- 
dential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878. 
He filled various official positions while in Min- 
burn, including that of member of the school 
board. He is now mayor of AVoodward and is 
giving to the city a public-spirited, practical 
and business-like administration which is 
highly beneficial. As president of the school 
board he is serving on the building committee, 
having in charge the erection of the new school 
building. Both he and his wife are devoted 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and Mr. Shumway is a member of the Ma- 
sonic lodge at Minburn and the chapter at 
Perry. He joined the Odd Fellows at Min- 
burn but transferred his membership to the 



AA'oodward lodge. He was for two years with the 
degree team, which is the best in the United 
States and has won international honors. 

Aside from all his other interests, Mr. Shum- 
way has made a study of the mining markets 
and investments for the past eleven years and 
few men are better informed upon the subject, 
while his sound judgment and comprehensive 
knowledge is indicated by the fact that he has 
never lost a dollar on any investment. He is 
a man of keen foresight and sagacity and his 
enterprise is a strong element for success in 
anything that he undertakes. He has spent 
almost his entire life in Iowa, and his hon- 
orable association with its business life, his sup- 
port of progressive public measures and his 
manly qualities have gained him a proud posi- 
tion in the regard of those with whom he has 
come in contact. 



R. H. BREAKFIELD. 

R. H. Breakfield, living on a farm on sec- 
tion 11, Des Moines township, is one of the 
thrifty and enterprising agriculturists of Dal- 
las county. Almost his entire life has been 
passed in this township, which was the place 
of his birth — his natal day being June 25, 
1859. His father is John Breakfield, a sub- 
stantial farmer of Des Moines township, men- 
tioned elsewhere in this work, and the family 
numbered four sons and a daughter. 

In a manner not unlike most farm boys of 
the period R. H. Breakfield spent the days of 
his boyhood and youth attending the common 
schools and dividing his time between the work 
of the fields and the pleasures of the play- 
ground. Having arrived at adult age he was 
married in the city of Boone, November 21, 
1880, to Miss Abigail Pritchard, a native of 
Pennsylvania, who was reared, however, in 
Boone county, Iowa. Mrs. Breakfield's par- 
ents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Taylor) 
Pritchard. The former was born in England 
in 1835 and died at Ogden, Boone county, 
August 17, 1900. The latter was born in Eng- 



726 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



land in 1837 and died March 7, 1899, near Pi- 
lot Mound, Boone county, Iowa, and both par- 
ents were buried at Pilot Mound cemetery. 
They were married in England and about 1857 
the family came to the United States, first 
settling in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, 
where the father engaged at his trade of coal 
mining. In 1867 or 1868 the family came 
to Iowa and settled at Moingona, Boone county, 
where Mr. Prit«hard engaged in coal mining 
for three or four yeai's, and then went to Cei> 
tei'\-ille, remaining at that place for a similar 
period. Subsequently he came with his family 
to High Bridge, Dallas county, but in 1880 
they moved back to Boone county and made 
their home on a farm, which they purchased, 
until their death. The father was a miner and 
followed this occupation from the time he was 
a small boy until the purchase of his farm in 
Boone county. Both he and his wife were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Mrs. Breakfield was one of thirteen children, 
of whom nine survive: Sarali, the wife of 
Thomas Parks, of Eraser, Boone county; Jos- 
eph, of Boone county ; Mathew, who makes his 
home in the same county; Mrs. Breakfield; 
Elizabeth, the wife of John Zunkle, of Boone 
county; Thomas and John, also residing in 
that county ; Samuel, of Calhoun county, Iowa ; 
and Johanna, the wife of James Wilson, of 
Boone county. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Break- 
field located at Madrid, where Mr. Breakfield 
operated a rented farm for a year, and then 
moved onto another farm. He continued rent- 
ing for six years, carrying on farming in the 
summer months, while in the winter seasons he 
engaged in mining coal for twenty-six years. 
In January, 1887, he bought the place where 
he now resides — a farm of fifty-two acres on 
sections 10 and 11 on the second bottoms of 
the Des Moines river, where the soil is rich 
and alluvial. He located on the farm, began 
to build and clear the land, grubbing, plow- 
ing, planting and fencing from year to year 
until the place has been transformed into pro- 
ductive fields. He erected a neat residence, 



with substantial outbuildings, has put out a 
good orchard and planted much small fruit. 
The place is now well fenced and the fields in 
a high state of cultivation and the owner is 
justly classed with the substantial and ener- 
getic farmers of Des Moines township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Breakfield now have an inter- 
esting family of four children: Edith is the 
wife uf Ramey Grow, a farmer of Boone 
■ county. They have one child, Lola Blanche. 
Mabel is the wife of Luther Staker, a farmer of 
Beaver township: They have one child, Ellen 
Abigail. John R. and George D. are at home. 
The family are widely and favorably known 
in the community, having a host of warm 
friends. Mr. and Mrs. Breakfield belong to the 
Christian church at Woodward. Mr. Break- 
field, politically, is a stanch democrat and was 
elected and served for two terms as township 
trustee. He has also been a member of the 
township board and judge of elections on vari- 
ous occasions and all know him as a trust- 
worthy and public-spirited citizen. Almost his 
entire life has been passed in Des Moines town- 
ship and his long residence here is indicated 
by the fact that he has seen numerous bands 
of Indians here, while in his younger days the 
country was largely a wilderness and swamp. 
Within three-quarters of a mile of his father's 
house a band of Indians camped all one winter. 
Today it is one of the best counties in the 
state, rich and fertile and its splendid agricul- 
tural possibilities have been brought about by 
such men as Mr. Breakfield — one of the lead- 
ing and industi'ious farmers of this part of the 
state. 



HENRY HUNT. 



Henry Hunt has long resided in Dallas 
county. He made two trips across the country 
to this state from Indiana by teams before the 
day of extensive railroad travel and for many 
years he has been an interested, witness of the 
changes that have occurred in the county as the 




MR. AND MUS. IIKXUY HUNT 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



labors of its enterprising citizens have convert- 
ed wild lands into good farms and built up 
thriving villages and cities. 

His life record began in Washington county, 
Maryland, on the 8th of March, 1831, his par- 
ents being William and Mary M. (Lutze) 
Hunt, who were likewise natives of Maryland, 
where they continued to reside until 1847. In 
that year they bade adieu to their old home and 
friends in the south and removed to Indiana, 
where both spent their remaining days. Their 
family numbered thirteen children, of whom 
the following yet survive: John, a resident of 
Indiana; Susan, the wife of James A. McCand- 
lass : Matilda, the wife of George Stump ; 
Henry; and Erving, now in Oklahoma. 

Henry Hunt acquired a common-school edu- 
cation. He spent the first sixteen years of his 
life in the state of his nativity and then ac- 
companied his parents on their removal from 
Maryland to Indiana, where he attained his 
majority. His time was largely occupied with 
the labors of the farm and he thus gained 
valuable practical experience concerning the 
best methods of tilling the soil and caring, for 
the crops. He has had no wish to change his 
occupation but on the contrary has continued 
in the line of work to which he was reared and 
has become a successful and substantial agri- 
culturist. In the eai'ly days he made two trips 
by team to Iowa and has long been associated 
with the interests of this county, earning his 
living "by the sweat of his brow" as he ha.s 
labored in the fields under the hot summer's 
sun. The years, however, have brought him 
recompense for his toil in a good farm prop- 
erly from which he now reaps a substantial 
annual income. It was in 1859 that he perma- 
nently took up his abode in this .ttate, set- 
tling on the farm on which he now lives. Here 
he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land 
on .sections 14 and 23, Adams township, upon 
which he has lived for almost a half century. 

On the 17th of February, 1858, Mr. Hunt 
was married to Miss Anna Eva Myers, who was 
born in Marj-land in 1830 and in that .-tate 
licr parents died. By her marriiige she became 



the mother of ten children, seven of whom are 
still living: John W., who resides in this coun- 
ty ; Anna Mai-y, who makes her home with her 
father; L. F., who is living in Kansas; Malissa 
I., the wife of Charles Farnham, a resident of 
Audubon county, Iowa; Alvaretta, the wife of 
B. F. Barnett, whose home is in De Soto ; Ada 
Bell, the wife of Thomas Rutherford, of this 
state; and Oscar W., living in Union county, 
Iowa. The wife and mother died March 18, 
1906, and her death was deeply regretted by 
many friends as well as by her immediate 
family. 

Mr. Hunt and his family are members of 
the Christian church to which Mrs. Hunt also 
belonged. He has had twenty-five grandchil- 
dren, of whom six are now deceased, and there 
are four living great-grandchildren. In his 
I)olitical views Mr. Hunt is a republican and 
keeps well informed on the questions and issues 
of the day, but has never been a politician in 
the sense of office-seeking, although he has 
served as school director and road overseer. 
Whatever success he has achieved in life is due 
entirely to his own efforts and he may there- 
fore be called a self-made man. 



S. J. GOODSON. 



S. J. Goodson, living on section 22, Boone 
township, is prominent among the early set- 
tlers of Dallas county, and as an influential 
and progressive farmer and representative busi- 
ness man we present his life to our readers. 
His birth occurred vipon a farm which is still 
his home, his natal day being July 18, 1849, 
so that he is now probably the oldest native 
son of Dallas county living today within its 
borders. His knowledge of events here is com- 
prehensive and exact and he has wide informa- 
tion concerning the county's history and its 
progress. His father, J. C. Goodson, wa-; a na- 
tive of Tennessee, born in 1812, and in his 
liiyhood days he removed with his parents to 
Indiana, whore he was reared to the occu])ation 



730 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



of farming. In Washington county, that state, 
he married Miss Priscilla Coffin, and they re- 
sided in that county for a few years, or until 
1846, when J. C. Goodson, W. D. Boone, 
George Gresham and John Johnson came 
through from Indiana to Iowa on horseback. 
They found a wild, unsettled district, which 
gave them opportunity to secure property, and 
they staked their claims in what is now Boone 
township. The following year they returned 
with their families and each made a home here, 
becoming the first settlers of the township. Mr. 
Goodson fii-st pre-empted a farm, although the 
land at that time was not surveyed. In the course 
of time his possessions amounted to two hundred 
acres in all and his son, S. J. Goodson, now has 
the original deed of the government patent. The 
father made a home, building a log house on 
the creek, and with characteristic energy be- 
gan to improve his land, plowing the fields and 
cultivating his crops. Unto him and his wife 
were born four children, all of whom have 
i-eached mature years and are yet living, 
namely: William N., a resident farmer of 
Madison county; Sarah A., the wife of W. D. 
Clayton, who follows farming in Van Meter 
township; S. Jasper of this review; and J. M., 
who is living in Des Moines. The father and 
mother died at the old home in this county, 
where Mr. Goodson departed this life in 1895, 
at the age of eighty-three years, while his wife 
passed away in 1883, at the age of sixty-seven 
years. They had borne their full share in 
the work of public progress and development 
and their labors in behalf of the county were 
far-reaching and beneficial. 

S. Ja.?per Goodson was reared on the old 
homestead. His educational privileges were 
limited when he was young but later he had 
the opportunity of pursuing a business course 
at Salem, Iowa. He always remained at home, 
looking after the farm, and he cleared a tract 
of land, cut rails for the fences and cultivated 
the fields. In early days he saw many deer 
and other kinds of wild game, while Indians 
were frequently seen here. Des Moines at that 
time was but a hamlet, containing only one 



store. Many of the hardships and trials of pio- 
neer life were to be endured, but with the set- 
tlement of the county there came a cessation 
of the hardest labor and in course of time Dal- 
las county was transformed into one of the rich 
agricultural portions of this great state. In 
connection with his father Mr. Goodson erected 
the present commodious buildings and substan- 
tial barns upon the farm. He has several 
springs on the place, has laid pipes therefrom 
and now has an abundant supply of flow- 
ing water for the use of the stock. He has been 
a raiser and feeder of stock for years but now 
he rents out most of his farm of two hundred 
acres and for the last three years has given 
his time exclusively to his apiary, being ex- 
tensively and successfully engaged in the cul- 
tivation of bees. He has about a hundred 
hives, the output of which is from three to 
five tons of honey yearly. He is also a stock- 
holder in the Mutual Telephone Company and 
also of the Enamel Concrete Company, which 
he joined on its organization. He likewise has 
coal and iron mine interests in Nova Scotia. 

Mr. Goodson is a well posted man, keep- 
ing informed on all matters of general inter- 
est, including the political situation and ques- 
tions of the day. After age gave to him the 
right of franchise he supported the men and 
measures of the democratic party up to 1876; 
being opposed to monopolistic tendencies, he 
supported independent parties until 1896; 
since then has been a Bryan democrat. He 
has served his township as clerk for ten years, 
was trustee for four years and road supervisor 
for three terms, discharging the duties of these 
varied positions with promptness and capabil- 
ity. He Ls now serving as treasurer of the 
school board and for many years has been a 
director and secretary of the board. He has 
likewise served as a delegate to various county 
conventions of his party. Mr. Goodson has 
always lived upon the farm where his birth 
occurred, having purchased the interest of tlie 
other heirs and thus retaining the ownership 
of the old homestead. He is well known as 
an old settler and enterprising farmer and is 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



731 



a most prominent apiarist of this section of 
the state. He always lends his aid for the bet- 
terment of the county and rejoices in what 
has been accomplished here since the days 
when pioneer conditions existed. Today it has 
rich lands, all largely cultivated, having been 
brought under a high state of fertility through 
the labors and efforts of such men as Mr. Good- 
son, who in all his work displays a prompt 
and energetic spirit, productive of excellent re- 
sults. 



JOHN C. BRYAN. 



John C. Bryan dates his residence in Dallas 
county from 1882. He is a native of Rock 
Island county, Illinois, born on Christmas day 
of 1858, and his education was acquired in the 
public schools there while spending his boy- 
hood daj's in the home of his parents, Thomas 
and Nicey (Sturtevant) Bryan, who were like- 
wise natives of Rock Island county, where they 
were married. The father was born in Chester 
county, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1837, and 
the mother in Wayne county, Illinois, March 
29, 1838. He followed general agricultural 
pursuits in Illinois until after the outbreak of 
the Civil war, when, in 1862, he offered his 
aid to the government and became a member 
of Company E, One Hundred and Twenty- 
sixth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, for three 
years' service. He participated in all of the 
battles and skirmishes with his command and 
continued at the front throughout the term 
of his enlistment. He was mustered out at 
Pine Bluff in 1865. After the war he returned 
to Illinois, where he again engaged in farm- 
ing until 1867, when he removed to Kansas, 
taking up a homestead three miles from lola, 
in Allen county. There he cultivated his land 
and continued to reside until the spring of 
1875, when he returned to Rock Island county, 
Illinois, where he again lived until 1884. He 
then came to Dallas county and settled in 
Beaver township, while later he turned his at- 



tention to merchandising at Bouton, conduct- 
ing liLS store with good success there until 1903, 
when he retired to private life. He is a mem- 
ber of the United Brethren church, belongs 
to Woodward lodge. No. 454, A. F. & A. M., to 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
to the Grand Army of the Republic. He votes 
with the democracy and in matters of citizen- 
ship is loyal and progressive, standing firm in 
support of the principles in which he believes. 
Unto him and his wife were born twelve chil- 
dren, of whom seven are living: Mary, the 
wife of Charles Shaffer, of Rock Island county, 
Illinois; John C. ; David, who married Iva 
Burnington and lives in Kimball, Brule coun- 
ty. South Dakota; Samuel, who married 
Mattie Channon; Hannah, the wife of Joseph 
Shaffer, of Illinois; Sadie, the wife of Jesse 
Battenfield, of this county; Lula, the wife of 
Herman Krascher, a resident of Bouton, Dallas 
county. One daughter, Mrs. Allie Spurrier, 
died in the spring of 1904. 

John C. Bryan was reared to farm life, early 
becoming familiar with the duties and labors 
that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He 
worked in the fields through the summer 
months and in the winter seasons attended the 
public schools until twenty-one years of age. 
His first work for himself was in picking corn, 
being employed for fifty days at one dollar 
per day. He then attended school in the win- 
ter, after which he was married and started 
out in life on his own account. It was on the 
18th of November, 1882, that he wedded 
Louisa J. Perry, who was born in Rock Island 
county, January 1, 1847, a daughter of Al- 
bert W. and Margaret (McNeil) AVells. Her 
father, who was born in the Green Mountain 
state, died in Illinois, at the age of thirty-six 
j-ears, while his wife, a native of Detroit, Michi- 
gan, died in Rock Island county, Illinois, at 
the age of seventy-nine years. Their children 
were four in number, of whom three survive: 
Eliza, the widow of John Babcock and a resi- 
dent of Illinois ; Antoinette, the wife of George 
W. Henry, living in Rock Island; and Mrs. 
Bryan. Mr. Wells was a stock buyer in the 



732 



PAST AXD PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



early days in Illinois, purchasing stock in Rock 
Island county, which he drove to the market 
at Galena. He was a pioneer of that locality, 
closely associated with its early development, 
and his political views were those of the whig 
party. After losing her first husband Mrs. 
Wells became the wife of Ira Weatherhead, 
who died at the age of sixty-nine years. Their 
children were four in number. Druar. Ellen, 
Kate and Ona. 

Following his marriage Mr. Bryan came to 
Iowa, settling in Beaver to\vnship, Dallas 
county, where he engaged in farming for about 
ten years. He then removed to Bouton and 
after renting the farm he carried on mer- 
chandising, continuing in the business until 
1900, when he sold out there and spent tho 
succeeding winter in California. In 1882 he 
purchased one hundred and forty acres in 
Beaver township and has since added to it until 
he now owns one thousand and fifty acres in 
Beaver and Spring Valley townships in Dallas 
county, and Union township in Boone county. 
He took an active part in organizing the Globe 
Telephone Company, which is a farmers' mu- 
tual company, of which he was director and 
president the fii-st year: also in organizing the 
Globe Manufacturing Company, of Perry, 
Iowa, manufacturing washing machines, and 
at the present time is a director and president 
of this company, which has bright prospects 
of becoming one of the great manufacturing 
concerns of the county. In 1903 he came to 
Perry and in 1904 erected a tine home here, 
spending the winter of 1903-1 in Florida. In 
the latter year he was appointed a member of 
the council and in 1905 was elected a mem- 
ber, to which position he was re-elected in 1907. 
Being three times chosen to the office is a fact 
indicative of his capability and progressiveness 
in relation to municipal affairs. While living 
in Beaver township he was trustee and road 
commissioner. He has never been neglectful 
of the duties of citizenship but on the contrary 
has always been loyal to the pul)lic good and 
his labors have been most effective and far- 
reaching. At one time he owned the land 



where Bouton now stands and subdivided this 
and laid out the town. He waa active in build- 
ing two churches there, giving lots to each. 
He was a most liberal contributor to the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and also gave gener- 
ously to the Lutheran church. He belongs, 
however, to the Methodist denomination and 
fraternally he was connected with Woodward 
lodge. No. 454. but demitted to join Otley 
lodge. No. 299, A. F. & A. M. He spent the 
winter of 1906-7 in Texas and plans to spend 
each winter in the south as he has done for the 
last three or four years. His has been a life 
of continuous activity, crowned with success. 
He has been eminently practical in all that he 
has done, whether in relation to public inter- 
ests or private affairs and the value of his 
labors is acknowledged by all familiar with 
the historv of the countv. 



LEVI D. GAMBLE. 



Among the most worthy and respected citi- 
zens who have lived for any length of time in 
Perry is numbered Levi D. Gamble, now de- 
ceased, and though he has passed away his 
memory is yet cherished by those who knew 
him and were acquainted with the^ history of 
his life of general usefulness and activity. He 
was born January 29, 1842, in Concord, Illi- 
nois, his parents being John and Rachel Gam- 
ble, farming people of that state. In his boy- 
hood Le\'i D. Gamble became a student in the 
connnon schools. He ran away from home to 
join the army at the age of nineteen years and 
was enrolled on the 20th of December, 1861, 
as a member of Company D. Eleventh Illinois 
Cavalry, under command of Captain Lewis H. 
Armstrong. He served until December 19, 
1864, and was released at Memphis, Tennes- 
see, after three years of active and honorable 
connection with the Union forces. He was al- 
ways a soldier of courage and spirit, never neg- 
lecting any military duty that devolved upon 
him. whether it called him to the lonely picket 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



733 



liue or exposed him to the dangers of the fir- 
ing line. A few years after his retirement 
from the army he came to Perry and was en- 
gaged in the grocery business until his store 
was destroyed by fire. He then tui'ned his at- 
tention to real-estate dealing? for a short time 
and in the year* in which the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railroad was surveyed 
through Perry he opened a furniture and un- 
dertaking business and was thereafter occupied 
with its successful conduct until called to his 
final rest. He had a good establishment, carry- 
ing a carefully selected line of furniture of all 
grades and his reasonable prices and reliable 
business policy gained him a gratifying pat- 
ronage. 

On the 3d of May, 1871, Mr. Gamble was 
united in marriage to Miss Anna H. Town- 
send and unto them have been born a son and 
daughter; Harry L. Gamble, who was born in 
1873 and died at the completion of a course 
in the law school at Iowa City, in March, 1898 ; 
and Helen T. Gamble, now the wife of Leslie 
B. Morgan. 

In his political views Mr. Gamble was a re- 
publican, in hearty sympathy with the princi- 
ples and purposes of the party and the plat- 
form upon which it rested. He belonged to 
the Masonic fraternity and to the Odd Fellows 
lodge. He was in sympathy with all churches, 
which he aided in liberally maintaining, per- 
haps giving more influence, however, to the 
Methodist church of Perry. In his views of 
life he was optimistic and progressive, yet he 
did not lack that conservatism which acts as 
a balance wheel and makes a man master of 
a situation, recognizing the relative value of 
each point connected with that situation. He 
was therefore sound in matters of business judg- 
ment. In his relations to others he was gen- 
erous and hopeful, was ever ready to assist a 
fellow traveler on life's journey and had faith 
in the goodness of humanity. His entire life 
was an exponent of a broad humanitarianism 
which has caused his memory to be honored 
and cherished by all with whom he came in 
contact. The circle of his friends was almost 



eo-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance 
but the best traits of his character were reserved 
for his own fireside and his family. 



SOLOMON WEAVER. 

Solomon Weaver, an honored veteran of the 
Civil war who has been connected with public 
interests and the business development of this 
section of the state since the early days when 
he carried mail on horseback or drove stage, is 
now living in Adams township, where he has 
good farming interests. He was born in Jeffer- 
son county, Ohio, on the 1st of April, 1840, a 
son of Andrew and Sarah (Garlinger) Weaver, 
of whose family of six children but two are now 
living, the sister of our subject being Catherine, 
the wife of Ralph Thompson, of Alliance, Ohio. 
The father was born in Pennsylvania and was 
reared and married there. A few years later, 
in 1839, he removed to Jefferson county, Ohio, 
where he followed his trade of wagon-making, 
which he had learned in the east. He died 
about 1850. 

Solomon Weaver was then ten years of age 
and when a youth of fifteen he came to Iowa 
with an uncle, Thomas Garlinger — for many 
years one of the foremost men of Madison 
county, Iowa. The spring following his ar- 
rival Mr. Weaver secured a position to carry 
mail on horseback and was thus employed for 
two or three years, carrying mail on a side 
line to a small place called Bennington, on the 
Des Moines river, from the old Tom Mitchell 
place in Polk county, to which it had been 
taken by stage. The old Tom Mitchell place 
was a noted stage-house of the early days, at 
which at times as many as two hundred peo- 
ple were fed in a single day. Later Mr. Weaver 
drove the stage from Des Moines to Adel and 
from Adel to Council Bluffs and on various 
other routes owned by Colonel Hooper. Thus 
his time was passed until 1861 and his work 
brought him a wide acquaintance among the 
pfiiniinent people of the state and the travelei-s 



734 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



who had occasion to patronize any of the routes 
over which he naade his runs. 

In the year of the outbreak of the Civil 
war Mr. Weaver entered the service of his coun- 
try, enlisting as a member of Company F, 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry, as a private, serving with 
that command until after the close of hostil- 
ities. He was appointed veterinary surgeon. 
He took part in the seige of Vicksburg and the 
battles of Guntown and Tupelo. When the 
war was over he returned to Winterset, Iowa, 
and engaged in farming until 1869, when he 
removed to Dallas county, making his home in 
the vicinity of Earlham until 1873, when he 
took up his abode in Union township, where 
his wife owned a farm of eighty acres upon 
which they located. Two years later Mr. 
Weaver purchased eighty acres of land in 
Adams township and in 1881 removed to this 
place, which he cultivated and improved until 
1904. In that year he retired from active life 
and is now making his home with James Wil- 
son, of Adams township, enjoying a rest which 
he has truly earned. 

In 1872 Mr. Weaver was united in marriage 
to Mrs. Frances J. Mendenhall, nee Bingman, 
of Adams township, whose first husband died 
while serving in the Union army in the Civil 
war. Mrs. Weaver -was born in November, 
1840, and died in 1893. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Weaver had been born three children: Wil- 
liam L., who is with the Dempster Manufactur- 
ing Company, of Omaha, Nebraska ; Hattie B., 
the wife of Charles Johnson, of Union town- 
ship; and Orville E., of Cedar county, Iowa, 
who occupies a clerical position with the Rock 
Island Railroad Company. Mr. Weaver's pres- 
ent wife, whom he married April 6, 1905, was 
Mrs. Mary A. James, nee Mariow, born De- 
cember 10, 1839, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. 
She was married in that state to W. S. James, 
who died in Ohio. She came later to Winter- 
set, Iowa, where she married Mr. Weaver. Mrs. 
Weaver had one daughter by her former mar- 
riage — Bertha A. Her first husband was Wes- 
ley Crump, by whom she had two children, 
James and Ella. 



In his political views Mr. Weaver is a stal- 
wart republican, doing all in his power to pro- 
mote the growth and insure the success of the 
party because of his firm belief in its prin- 
ciples. He has served for several years as school 
director and yet has never been a politician in 
the sense of ofRce-seeking. He belongs to the 
United Brethren church and has ever been 
deeply interested in the welfare and upbuild- 
ing of the community along material, intel- 
lectual and moral lines. Years of unremitting 
activity in business have brought to him a com- 
fortable competence, so that he is now enabled 
to live retired without further recourse to labor. 



WILLIAM COFFIN. 



The name of Coffin is closely associated with 
the history of Dallas county and has always 
been a synonym for unremitting diligence and 
for business integrity. For a half centurj' Wil- 
liam Coffin has resided in this part of the state 
and although he has met with various difficul- 
ties in his business life he has overcome these 
by determined and honorable purpose and is 
today one of the substantial residents of Adel. 
His birth occurred in Wayne county, Indiana, 
on the 17th of January, 1835, his parents being 
Her^^ey and Rachel (Mills) Coffin. The father 
was born in Guilford county. North Carolina, 
on the 4th of August, 1810, and was there 
reared and married. About 1833 he removed 
with his family to Wayne county, Indiana, and 
two years later became a resident of Madison 
county, that state. . He was the third settler in 
the district in which he took up his abode and 
thus the family lived amid pioneer scenes and 
environments, sharing in the hardships and 
privations which are always incident to the 
settlement of the frontier. The father entered 
eighty acres of land, which was heavily tim- 
bered. So dense was the forest that he had to 
clear a place large enough to build a cabin. 
AVhen this was done and his family were shel- 




MR. AND MR8. WILLIAM COFFIN 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



737 



tered he continued the task of clearing the land 
in order to place it under cultivation. There 
he made a good home of a pioneer character, 
occupying the farm there until 1856, when he 
caiiie to Iowa. He had previously made three 
trips, however, to this state, coming first in 
1852, again in 1854 and a third time in the 
fall of 1855. He was pleased with Jeffei-son 
ciiuiity, its natural resources and its po.-:sibili- 
tios and he chose a location in Penn township, 
where he pui"chased a farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres. There he resided up to the time 
of his death, which occurred on the 28th of 
June, 1873. During this period his energies 
were devoted to general agricultural pursuits. 
He was a member of the Friends church. and 
lived an upright, honorable life, winning for 
liini the confidence and good-w-ill of all with 
whom he came in contact. His early political 
allegiance was given to the whig party and 
upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the 
new republican pai'ty. He was an advocate of 
temperance, of the abolition of slavery and an 
opponent of all that is opposed to justice, tiiith 
and right. His influence was ever on the side 
of intellectual and moral development and 
Iowa numbered him among her valued citizens. 

The family of Hen-ey Coffin numbered 
eleven children, of whom six are yet living, 
namely: William, of this review; Phoebe, the 
wife of James M. Jones, a resident of \'(mi, 
Iowa; Deborah, the wife of Milton M. Wil- 
liams, of Adams township; Jeremiah, living 
near Pleasantplain, Iowa; Henry, residing near 
Fairfield, thi? state; and Mary ^I., the wife of 
N. J. Willianxs, of the city of Fairfield. 

William Coffin, whose name introduces this 
review, was reared upon the old home farm in 
Indiana, and in his youth was a pupil in one 
of the primitive log schoolhouses common at 
that day. He conned his lessons while sitting 
upon a slab bench, the little room being lighted 
by grea.sed paper windows. All of the furnish- 
ings were very crude and the methods of in- 
struction were primitive. He had the jtrivilegc 
of attending for three months each year, if 
•suiiar-iiiakiuu <a' some oilier fai'ni dutv did not 



interfere, but although his opportunities for 
schooling were limited he has learned many 
valuable lessons in the school of experience, 
liecoming a creditable business man. In 1856, 
when he was twenty-one years of age, he came 
with his father to Iowa, spending one year in 
Jefferson county, while in the spring of 1857 
he came to Dallas county. Here he located on 
a tract of eighty acres of land, on section 3, 
Adams township, which had been entered by 
his father for him on his trip to the west in 
1852. It was on the 3d of September. 1857, 
that William Coffin made further arrange- 
ments for having a home of his own through 
his marriage to Miss Rachel L. Shelley, a 
daughter of John and Melinda Shelley of 
Jefferson county. He went to that county for 
his bride and brought her to her new home in 
a wagon drawn by oxen. For more than a 
year they did not have a piece of furnitiu-e in 
their plank house thirteen by twenty except 
that which was made by Mr. Coffin, and some 
years had passed before store furniture of any 
consequence was brought to their modest but 
happy home. With stout hearts and willing 
hands they undertook the task of developing 
the farm in the midst of a wild country, brave- 
ly meeting all of the hardships and privations 
incident to pioneer life. In 1861 their home 
was destroyed by fire and it was not until the 
following year, owing to the severity of the 
winter, that Mr. Coffin was able to rebuild. Just 
after the completion of their new dwelling and 
immediately subsequent to their removal into 
it, it was one night struck by lightning during 
a severe storm and both ends of the house were 
completely torn out. while their l)ed, on which 
they were sleeping wa.s moved some twelve 
inches from its jilace and a young man sleep- 
ing in one corner of the house was killed. The 
l)uilding was almost conniletely demolished. 
It was a considerable loss and Mr. Coffin was 
badly discouraged, for he had no money with 
which to repair the ravages of the storm. Yet 
he took heart and did tlic licst lie could under 
the circumstances — a cour-c wiiicli be lias al- 
wavs followed through life 



rsN 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



It was in August, 1862, that he felt the coun- 
try needed his services and he responded to 
the call for three hundred thousand meii, en- 
listing in Company C, Thirty-ninth Iowa In- 
fantry. He continued with that regiment until 
the close of the war, being mustered out on the 
5th of June, 1865. He had proved himself a 
brave and loyal defender of his country, being 
always found at his post of duty whether it 
called him to the lonely picket line or stationed 
him in the heat of battle on the firing line. 

During his ab.«ence Mrs. Coffin had been liv- 
ing with her people and also with his father's 
family. After his return from the war Mr. 
Coffin took her back to their farm and resided 
thereon until 1881. when he purchased town 
property in Adel and removed to the county 
seat, his son taking charge of the old home- 
stead. Some years later, however, the son pur- 
chased a farm of his own, to which he removed, 
and Mr. Coffin then returned to his old home 
place, where he remained for nine years. He 
then again came to Adel, where he has since 
lived in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. 
Those who read between the lines will gain a 
good idea of the life of diligence, perseverance 
and industry which he has led. He has been 
unremitting in his labor and his capable man- 
agement and perseverance brought him a meas- 
ure of success which now enables him to live 
retired. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coffin were born six chil- 
dren, of whom three are yet living: .James 
Henry, a resident farmer of Adams township; 
Rachel M., the wife of Alonzo McNichols, of 
]\Iadison county, Iowa; and Miss Jennie, who is 
with her parents. The family are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work 
of which they are taking a deep interest, Mr. 
Coffin serving as one of the church stewards. 
In his political views he is a republican with 
prohibition tendencies, believing that the abol- 
ishment of the liquor traffic is the best solution 
to the temperance question. He has ser\-ed for 
several terms as township trustee and in other 
local offices and in every relation of life in 
which he has been found he has ever been 



loyal to justice, truth and right. In early days 
his life was fraught with many hardships and 
at times, especially in the destruction of his 
home by fire and by lightning, it seemed that 
fate was against him, but he took heart and 
amid conditions that would utterly have dis- 
couraged many a less resolute man he con- 
tinued on his way, his strong purpot;e at 
length winning a triumph over adversity. 
Wherever known he is held in highest esteem 
and is best liked where best known. 



S. H. YARD. 



S. H. Yard owns and cultivates a farm of 
two hundred and thirty acres on sections 10 
and 11, Washington township. A native son 
of Pennsylvania, he was born June 8. 1843, 
and is a son of Benson and Nancy (Hender- 
.son) '^'ard. The father was bom in rriin- 
syhiania in the year 1818 and pa.-<sed away 
in 1906, while the mother, also a native of 
Pennsylvania, was born in 1815 and died 
in 1864. Benson Yard was a stone mason and 
helped to lay the foundation for the first Meth- 
odist church at Adel. Coming west in 1859, 
he located in Dallas county. The subject of 
this sketch was the second in a family of eight 
children, of whom seven survive. He spent 
his boyhood days with his parents, enjoying 
the usual advantag&s of a common-school edu- 
cation and of practical training in the labors 
of the farm, whereby he was qualified to carry 
on general agricultural pursuits on his own ac- 
count after he had attained his majority. 

His patriotic spirit was aroused at the at- 
tempt of the south to overthrow the Union and 
he enlisted in Company G of the Seventeenth 
Iowa Regiment. He saw hard service, partici- 
pating in the battle of Vicksburg, and in an 
engagement in Georgia. He was captured and 
held a prisoner for six months, three months 
being spent at Andei-sonville. At the end of 
the war he returned to Des Moines. Iowa, where 
ho made preparations for a home of his own 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



739 



by his marriage to Miss Cai'oline Parmelee, 
who was born in Michigan in 1847. Her 
father, a native of New York, died in 1892, 
while the mother, a native of Indiana, is still 
living with her daughter, Mrs. Y'ard. Of the 
nine children born to this union the wife of 
our subject was the fifth in order of birth. Mr. 
and Mrs. Yard have had five children: Nancy 
B.. deceased; Lillian I., who married E. R. 
Burns and is now living on the home farm ; E. 
A., who is married and living in Dallas county; 
Ray S.. who is married and living at Minburn, 
Iowa: and Bert F.. who is a lawyer at Seattle, 
Washington. 

Mr. and Mrs. Yard spent two years at Des 
Moinc'^. removing from there to Cass county, 
Iowa, where they remained five years. In 1873 
they removed to Dallas county, where they 
have since lived. Their well kept farm speaks 
favorably for the industry and enterprise of 
its owner. Coming to this county with noth- 
ing but his own willing hands and indomitable 
courage, he has made his way to success and 
prosperity and has gained it all by upright, 
honorable methods, which have won him the 
warm regard of his extensive circle of friends. 
Politically he is a republican and has held 
the office of justice of the peace as well as sev- 
eral minor offices in the township. Both he 
and his wife are loyal members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. 



WILLIAM WOLF. 



The fact which draws so many men of for- 
eign liirth to the new world is the splendid bu.-^i- 
ne.-is opportunities here offered where labor is 
not hampered by caste nor class. In America 
"labor is king" and it is the only sovereignty 
which our liberty-loving people acknowledge. 
T\\v -jiirit of M'lf-lu'lp is the source of all geu- 
uiiK- worth in the individual and it is this 
which has made William Wolf a substantial 
citizen, now enabled to spend his years in hon- 
orable retiroincnt from labor, nt the same time 



enjoying the comforts and some of the luxu- 
ries of life. He started out for himself empty- 
handed at the age of twenty years and later 
he engaged largely in the grain and stock busi- 
ness, whereby he gained the handsome compe- 
tence that now enables him to rest from further 
business activity. 

Born in Ohio on the 14th of March, 1855, 
William Wolf is a son of David and Carolina 
(Kaepler) Wolf. The parents were natives of 
Germany and came to the new world in a sail- 
ing ship, landing at New York. They made 
their way to Ohio and afterward to Illinois, 
making the journey westward in a wagon 
drawn by one horse. They were pioneer peo- 
ple of the Prairie state, settling in Whiteside 
county near Sterling. There the father began 
the development of a farm and as the years 
passed and his financial resources increased he 
kept adding to his property until he became 
owner of extensive holdings, embracing seven 
hundred acres of very valuable land. He car- 
ried on general agricultural pursuits, bringing 
his fields under a high state of cultivation. In 
community affairs he was deeply interested and 
filled a number of township offices, the duties 
of which he discharged in a manner that won 
him uniform connnendation. He voted with 
the democracy and held membership in the 
Lutheran church. His death occurred in Ster- 
ling, Illinois, in February, 1905, and his wife 
passed away at the age of seventy-four years. 
They were the parents of nine children, of 
whom six are living, namely: AVillvam, Henry, 
Jacob, David. John and Mary. 

William Wolf was reared upon the old home- 
stead farm and when not busy with the duties 
of the schoolroom his time was largely occu- 
pied with the work of plowing, planting and 
harvesting. When twenty years of age he 
started in life on his own account in AVhite- 
<\de county, where he followed farming for 
three years and then removed to Ottawa coun- 
ty. Kansas, taking up his abode near Minneap- 
olis. There he gave his attention to the tilling 
of the soil and to the raising of stock, remain- 
ing at that place for three years, after which 



740 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



he returned to Illinois. Hoping a removal to 
Iowa might result profitably to him, he came 
to Dallas county in 1883 and settled on a farm 
five miles east of Perry. Three years later, in 
1886, he took up his abode in Bouton, where 
he was in the grain and stock business until 
the fall of 1906, when he leased his elevator 
and removed to Perry, where he is now living 
retired. Here he purchasd a fine home in the 
fall of that year and is now most comfortably 
situated. 

On the 4th of April, 1875, Mr. AVolf was 
married to Miss Carrie Stoll, who was born near 
Frceport. Stephenson county, Illinois, March 
2, 1857. Her parents were John and Mary 
(Bealer) Stoll, who were also natives of Ger- 
many, in which country they were reared and 
married. Both have now passed away, the 
father having died in Stephenson county, Illi- 
nois, in 1899, when seventy-two years of age, 
while his wife passed away in 1904, at the age 
of seventy-five. Unto them have been born 
eight children but only three survive: Mary, 
Mrs. AVolf and John. The father was a minis- 
ter of the Lutheran church and established a 
congregation of that denomination in Jordan, 
"Whiteside county, Illinois. He also preached 
at Dakota, Stephenson county, Illinois, and at 
Lena, that state, having a circuit. He likewise 
established a church at Cedarville and at Mc- 
Connell and his labors were far-reaching and 
effective in behalf of the moral development of 
the communities in which he lived and 
preached the gospel. His political allegiance 
was given to the democracy. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. AVolf was blessed 
with two daughters, Hattie and Jennie, the 
former a stenographer living in Denver. The 
family are most pleasantly situated in a beau- 
tiful home in Perry and in addition to that 
property Mr. AA'olf owns the AA^olf elevator, 
which is the second elevator at Perry and an- 
other elevator at Bouton, which he leases. He 
also owns four hundred acres and a nice dwell- 
ing house there and four store buildings in 
Perry. He .has two one-half sections of land 
in Faulk countv. South Dakota, and about 



one thousand five hundred acres in North Da- 
kota, a store in Sterling, AA^hiteside county, be- 
sides some vacant lots and several dwelling 
houses in Sterling. He is a director and stock- 
holder in The Peoples Savings Bank of Perry 
and his property is the visible evidence of a 
lile of well directed thrift and enterprise. He 
and his wife belong to the Lutheran church 
and in politics he is independent. As a citizen, 
however, he is public-spirited and progressive, 
interested in all measures for the general good, 
and his labors have been resultant factors in 
advancing the welfare of Perry and this por- 
tion of the state. Enterprise and diligence have 
constituted the key which has unlocked for 
him the portals of success and his life record 
jtroves the fact that prosperity is ambition's 
answer. 



HENRY H. DAA'IS. 



The great majority of men who win a goodly 
measure of success start out in life empty- 
lianded. They learn the lessons of experience 
and as the years go by they place a correct 
value upon diligence, perseverance and indus- 
try. It has been these qualities which have 
made Henry H. Davis one of the substantial 
citizens of Dallas county, within whose borders 
he has resided since 1878. In former years he 
was closely associated with its farming interests 
but now- he is living retired in the enjoyment 
of the comforts and some of the luxuries of 
life. He was born in Franklin county, A^'er- 
uiont, March 22, 1842, his parents being AVar- 
ner and Laura Ann (Fay) Davis, who were 
likewise natives of the Green Mountain state, 
both born in Franklin county. The father's 
natal year was 1805 and his life record covered 
a period of seventy-one years. His wife, how- 
ever, died at the age of sixty-six. In their fam- 
ily were three sons and three daughters : Ran- 
cil F., who is married and resides in California ; 
Helen A., the wife of D. C. Joslyn, living in 
Kansas; Mary Jane, the wife of Henry Fnd- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



741 



den, whose home is in Vermont ; Henry H. ; 
Carrie M., the wife of A. N. Hamlin, living 
in Perry ; and Byron 0., a merchant of Greens- 
borobend, Vermont. The father devoted his 
entire life to farming and thus provided for 
his family, retaining his residence in his native 
state until called to the home beyond. His 
life was in harmony with his professions as a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and in politics he was a democrat who advo- 
cated the principles set forth by Jackson. 

Henry H. Davis was provided with liberal 
educational privileges, attending school in Ghit- 
tenden county, A'ermont, and Albany, New 
York, and later becoming a student in Bryant 
A: Stratton Business College in Albany. In 
his younger years he worked upon the home 
farm and he afterward conducted a dairy farm 
on his own account for about a year. At the 
outbreak of the Civil war he went to work for 
R. W. Spaulding and R. W. King, who were 
sutlers, and thus he was with the army for 
about two years, spending one winter at 
Brandywine station, Virginia. He afterward 
returned to ^'ermont and wa,-^ then married, 
the lady of his choice being Miss Dora ^I. 
Thompson, whom he wedded May 1, 1865. 
She was born in Vermont and was a daughter 
of F. F. and Currence (Kenyon) Thompson. 
yir. and Mrs. Davis traveled life's journey to- 
gether for twenty-seven years and were then 
separated by the death of Mrs. Davis on the 
23d of February, 1893. On the 14th of No- 
vember, 1899, Mr. Davis wedded Mary S. Gard- 
ner, a native of Delaware. 

After his first marriage Mr. Davis conducted 
a dairy farm in Chittenden county, Vermont, 
for about two years. He then went west to 
Kno.x county, Illinois, settling near Galesburg, 
where he carried on farming for about four 
years, after which he returned to the Green 
Mountain state. A little later, however, he 
again bcame a resident of Knox county, Illi- 
nois, where he followed farming until the 
spring of 1878, when he came to Dallas county, 
Iowa, settling seven miles east of Perry. There 
he lived for four vears and in 1881 he bought 



a farm a mile east of Perry, upon which he 
resided until 1893. The rich 'prairie land of 
this state was converted by him into productive 
fields, from which he annually gathered good 
harvests, and his capable management of his 
business interests and his well directed labors 
brought him the prosperity that has enabled 
him to live retired during the past fourteen 
years, or since 1893. AVhile leading a busy 
and active life in connection with his farming 
interests, Mr. Davis has always found time to de- 
vote to the interests of citizen.«hip and has ever 
stood for public progress and improvement. He 
has served as town.ship trustee for six years and 
as a-ssessor for eight years, being called to these 
offices as the candidate of the republican party. 
He was made a Mason in Vermont in 1872 and 
demitted to become a member of Otley lodge. 
No. 299, A. F. & A. M., at Perry. He also be- 
longs to Palmyra chapter, No. 86, R. A. M. ; to 
Girard commandery. No. 59, K. T.; and to 
Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des 
Moines. He is in thorough sympathy with 
the teachings and tenets of the craft and in 
his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of ^la- 
sonry, which is based upon mutual helpful- 
ness and brotherly kindness. While there have 
been no exciting chapters in his life history 
they are many lessons which may be gleaned 
therefrom and may be profitably followed, for 
his record proves the worth of character and 
also demonstrates the power of integrity and 
aclivitv in the affairs of business life. 



GEORGE H. LISLE. 



The farming and stock-raising interests of 
Dallas county find a worthy representative in 
George H. Lisle, who owns a well improved 
farm, situated on section 19, Dallas township, 
his postoffice address being Jamaica. He was 
l)orn in Belmont county, Ohio, May 12, 1854, 
a son of John and .\nn (Kinney) Lisle, who 
were likewise lioru in (he same county. The 
father had come to Dallas county and pur- 



742 



PAST AUD PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



chased about one thousand acres of wild and 
undeveloped land and his sons had located 
thereon and began to develop and improve the 
land. In 1878 the father joined his sons here 
and spent his remaining days in Dallas county, 
passing away in 1892, while his wife had 
passed away in the year 1875. 

George H. Lisle is one of a family of six 
sons and three daughters, of whom five sons 
and one daughter still survive.- Two of his 
brothers, Henry Lisle, of Perry, and Joel D. 
Lisle, of Dallas township, are mentioned on 
another page of this work. George H. Lisle 
was reared to manhood in liLs native county 
and during the period of his boyhood and 
youth pursued his studies in the common 
schools. He remained under the parental roof 
until he attained his majority and then came 
to Dallas county, the date of his arrival here 
being February 27, 1877. He was employed 
by his brother at farm labor for one year and 
then located on his father's tract of land, as- 
sisting to develop and clear the land and trans- 
form it into a valuable property. He then 
made purchase of eighty acres in Dallas town- 
ship but has since added to his original hold- 
ings and now has a well improved farm, which 
he devotes to general agricultural pursuits and 
to the raising of stock. He has improved the 
place with a modern two-story residence, which 
is supplied with all conveniences and accesso- 
ries which add to the comfort of the inmates, 
and he has set out many shade and fruit trees, 
has built good barns and outbuildings and now 
has a finely improved farm, which indicates 
in its neat appearance the progressive spirit of 
the owner. 

Mr. Li.sle was married in this county in 1878, 
to Miss Martha Blood, who was born in Frank- 
lin county. Ohio, near Columbus, a daughter 
of Samuel Blood, who was of English birth. 
Their marriage is graced with three daughters : 
Maud Alice, the wife of Trvin Myers, a farmer 
of Sugar Grove township, Dallas county ; Grace 
Ellen, the wife of William Cooper, of Fort Col- 
lins. Colorado: and Blanch A., a young lady 
at home. 



Although not active in local political atfairs, 
.Mr. Lisle gives stanch support to the men and 
measures of the republican party. Mrs. Lisle 
and the eldest daughter are members uf the 
Christian church. The family is one highly 
esteemed in this community, while in every 
Ijublic movement or measure which tends to 
advance the best interests of the comity Mr. 
Lisle interests himself. 



EN OS RHOADS. 



Although a comparatively recent arrival in 
Woodward, Mr. Rhoads dates his residence in 
Iowa from 1849, at which time he settled in 
Des Moines township, Dallas county. He is 
therefore one of the earlier residents of this 
part of the state, and as a representative citi- 
zen it is meet that his history be given in this 
volume, for it has been closely interwoven 
with the development and progress of this part 
of Iowa. His worth has been proven in yeai-s 
of active and honest toil, in honorable conduct 
and in fair dealings with his fellowmeu. He 
was born in Highland county, Ohio, February 
28, 1837, his parents being Daniel and Sophia 
(Miller) Rhoads. The father was a native of 
Virginia and when a young man removed to 
Ohio where he followed the occupation of farm- 
ing. He was married in Highland county, 
that state, to Miss Sophia Miller, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and for several years thereafter 
they remained in Ohio, all of their children 
being born in the same house there and all 
baptized by the same minister. In the year 
1849 the father brought his family to Iowa, 
making the journey from Cincinnati to Keo- 
kuk by boat. At the latter place he purchased 
ox-teams, and with wagon continued his trip 
to Dallas county, settling in Des Moines town- 
ship, where he entered forty acres of land. 
There was scarcely a house in this part of the 
county at that time and every evidence of 
pioneer life was to be seen. Mr. Rhoads built 
a log house and then began the development of 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



743 



liis farm, whereon lie continued to reside 
throughout his remaining days, passing away 
at the age of seventy-six years. "Uncle Daniel 
lilioads," as he was lovingly and familiarly 
called, was among the earliest settlers of the 
county and one of the most revered among the 
frontiersmen. His house became a home for 
every stranger, his hospitality being extended 
to the learned and the ignorant, the rich and 
the poor alike — no one being turned from his 
door. He was the founder of Methodism in 
this section of the state and his home was 
the meeting-place for the early worshippers. 
Both he and his wife have left behind them a 
memory which is still cherished by all who 
knew them and the old settlers of the county 
remember them most kindly and speak of them 
iu woi'ds of praise and good will. 

Enos Rhoads was the eldest sou of the funi- 
ily and the fifth child born to these parents. 
He was a lad of twelve years when the family 
came to Iowa and upon the home farm he wa.s 
reared, assisting in the arduous task of devel- 
oping new land as his years and strength in- 
ci'eased. He remained on the old homestead 
until he had attained his majority, after which 
he started out in life on his own account, and 
for three years worked at farm labor by the 
month. He was anxious to secui'e a farm of 
his own and made good u.se of his opportunities 
f(n- acquiring the necessary cajiital that would 
enable him to purchase land. 

On tile -iNth (if Marcli. bSliO, Mr. Hlioads was 
united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Peoples. 
He then purchased forty acres in Des Moines 
tdwnsliip. where he lived about eight years, 
wlien liis harn. hay, grain and horses were 
destroyed by lightning. He then sold and 
bought one hundred acres of land in People.* 
township. Boone county, wlicre lie made a 
home and improved the farm. There he l)uiU 
his hou.sc and barn, together with other nec- 
essary buildings for the shelter (if grain ami 
stock, and for twenty years lived upon that 
place, transforming the wild land into ricli 
and productive fields from which he aimually 
gathered good harvests. 



La 1882 Mr. Rhoads was called upon to 
mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away 
in that year. They were the parents of six 
children, five of whom reached adult age, of 
which number Alice May died at the age of 
twenty -one years. Those still living are Huetta, 
who was educated in the institute for the mute 
at Council Bluft's; Ambert Ledson, a railroad 
employee in Des Moines city and a iiienil)er <if 
the famous I. 0. 0. F. team, of Woodward, 
which has won distinction throughout the 
United States and Canada; Walter, a farmer 
and carpenter living in Des Moines township; 
Leviua, the wife of William Fitzpatrick of East 
St. Louis, Illinois; and Daisy, the wife of 
(ieorge .Jackson, a farmer of Des Moines town- 
ship. After losing his first wife, Mr. Rhoads 
wa< married on tlic iStli of March, 1885, his 
second miion iiriiiLi, witli Mi's. Alvaretta Mc- 
(^niston. tiic widow of HoKcrt .Mc(^iis(on. She 
Mas liorn in Slark comity. Oiiio, in 1S4G, and 
wa~ married in rcnnsyhania to Mr. McQuiston 
in I.SIK). Mr. and Mrs. McC^uistou came to 
Iowa in 1S(38, settling in Boone county, where 
they jii'c-empted oue hundred and .sixty acres 
of land and made a home. There they lived 
until 18,S2, when they moved to Colton. now 
Woodward, where Mr. McQuiston 's death oc- 
curred in -Tuly, 1882, his being the lirst dcatli 
in tliat place. In this family were thrci' ciiil- 
dren, of whom two reached years of maturity, 
wliile one is still living — Edna, tiie wife of 
Bert Porter, a resident farmer of lioone county. 
They have three children, .\fter ]Mrs. Mc- 
(^uiston's removal to Woodward she taught the 
first school in this place. Slie has tau^lit suc- 
cessfully for more than twenty years in Penn- 
sylvania and Iowa. After the second marriage 
in ISS." ^h-. and Mrs. Khoads re>i(led u]>on 
his farm in Boone county milil iSit;!. when 
he sold his property liiere and |iurcha-ed eight 
and one-half acres of land in Woodward, where 
he has since buih a modern home, attractive 
111 its style of architecture, coiiiiiiodions and 
lieautif'iil in il> fiirnisliiniis and suri-oiuidiii".-. 
while ii|ioii the |)lace. whidi i- ai>|>ro|iriateiy 



lU 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



called Cozy Crest, thoy have fine fruit, shade 
and ornamental trees. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rhoad.s are con.'isteiit and de- 
voted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, with which they have been identified 
since their childhood days. ^Irs. IJboads is a 
Sunday-school teacher and has charge of what 
is known as the "sunshine class." She is the 
only one of the ■ original teachers pre-ent at 
the organization of the Sunday school of the 
Methodist Episcopal church of Woodward. Mr. 
Rhoads is a charter member of old Xenia 
church and was connected therewith for sev- 
eral years. He acted as Sunday-school superin- 
tendent in Boone county and his influence has 
ever been on the side of moral and religious de- 
velopment. He cast his first presidential ballot 
for Abraham Lincoln and he has not failed to 
vote at a presidential election since that time. 
He has never desired political office for him- 
self, however, yet he served his township for 
several yeai"s as road supervisor and was a 
trustee for four years. He has also been a dele- 
gate to several county conventions. In his 
early years he was identified with the school 
board and belonged to the Union League and 
to the Grange. He has been a constant resi- 
dent of this part of the state for sixty years, 
living here at the time when Indians were as 
numerous as white settlers. There were also 
many deer and other kinds of wild game which 
furnished many a meal to the settlers. Mr. 
Rhoads had made rails and broken ground in 
the county, has seen the entire county laid 
out into townships and sections and in fact 
has assisted materially in its development, 
growth and progress. Moreover, he has been 
an interested witness of the development of all 
sections of the country and noted the progress 
that has been made in this and other lands, 
as indicated by the exhibitions at the interna- 
tional exhibits held at Chicago and St. Louis 
and also at Omaha, and he expects to attend 
the Northwest Fair at Seattle in 1909. ]\Irs. 
Rhoads is correspondent for the local papers 
and had the honor of winning first prize for an 
cs.say of three hundred words upon the moral 



training of a child. The contest was open to 
anyone in the United States of twenty-one 
years of age and was given by the publishers 
of the Ladies Home Companion. Her essay 
appeared in the paper for January, 1905. She 
has also been the w-riter of beautiful verse, in- 
cluding a poem called "Woodward's Smile.'' 
which appears in the general historical ]) )r- 
tion of this volume. Not to know Mr. and Mrs. 
Rhoads in Woodward and Dallas county is to 
argue one's self unknown, for their long re-i- 
dence here, their hospitality and genuine worth 
have won them a wide acquaintance and a host 
of warm friends. At all times their lives have 
been worthy of trust and confidence and may 
well serve as an example to others. It is most 
interesting to hear them tell of the early days 
when this was a prairie district; when the 
homes were widely scattered and the work was 
in its experimental stage. Mr. Rhoads has 
demonstrated in his own life that the course 
which he followed was one to win success and 
he is now living in honorable retirement from 
agricultural pursuits at his beautiful home in 
^^'oodward. 



J. Y. KING. 



J. Y. King is now living a retired life after 
many years of active labor in connection with 
agricultural pursuits. His home is in .\dains 
township and he is one of the well known citi- 
zens in this part of the state. He has passed 
the eighty-second milestone in life's journey 
and a review of his record shows many notable 
characteristics and qualities whereby he has 
won the friendship and love of all with whom 
he has come in contact. His life record began 
in Lawrence county. Indiana, April 23. 1825, 
his parents being Cornelius and Mary (Yan 
Cleave) King, both of whom were natives of 
Kentucky. They were married in Indiana and 
resided in Lawrence county until 1831. when 
they removed to Montgomery county, where 
fhev lived until the mother's death, which oc- 




MR. .\.\1> Mi;s. .1. \-. KING 



PAST AND PRKSKXT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



747 



curred in ISGl. Li their family were ten chil- 
dren but only four are now living: Eunice 
Jaiae, the wife of James Lawson, of Trenton, 
Missouri; J. V., whose name introduces this 
review ; Lydia T., the wife of Joseph Lee, who 
is living in Oklahoma : and Cornelius, whoso 
home is in Muncic county, Indiana. After the 
mother's death, the father came to Iowa in 
1862 and settled in Dallas county. Iicing 
pleased with the district he made arrangements 
for nidiing a permanent home hei'e, trading 
a farm which he owned in Indiana for a tract 
of land in this county. Here his remaining 
days were pa.ssed, his death occurring in l<Sfi7. 
J. ^'. King wa.s reared in the state of his na- 
tivity amid pioneer surroundings and environ- 
ments. He shared in the hardships and trials 
incident to frontier life and enjoyed only such 
advantages as were conunon at that time. His 
school privileges were necessarily meager, but 
in the school of experience he has learned 
many valuable lessons. However, he had the 
opportunity of attending Waveland Academy, 
a Presbyterian school in Indiana, and for ten 
years in early manhood he taught school. 
Thinking to better his financial condition in 
the district west of the Mississippi he came to 
Iowa in 184S, first locating in Monroe county. 
About two years later he came to Dallas county 
in 1851 and took up a claim with a land war- 
rant. Fifty-six years have since come and 
gone. Few of the residents of the county have 
so long remained within its borders or have 
more intimate knowledge of the history of its 
growth and progress. At that time one could 
ride for miles across the prairie without coming 
to a house or fence to impede his progress. 
Comparatively few roads had been made and 
there was little to indicate that the work of de- 
velopment would thus bring about a wonderful 
transformation here. Mr. King bore his ])art 
in the task that lay before the early settlers and 
has always assisted in promoting progress and 
improvement. He performed the arduous work 
necessary to open up a new farm, turning the 
first furrow in many a field and planting the 
first crops. In due course of time his place be- 



came very profitable and he won a goodly 
measure of success as a reward for his earnest 
labor. 

It was not long after his arrival in Dallas 
county that Mr. King was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Thorn, the wedding being celebrated 
on the 5th of April. 1855. The lady was born 
in Indiana November 11, 1838, and her parents 
were both natives of Kentucky, whence they re- 
moved to Indiana at an early day, living there 
until they we're called to their final rest. Seven 
children were born unto them but all are now 
deceased. The home of Mr. and Mrs. King 
was blessed with eight children : Eliza E., the 
wife of J. W. Krou.sc. a resident of Kansa.s; 
Mary J., the wife of J. H. Coffin, who is living 
in Adams township; George W., who makes 
his home in Boone county. Missouri; Sarah F.. 
the wife of Frank Overton, who is living in this 
county; Lydia B., the wife of A. D. Van Cleave, 
of Adams township; Charles AV., a resident of 
Boone county, Missouri; Phoebe L., the wife 
of Wright Ellis, now living with her father on 
the farm; and Zaralda Marilla, the wife of 
John A. Hougham, whose home is in Pasa- 
dena, California. There are forty-nine grand- 
children and also six great-grandchildren. In 
1904 Mr. King was called upon to mourn the 
loss of his wife, whose death occurred on the 
1st of August of that year, leaving a husband 
and eight children. They had traveled life's 
journey together for almost half a century, 
their mutual love and confidence increasing as 
the years went by, and they experienced to- 
gether the joj'S and sorrows, the adversity and 
prosperity which checker the lives of all. 

Mr. King is one of the few surviving vet- 
erans of the Mexican war. He served as a sec- 
ond lieutenant in the Fifth Indiana Volunteers 
when the country became involved in difficul- 
ties with Alexico leading to the contest at arms. 
Politically he wa.s for many years a democrat 
l)ut is now a prohibitionist, believing that the 
temperance question is one of the paramount 
issues of the day. For fifteen years he served 
as a school director in Adams township and 
wa.- also justice of the peace, in whieli position 



74S 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



he rendered decisions tliat were strictly fair 
and impartial. The cause of education has al- 
ways found in him an earnest champion and 
his efforts in behalf of the public schools have 
been far-reaching and beneficial. He has al- 
ways been a friend of the cause of public school 
interests and as school director he did efficient 
and beneficial service in this regard. His re- 
ligious faith is that of the United Brethren 
church. Having prospered in his business 
undertakings he is now the owner of one hun- 
dred and sixty-two acres of land situated on 
sections 5, <3 and 8, Adams tawiisliip. Tliis 
constitutes an excellent farm which is now oc- 
cupied by his son-in-law, Wright Ellis, while 
Mr. King is living retired in the enjoyment 
of a well earned rest. His name has ever been 
a synonym for integrity in all the walks of life 
and his example may well serve as a source of 
inspiration to the young and of encouragement 
to the aged. 



PETER REEL. 



Peter Reel, to whom has been vouchsafed an 
honorable retirement from labor, is not only 
deserving of mention in this volume because 
of an active business career that has won him 
prosperity but also Ijecause in days of peace 
and days of war ho has boon a loyal citizen 
of his adopted land ami i- iiuiiibered among 
the veterans of the I'nion army, lie was born 
in County ^Vrmagh. Iroland. on the 21th of 
March, 1836, his parents being Daniel and 
Elizabeth (Gollogly) Reel, who were also na- 
tives of the same county. The father was a 
farmer by occupation and thus provided for 
the support of his family. He and his wife 
spent their entire lives in their native country 
and were consistent members of the Roman 
Catholic church. Both lived to the advanced 
age of ninety-two years but of their family of 
nine children, seven sons and two daughters, 
only five are now living, namely: Patrick; 
Stephen, a resident of Ireland: Michael; Mar- 



garet and Peter. Those deceased are James, 
Hugh, Mary and John. 

John Reel, an uncle of Peter Reel, was a 
sea-faring man who made his home at Liver- 
pool, England, and in 1846 he brought his 
nephew, Peter Reel, to America on one of his 
ships, the lad being at that time ten years of 
age. He joined his brother James at Cruger's 
Landing, in Westchester county, New York, 
and there he further acquired his education by 
attending the public schools until seventeen 
years of age. In 1853 he went south to Georgia 
and worked as a slave driver, being in the em- 
ploy of John Brown during the last seven years 
of his residence in the south. About the time 
of the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he 
returned to the north and after the inaugura- 
tion of hostilities he offered his aid to the coun- 
try in defense of the Union, joining Company 
D, of the Fourteenth Regiment of United 
States Infantry. He was mustered into the 
regular army at Fort Trumbull and was in all 
of the battles and skirmishes with his regiment 
save during a period of six months and twenty- 
seven days, which he spent as a prisoner of 
war, being incarcerated at Libby, Belle Isle and 
Salisbury, North Carolina. He was at Annapo- 
lis. Maryland, on the 14th of April, 1865, the 
(lay on which President Lincoln was assassin- 
ated, and he was discharged at Drum Barracks, 
California, on the 22d of September, 1868. 

■Mr. Reel then returned to the state of New 
York and was employed at railroad work in 
New York and in Pennsylvania until 1879, 
when he made his way westward to Montana, 
Iowa, now Boone. There he entered the em- 
ploy of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad 
Company and later he came to Perry, work- 
ing for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad Company until 1891. when he retired 
from business life. He is now enjoying a well 
ef^rnod i-i'st. making his home in Perry, where 
his genuine worth has won him many friends. 

Mr. Reel was married on the 4th of October, 
1872, to Miss Catherine Sherry at New Brigh- 
ton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. She was 
born in Scotland. July 4, 1851. lier parents 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



UU 



being Thomas aud Jane (Croustou) Sherry. 
Her father, na ntive of County Monaghan, Ire- 
land, became a coal miner of Scotland and later 
:<upcrintendent of mines. He crossed the At- 
lantic to the new world in the early '50s by 
sailing vessel and after a voyage of six weeks 
landed at New York city. He then located 
in Pennsylvania, where he owned coal banks 
and also acted as superintendent of coal mines 
for others. His religious faith was that of the 
Roman Catholic church and in politics he was 
a democrat. He died January 6, 1890, at the 
age of sixty-nine years,while his wife, who was 
born in Scotland, died March 8, 1891, at the 
age of sixty-nine years and eight months. Both 
the father and mother of Mrs. Reel spent their 
last days in East Palestine, Columbiana county, 
Ohio. Of their family of ten children five 
are now living: Mrs. Reel, who was the fifth 
in order of birth; Thoma.-*; Mary Jane: Aim: 
and Alice. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reel have been born four 
children. Daniel T., born July 14, 1873, was 
married September 18, 1900, to Ella M. Kerns, 
whose birth occurred in 1881. He is a con- 
ductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad, living at Perry, and they have two 
children: Bernard S., born November 9, 1901; 
and Raymond R., born September 6, 1903. 
Joseph M., born December 5, 1875, is a, con- 
ductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad, living at Perry, and he married Mar- 
garet J. Graney, who was born June 6, 1875, 
and by whom he has one son, Francis L., born 
November 29, 1906. John AV., born July 11. 
1878, and now station agent on the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Persia, Iowa, 
married Annie M. McElmeel on the 25111 of 
September, 1900. She was born July 18, 1877, 
and they have two daughters: Alberta M., 
born September 28, 1902 ; and Cecelia K., born 
August 31, 1904. Peter J., born February 20. 
1884, and now a brakeman on the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, was married 
June 27, 1906, to Alice Cunningham, who was 
born in September, 1884, and they have (me 
son, Peter 0., born .March 20. 1907. 



Mr. Reel is a member of St. Patrick's Roman 
Catholic church. He belongs to Redfield post, 
No. 26, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleas- 
ant relations with the old army comrades with 
whom he served as a soldier in the Civil war. 
His political allegiance is given to the repub- 
lican party. Mr. Reel has now passed the 
Psalmist's span of three score years and ten. 
Having led an active, useful life, whatever suc- 
cess he has achieved is due entirely to his own 
labor and persistency of purpose and at all 
times he has been most faithful in his alle- 
giance to America and her institutions, stand- 
ing firmly in support of those principles which 
are the basis of our republican government. 



ROBERT F. WOOD. 



Robert F. Wood wa.s born in Gallia county, 
Ohio, July 4, 1869. He attended the public 
schools until he was sixteen years of age, when 
he entered Rio Grande College, fi"om which in- 
stitution he was graduated four years later. 
After teaching school for three years in his 
home town — Adamsville, Ohio — he took the 
teachers' training course at Lebanon under Presi- 
dent Alfred Holbrook, and then entered the 
Ohio University, finishing the scientific cour,se 
in that institution in 1894. After teaching in 
the graded schools of Illinois and Texas for 
several years, he came to Yun Meter, Dallas 
county, Iowa, where after acting for four years 
a.s principal, he was elected to the oflice of 
county superintendent of schools, in wliiclt ]io- 
sition he is now serving hi.s third term. 



HOMER M(("OXNEIJ.. 

Homer McConnell, wliosc pniMrcs-ivc -iiirit 
is manifest in the exccllcnl coiKiitiuii uf lii- 
farm on section 9, Bonne towiisliip, has a vnl- 
nablc tract of land of nnc innulrcd and Iwciily 
acre-. It is n licit and well ini|ir(ivc(l \t\-Arr. 



750 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



equipped with manj' accessories of the model 
farm property of the twentieth century. .Mr. 
McConnell not only display-s a progressive spirit 
in its control but has in matters of citizen- 
ship manifested the same fidelity to the puli- 
lic interest. He is a native son of luwa, hav- 
ing been born in Mahaska county on the ITtli 
of May, 1853, his father being Robert Henry 
McConnell, who was born in Posey cnunty, 
Indiana, while the grandfather was Roliert Mc- 
Connell. Sr., who removed with the family tn 
this state and settled in Mahaska county among 
its earliest residents. There he opened up a 
new farm, his .son Robert Henry assisting liiui 
to develop and cultivate the property. At a 
later date Robert Henry McConnell came to 
Dallas county, where he was married in IS-ll. 
in Bonne township, to Miss Melinda Knight, 
a native of Randolph county, Indiana, and a 
daughter of George Knight, who on coming to 
Iowa settled fii-st in Mahaska county but later 
removed to Dallas county. He wa- tlic in- 
ventor of the fast-riding sulky plow, which he 
placed upon the market about 1865 or 1868. 
Following his marriage Mr. ^IcConnell pur- 
chased land and opened up a farm in Jasper 
county, near Colfax, and there he continued 
to reside until his last labors were ended in 
death. He passed away March 30, 1864, and 
his wife died in August, 1856. The father 
afterward married again. 

Homer McConnell was one of two children 
born of his father's first marriage and is the 
only one now living. He was brought tn Dal- 
las county when a lad of twelve year- and 
was reared in Boone township by his grand- 
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Knight. The common 
schools of Jasjaer and Dallas counties afforded 
him his educational privilege and when he was 
not busy with his te.xt-books he was largely 
occupied with the work of the farm. Arriv- 
ing at mature years he was married, on the 
11th of September. 1879, to Miss Melvina Jane 
Hutchins, a native of Dalla* county, born in 
Boone township, on the 16th of March. 1856. 
Tier father, -lohn Hutchins, wa« a native of 
North Carolina and was reared in Indiana. 



In that state he married Miss Mary Cook, a 
native of Maryland, who was reared, however, 
in Indiana. In the fall of 1850 they removed 
to Dallas county, Iowa. Subsequent to their 
marriage Mr. McConnell operated his grand- 
father Knight's farm and also improved the 
property where tie now resides. He first pur- 
chased eighty acres of the place upon which 
lie settled in 1885. after which he broke 
and fenced the fields, also building a good 
house. Later he added to and remodeled this 
dwelling and now has an attractive farm resi- 
dence. He has put up good barns and out- 
buildings and has set out an orchard which is 
in bearing. He has likewise planted many 
shade trees which add to the value and attrac- 
tive appearance of the farm and altogether he 
has made a very desirable home here. In 1893 
he purchased forty acres adjoining the .original 
tract and with the cultivation of grain he now 
raises pure-blooded Poland China hogs and 
high grade shorthorn cattle and good horses. 
He fattens and feeds the hogs for the market 
and his stock-raising interests constitute a 
profitable element in his business. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McConnell were born 
four children but they lost their eldest, Clar- 
ence, who died June 8, 1896, at the age of 
fifteen years. The others are Mabel. Harry and 
Horace. In his political views Mr. McConnell 
has been a life long republican and for two 
terms he has served as township clerk, to whicii 
office he was called by the vote of his fellow 
townsmen. He has likewise been township 
trustee for three years and has been secretary 
of the school board for seven years. He served 
as a delegate to various county and congres- 
sional conventions and is one of the active men 
of his party in Boone township. He belongs 
to Van Meter lodge of the ilasonic fraternity, 
in which he has held office, and he likewise af- 
filiates with both the subordinate lodge and the 
encampment of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. He has filled all of the offices of 
the former and has represented the local lodge 
in the grand lodge for two years. In the en- 
campment he served as high priest for one 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



roi 



term. Mr. McConuell is well known in Add 
and Dalla;? county a.'? a prosperoua farmer, 
while in his busine.ss relations he has awakened 
that confidence and warm regard which are 
always given iu acknowledgment of houurable 
methods and of unfaltering reliability. 



CYRUS PARCEL. 



Farming interests long claimed the time, at- 
tention and energies of Cyrus Parcel but at 
the present writing, in 1907, he is resting from 
labor in the enjoyment of a well earned and 
honorable retirement. He has lived in the 
county for thirty-seven years, dating his resi- 
dence here from 1870. He is now in the 
seventy-eighth year of his age and a review 
of his life show's that his salient characteristic.-^ 
are such as win confidence and esteem in every 
land and clime. He was born in Middletown, 
Butler county, Ohio, October 12, 1829, his 
parents being Aaron and Rebecca (Ivans) Par- 
cel, who were natives of New Jersey. The 
father w^as a tanner by trade but later turned 
his attention to farming in Indiana, where 
he died in the year 1847. His wife long sur- 
vived, passing away at the age of eighty-six 
years. He held a number of township offices 
and in his community was rated as a valued 
citizen. His political views were in harmony 
with the principles of democracy. 

Cyrus Parcel was taken by his parents to 
Clinton county, Indiana, when only twelve 
months old and continued a resident of that 
state until about thirty years of age. He left 
Indiana in April, 1859, to establish his home 
in McLean county, Illinois, where he resided 
until 1870, when he came to Dallas county, 
Iowa. Here he purchased a farm north of 
Perry. Tiiroughout his entire life he had 
followed the occupation of farming, had been 
reared to that pursuit and from his boyhood 
days had continued actively in the work of the 
fields. In 1877 he removed from the farm 
north of Perrv to a tract of land east of Perrv. 



whereon he continued to make his home until 
1900, when he took up his abode in the city. 
In the meantime he had placed his fields under 
a high state of cultivation and had added all 
modern equipments aiad accessories to his place, 
making it one of the valuable and desirable 
tarnis of the community. He annually gath- 
ered good crops and thus year by year he was 
enabled to add to his income until it has at- 
tained sufficient proportions to enable him to 
live retired. 

On the 3d of November, 18B1, Mr. Parcel 
was imited in marriage to Miss Amanda J. 
Newland, who was born in Madison county, 
Ohio, April 5, 1842, a daughter of Joseph and 
Nancy (Martin) Newland, who were likewise 
natives of the same county. The father passed 
away at the age of fifty-four years and his 
wife when forty years of age. He had fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits in the Buckeye 
state and on coming to Iowa in 1854 he estab- 
lished his home in Des Moines township, Dal- 
las county, where he purchased a tract of land 
and carried on farming with good success until 
his life's labors were ended in death. He was 
a member of the Odd Fellows society and he 
exercised his right of franchise in support of 
the democratic party. The surviving mem- 
bers of his family of nine children are Mar- 
garet, Louisa, Mary and Mrs. Parcel. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parcel were born six 
children. AVilliam married Ida Van Loan and 
they have four children: Eddie, Robert, Het- 
tie and Allie. Ardella is the wife of Charles 
E. Baker and they have three children : .Tosie, 
Edith and Cyrus. Their elder daughter be- 
came the wife of Walter Jarnagin and by this 
union there are two sons, Howard and Walter, 
who are great-grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. 
Parcel. Franklin A. Parcel married Mollie 
Swisher and has two children, George C. and 
Dorothy. The other members of the Parcel 
family are now deceased. 

The cause of education has always found in 
Mr. Parcel a stalwart and helpful friend and 
he did effective service in behalf of the schools 
while acting as' school director for a number 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



of years. He was also township trustee for 
three years. He voted with the republican 
party upon its organization and has since con- 
tinued one of its stalwart supporters, while of 
the Baptist church he has been a faithful mem- 
ber since 1851. Looking back over his past 
life, he finds little to regret, for it has been in 
harnionj- with his professions as a believer in 
the Christian religion. In his business he has 
never been known to take advantage of the 
necessities of liis fcllowincn in any trade trans- 
action but has always been honorable and 
straightforward and throughout his entire life 
he has stood for those things Avhich are just, 
true and right, valuing at all times his own 
self respect as worth infinitely more than 
wealth, fame or position. 



CORNELIUS McKEAN. 

The subject of this biography wa.s born 
July 18, 1834. His parents at that time were 
living in Washington county, Missouri. His 
father's name wa.s Nathaniel McKean. He 
was born about the year 1797, in Belfast, 
Maine, came west and enlisted in the United 
States Regular Army in 1820, and was assigned 
to Captain Riley's Company of Colonel Leaven- 
worth's regiment of infantry of General At- 
kinson's command. Soon after they were or- 
dered to Council Bluff's (Nebraska side of the 
river) and built a fort and called it Fort At- 
kinson; this was on the grounds where Fort 
Omaha now stands. This was in the year 
1820-1 and was the most western post of the 
government at that time. He served five years 
and Avas honorably discharged. He married 
Miss Mary Ann McGlothlin (originally Mac- 
Laclihm ) . who was born in Madison county, 
Kentucky. Ibr father. Cornelius McGlothlin, 
wa.s a Revolutionary .soldier and pensioner, 
having served under General Harmon of South 
Carolina. 

Cornelius McKean came to Dallas county 
witli his father and family in the spring of 



1848, his mother having died before they 
came. At that time the land had not been 
surveyed in this part of the state, and there- 
fore was not subject to private entry, but each 
settler blazed and staked out his or her claim 
of timber and prairie and settled down, build- 
ing cabins, breaking prairie and other work. 
The following winter of 1848-9 will always be 
remembered by the old settlers as "the winter 
of the deep snow." It commenced to snow the 
7th of November and reached a depth of 
three feet on a level and much deeper in some 
places. The family settled on the west side of 
Panther creek, in what is now Adams town- 
ship. Cornelius McKean married Miss Nancy 
Ann McCulley, May 8, 1852. She was a 
daughter of Samuel and Catherine McCulley, 
of Highland county, Ohio. Her great grand- 
mother was an early settler of Kentucky and 
is the person mentioned in the history of the 
early settlement of the state that carried 
her pewter dish with her when she fled 
to the neighborhood fort a few minutes before 
it was attacked by Indians. The dish was 
moulded into balls by the woman when the 
lead had all been used up. and the pewter bul- 
lets were what saved the garrison. They re- 
moved to Greene county, bought land near the 
grounds of the Old Settlers' Picnic Society, sold 
out and entered one hundred and twenty acres 
of land in section 5, township No. 81, R. 28. 
now Spring Valley township, built a cabin and 
moved on the farm in 1853. At that time it 
was a part of Buena A'^ista precinct, later that 
of Dallas township precinct until 1858. when 
Spring A'alley town-ship was organized. 

The first step taken in connection with the 
organization was an impromptu meeting in- 
tended to be held at the residence of .John H. 
Roberts, a leading and influential settler, Vjut 
when the neighbors assembled there, his esti- 
mable wife informed them Mr. Roberts was at 
work in the timber and indicated the direction 
where he could be found, so to the woods they 
wont, and easily found him by the sound of 
his maul, at work making rails in regular pio- 
neer stvlc. .After making known their Itnsi- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



753 



ness in few words, the meeting was organized 
by the election of Mr. Roberts as chairman 
and Cornelius McKean as secretary, after 
which the worthy chairman laid aside his maul 
nnd called the meeting to order, when the fol- 
lowing proceedings were had and taken; 1st, 
That congressional township No. 81, R. 28 
now attached to and forming part of the pre- 
cinct of Dallas, be organized into a separate 
precinct to be known as Spring Valley town- 
ship ; 2nd, that we petition the proper author- 
ities of the county, in accordance with the 
above resolution, and requesting early atten- 
tion be given the matter before the regular fall 
election. Whereupon Secretary McKean made 
out the necessary papers in harmony with the 
foregoing resolutions, which were signed by all 
present, and in due time presented to county 
Judge Lloyd D. Burns at Adel. The request 
was granted in accord with the wishes of the 
settlers and the first election for township of- 
ficers was held at the residence of Jonathan 
Chiles, in November, 1858, The officers elected 
were: justices of the peace, Ju.stus McCarrell 
and E. J. Waldron: clerk. Cornelius McKean; 
trustees, Anson D. Morgan and Sylvenus Pal- 
mer. 

Mr. Nelson Miner, one of the early settlers, 
suggested the name of Spring Valley, as ap- 
propriate on account of the many springs along 
the banks of the Coon, south of Dr. P. A. Mow- 
rer's farm : at that time the main traveled 
road passed near these springs and afforded 
fine camping grounds for emigrants. 

Mr. ^IcKean was also the first secretary of 
the township school board, and served continu- 
ously for several consecutive terms. He was 
also elected to the office of justice of the peace 
and served several terms, was postmaster of 
Alton, Iowa, school director and captain in the 
Iowa Militia. 

He is the compiler of a work entitled Mc- 
Kean (ienealogies, being a genealogy of the 
family from the settlement in America in 1718 
uji to 1902. The family is descended from the 
Island Kings and Lords of the Isles of Scot- 
land. 



The children of Cornelius and Nancy Ann 
McKean are: Sedora; Mary Jane; Eva; John, 
who was captain of Company B, Fifty-second 
Iowa Infantry, Spanish war; Albert; Ja.-^per 
W. ; Anna; Evan; and Roscoe. 

Mrs. McKean died in Perry, March 2, 1903, 
and is buried on the family lot in Violet Hill 
cemetery. Mr. McKean is a member of the 
Christian church, also of the Grand Army of 
the Republic and Ladies of the G. A. R. of 
Perry, by reason of service in Company E, 
Fourth Iowa Infantrv. 



EDWARD R. AIKEN, M. D. 

Dr. Edward R. Aiken, engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine and surgery in Perry, is a 
native son of New England, his birth having 
occurred in Townsend, \^ermont. July ."). 1S45. 
His grandfather was Peter Aiken, a major of 
the Revolutionary war, and his ancestors came 
from Londonderry, Ireland, to the new world 
in 1722. His parents were Henry L. and Eliza- 
beth (Robins) Aiken, both natives of Ver- 
mont, born in 1801 and in 1809 respectivelJ^ 
The father was a graduate of the Middlebury 
College of Vei'mont and was a prominent, able 
and distinguished citizen of his locality, who 
for eight years represented his district in the 
state legislature and left' the impress of his indi- 
viduality for good upon the laws that were 
enacted during that period. Hon. Henry L. 
Aiken departed this life in 1875, in which 
year his wife also passed away. They were the 
parents of two sons and a daughter: Edward 
R. ; Henry, who is living in Carroll, Iowa; and 
Ellen, who became the wife of Rev. James 
Smith and died in California in 1897. 

Dr. Aiken entered school at the usual age 
and passed through .successive grades until he 
was graduated from the Proudfoot high school 
nt Saratoga Springs, New York, when eighteen 
years of age. Determining upon the practice 
of medicine as a life work, he began studying 
uiidci- tlic (lirrclinii nl' Dr. L. 1''. ^\'hiliiiti of 



754 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Saratoga Springs and eventually matriculated 
in the Albany Medical School, from which he 
was graduated in the clai-s of 1868. Think- 
ing to find a more favorable opening in the 
middle west, he came to Dallas county, Iowa, 
in the fall of 1869 and located for practice at 
Minburn, where he remained for about nine 
years. He then removed to Perry, where he 
has since remained, covering a period of al- 
most thirty, years. He was local surgeon for 
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad 
Company for about ten years and at the pres- 
ent writing is local surgeon for the Minneapo- 
lis & St. Louis Railroad. He has also been for 
the past decade a member of the United States 
pension examining board and he belongs to 
the Dallas and Guthrie Counties Medical So- 
ciety. In his profession he is deeply interested, 
having long been a thorough and discriminat- 
ing student of the science of medicine, and he 
has carried his investigations far and wide into 
the realms of research along those lines. That 
he has attained proficiency and skill and that 
he liBs the confidence of the general public is 
indicated by the large patronage which is ac- 
corded him and which has made him one of 
the successful members of the medical frater- 
nit\' of Dallas county. 

On the 5th of January, 1875, was celebrated 
the marriage of Dr. Aiken and Miss Emma 
Moore, who was boi-n in Canada and is a daugh- 
ter of Gardner F. and Christina (Wood) Moore, 
the former now deceased, while the latter is 
a resident of Canada. Her father was in the 
marble business as a manufacturer of monu- 
ments and tombstones for many years. He 
belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church 
and his life was in consistent harmony with 
his profession. His family numbered seven 
children but only three survive: James, who 
is living in Canada; Mrs. Aiken; and Sarah, 
the viite of G. B. Poll, living in California. 

Dr. and ]\Irs. Aiken have two sons and a 
daughter. The eldest. Dr. Henry L. Aiken, 
is a graduate of the Kansas City Dental Col- 
lege of the class of 1905 and is now en- 
gaged in the practice of dentistry at Spen- 



cer. Nebraska. Dr. Edward M. Aiken, who 
completed a course in dentistry by graduation 
from Drake University in the class of 1904, 
is now at Plainview^, Nebraska. Helen is the 
wife of Harry J. Reynolds, a resident of Gano, 
North Dakota. 

Dr. Edward R. Aiken of this review is well 
known in Masonic circles, being affiliated with 
Otley lodge, No. 299, A. F. & A, M., Palmyra 
chapter. No. 86, R. A. M. ; and Girard com- 
mandery. No. 56, K. T. He gives an unfalter- 
ing political support to the republican party 
but has never sought the honors nor emolu- 
ments of public office, preferring to give un- 
divided attention to his professional duties, 
which he discharges with a sense of conscien- 
tious obligation and with a thorough under- 
standing of the responsibility that devolves 
upon him. 



JOHN BROWN. 



Jolin Brown, a farmer residing on section 1, 
Van Meter township, was born June 30. 1844, 
at Westhofen, Germany, and was a son of Mar- 
tin and Anna (Baltz) Brown. The father was 
a farmer in his native land, following that 
pursuit until 1848, in which year there arose 
a rebellion in Germany and Martin Brown 
cast in his lot with the insurgents, who were 
finally overpowered by the Prussians. A great 
many were forced to flee the country for safety 
and among this number was Mr. Brown. It 
was then that he came to the United States, 
arriving in the spring of 1849. He first located 
in Buft'alo. New York, and some time after- 
ward went to Dayton, Ohio, whence he sub- 
sequently removed to Chicago, Illinois. He 
continued in the western metropolis for only 
a brief period, however, and then bought a 
farm near Mendota, Illinois. Subsequently he 
removed to Dallas count}'^, Iowa, where, in 
1853, he entered one hundred and sixty acres 
of land in Adel township, making his home 
thereon until his death. He worked earnestly 




JOHN P.KOWN 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and j)ersisteiitly in l)ringing his iiekls uiuler 
a high state of cultivation and as the years 
passed developed an excellent property, which 
he continued to cultivate until called to 
his final rest in 1884. His wife survived 
until 1903. They were (he parents of live 
children, of whom John is the eldest. The 
others are: George H., a contractor and builder 
of Lamar, Colorado; Mary, the wife of E. J. 
M. Stephens, a retired farmer of Adel ; Wil- 
liam D., attorney at law of Onawa, Iowa; and 
Fred S., a retired fruit grower now residing 
in Kansas City, Missouri. 

.Vt the time of the Civil war Martin Brown, 
ever imbued with the spirit of patriotism and 
love of liberty, offered his .services to the gov- 
ernment of his adopted country, enlisting in 
1861 as a member of Company B, Fifteenth 
Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served for two 
years and took part in a number of very im- 
portant engagements, including the battles 
of Corinth and Shiloh, which contributed to 
the final triumph of the Union arms. 

.John Brown, whose name introduces this re- 
view, acquired his education in the public 
schools and remained at home with his father 
until twenty-one years of age. In the mean- 
time he had become thorougldy familiar with 
the task of cultivating the fields and caring 
for the crops, and when he had attained his 
majority he rented the old homestead, which 
he operated until 1874. "With the money he 
had saved from his earnings he then purchased 
one himdred and sixty acres of land on sec- 
tion 1. Van Meter township, and lliis he has 
developed into one of the best farms of the 
locality, adding to it all modern equipments 
and accessories and bringing the fields under 
a very high state of cultivation. He uses the 
late-t imitroved machinery to facilitate the 
farm work and his labors bring him a gratify- 
ing annual income. Later he purchased eighty 
acres of land in ^Missouri, which he still owns. 
His home is surrounded by a well kept lawn 
and a fine grove of shade trees. 

Oil the 1st of March, 188?,, Mr. Brown was 
iniiicMl ill marriage to Miss Emma A. Rhine- 



hard, who was then a resident of Des Moines, 
Iowa. She was born in Durham, Middlesex 
county, Connecticut, January 16, 1861, her 
parents being Frederick W. and Barbara Rhine- 
hard, both of whom were natives of Germany, 
whence they came to the United States in 1852. 
For many years they resided in Connecticut 
but have now passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Brown have been born five children : Roy G., 
who was born June 25, 1885, and is associated 
with his father in the work of the farm; Nellie 
R., who was born December 9, 1886, and is 
engaged in teaching school; Anna, born Feb- 
ruary 13, 1888; Harry M., born February 16, 
1893 ; and John R., on the 14th of November, 
1896. 

In his political views Mr. Brown is an earnest 
republican who cast his first presidential vote 
for General U. S. Grant and has since supported 
the men and measures of the party. He has 
served as school director and as road super- 
visor. While not a member of any church he 
and his wife lean toward the faith of the Ger- 
man Reform church but attend and support 
other churches of the locality. Mr. Brown be- 
longs to Fortitude lodge. No. 256, A. F. & A. 
M., of ^^an Meter; Ne Pius Ultra castle. No. 
401, K. P., at Waukee; and to Temple No. 
9 of the Dramatic Order of the Knights of 
Kora.ssan at Des Moines. He and his wife are 
members of the Rathbone Sisters at Waukee. 
In the community where they reside they are 
much esteemed as people of genuine worth, 
manifesting tho.se sterling traits of character 
which in every land and clime awaken confi- 
dence and rcgiird. 



ANTHONY M. McC^OLL. 

The business interests of Woodward find a 
worthy representative in Anthony M. McCoU, 
of the firm of McCoU Brothers, who have been 
actively associated with the commercial inter- 
ests of the town for seventeen years. More- 
over, he is well known in jiolitical circles and 



•J58 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



has an official record over which there falls 
no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He 
sei^ved for three consecutive terms as county 
clerk of Dallas county, and his re-election 
.stands as incontrovertible evidence of his ability 
and faithfulness in office. He came to Dallas 
county in 1877, being then a young man of 
nineteen years, his birth having occurred in 
Caledonia, New York, on the 19th of May, 
1858. His father, the Hon. Hugh D. McColl. 
was also born in New York where he grew to 
manhood and was married there to Miss Jane 
A. Wooster whose birth occurred in Schenec- 
tady, New York, and who was from an old 
Massachusetts family. Hugh D. McColl was a 
farmer and successful business man in New 
York, well known in his home community and 
throughout the state by reason of his promi- 
nence as a politician. He was elected and 
served for two terms in the general assembly 
of the Empire state and had a wide acquain- 
tance among the law-makers of the common- 
wealth. With his family he removed to the 
west in 1877, settling in Dallas county, Iowa. 
He purchased a tract of land in Des Moines 
township which he broke and cultivated, trans- 
forming it from a wild tract into a good farm. 
Ui^on that place he spent his remaining days, 
his death being occasioned by an accident in 
1887. His wife survived him a number of 
years and passed away on the 16th of Jan- 
uary, 1900, at the age of eighty years. 

Anthony M. McColl was reared to manhood 
in Caledonia. New York, and the common 
schools afforded hiiu his educational advan- 
tages. Ilis knowledge, however, has largely 
been acquired l)y self training since coming to 
years of maturity, and he is today a well in- 
formed man. having a good knowledge of 
all subjects of general interest, while in his 
home is a well selected library with the con- 
tents of which he is largely familiar. He and 
his brother assisted in opening up. developing 
and carrying on the home farm and remained 
with their father until his death. As stated, 
they have always lieen associated in their busi- 
ness enterprises, but l)efore entering upon his 



]iresent mercantile interests in Woodward 
Anthony M. McColl had varied experience as 
a public official. He has always been a stalwart 
republican in politics and was nominated and 
elected county clerk of Dallas county in 1890. 
He served for four years and was re-elected in 
1894. Toward the close of his second trrm 
of office he received the nomination and w;i- re- 
elected, so that his incumbency in the urtice 
covered a period of six years. During that time 
he made a .special study of probate business. 
His duties were dischai"ged promptly and ably 
and the public gave him endorsement for what 
he did. He retired from the office as he had 
entered it — with the confidence and good will 
of all concerned — and upon the expiration of 
his third term removed to Woodward where he 
joined his twin brother, who had bought out 
a grain and lumber business here. Anthony 
M. McColl then took charge of the interests 
at Woodward while Donald D. McColl remained 
in Perry in charge of the gram and lumber 
business which they purchased at that point. 
Anthony M. McColl was united in marriage 
in Woodward. Iowa, on the loth of October. 
1908. to Miss Bess Craft, who was born and 
reared in Woodward and is a daughter of W. 
S. Craft, who i- mentioned elsewhere in this 
volume. 



M. IIOKYlv 



V. M. lioeyc is one of the prominent and 
influential residents of Perry and of Dalla- 
county, now serving for the third term as post- 
master, while with varion~ corporate and busi- 
ness interests he i- closely associated as a -tock- 
liolder and as one who has voice in their man- 
agement. He i- a man of affairs and one who 
has wielded a wide influence. His birth oc- 
curred in Adel on the 11th of May. 1859. his 
parents being Eli and Jane (Powell) Hoeye, 
who settled in Adel in 1851. The father was 
master of a canal boat running between Akron 
and Cleveland. Ohio, at a time when Janu- A. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



159 



Garfield, afterward president of the United 
States, worived as a roustabout, doing such serv- 
ice as he could along the canal. Mr. Hoeye 
knew him well and in the possession of F. M. 
Hoeye are many old papers concerning transac- 
tions on this canal. The father died in Adel 
in June, 1898, at the age of seventy-eight year^, 
having long survived his wife, who jJiissed 
away in 1865. 

Passing through successive grades in the 
public schools of Adel, F. M. Iloeye, at the 
age of fourteen years, left the high school to 
learn the printer's trade. He served a four 
years' apprenticeship in the Dallas County 
News office at Adel and tlius early in life 
started out to make his own way in the world. 
Following his mother's death he was adopted 
by Samuel D. Looniis, who. iiowi'vei-, i)n)ve(l 
so unkind that the boy was taken away after 
living with him for six years. Necessity forced 
him out into the world and experience has 
been his greatest teacher. lie did local and 
mechanical work on the Dallas County News 
and the Dallas Center Globe in 1878 and 1879. 
In tiie latter year he was fortunate in attract- 
ing the attention and winning the friendship 
of Major E. II. Conger, then county treasurer 
of Dallas county and afterward ambassador to 
China and Mexico. Major Conger befriended 
the boy, i-endered him active assistance and the 
closest relation existed l>etween them until tlii' 
death of Mr. Conger on the 18th of May. 1907. 
Mr. Hoeye has always gladly acknowledged bis 
gratitude and love for Mr. Cong;T. wlm re- 
mained his constant and confidential friend — 
"the most loyal, helpful friend I ever knew." 
It was through Mr. Conger's assistance that Mr. 
Iloeye was enabled to start in h)usiness at Dex- 
tt-r, Iowa, purchasing the Dexter Herald, which 
Mr. Conger owned, and of which he remained 
publisher until the paper was sold in 1880. 
During the .succeeding months, prior to June, 
1881, Mr. Hoeye a.ssisted in establishing the 
Carson (Iowa) Fairdealer and the Oakland 
(Iowa) Acorn. At the date mc^ntioncd he pur- 
chased the Perry Chief, built it ii)i to a good 
pi'()perty and <ol(l it in 1887. During the three 



succeeding years he traveled for the Great 
Western Type Foundry in Nebraska and Iowa 
and in 1892 he purchased the Perry Reporter, 
which in 1895 he consolidated with the Perry 
Chief under the ownership of the firm of Ho- 
eye & Harvey. In 1903 this publication be- 
came the property of the Chief Printing & 
Opera House Company, Mr. Hoeye selling his 
interest for fifty-two hundred dollars, wliich 
is more than the great majority of the best 
country weeklies are worth. He remains, how- 
ever, an active factor in business life, being 
president of the Perry Gas Company since its 
organization in 1904, vice-president of the 
Perry Concrete & Stone Company, half owner 
of (he business of the lumber lirm of H. C. 
Modliii & Company, and a stockholder in 
nearly every enterprise in Perry, in which 
statement is found proof of the fact that he 
is one of the leading citizens of Dallas county. 
No man has done more for the development 
of the business resources of Perry than he, nor 
has be confined his attention alone to eoinmer- 
cial and industrial interests. 

In politics as well ^Ir. Iloeye has been a 
iiio't active and influential factor. Indeed 
there is no man more active in political circles 
in Dallas county. In 1898 he was appointed 
))ostmaster and is now serving on the first 
year of a third term, having received all three 
appointments without opposition. What higiier 
testimonial of efficiency and i)ersonal popular- 
ity could l)e given? He ha-' twice been elected 
councilman of the city, assisted in organizing 
Perry as a city of the second class and served 
for one year as city clerk. In ]89r)-f:) he was 
chairman of the republican coiinly central 
committee and he has attended nearly every 
convention as delegate for a ipiarter of a cen- 
tury. He is indeed most active in county, dis- 
trict and state politics and in the councils of 
hi* party his opinions carry weight. 

On the 16th of November, 1881, Mr. Hoeye 

was married in Dexter. Iowa, to Miss May .Julia 

Burke, a daughter of Jdin M. Burke, a pioneer 

'merchant and leading citi/en of Dexter. They 

have two sons, Fred 1!. and .\lfred M. Iloeye. 



760 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



The former, twenty-four years of age, is now 
assistant postmaster, while the latter, nineteen 
years of age, is a college student in Grinnell, 
Iowa, and both are natives of Perry. The fam- 
ily attend the Unitarian church and Mr. Hoeye 
is a member of the Elks lodge, while in the 
Masonic fraternity he affiliates with all the dif- 
ferent branches from the blue lodge to the 
shrine. A man of strong domestic tastes, his 
interest centers in his family and it is his 
great delight to promote the welfare and hap- 
piness of his wife and children, who are now 
located in one of the finest homes in Perry. 
His vacations are taken at the expense of the 
finny tribe in the extreme northern lakes of 
Minnesota, for he is a devoted follower of 
Izaak 'Walton. 



.TOTIN DOOLEY, 



John Dooley. wIid (U'parti'd this life, leav- 
ing behind the record of au honorable, active 
and useful career, was born in County Tipper- 
ary, Ireland, December 23, 1834, and died on 
the 31st of Augu.st, 1899. His parents were 
John and Hannah (Cosgriff ) Dooley, also na- 
tives of Ireland, in which country the father 
followed agricultural pursuits. They were 
members of the Roman Catlinlic church. Their 
only child, John Dooley, was reared in his 
native country to the age of eighteen years, 
when in 1852 he sought a homo in the new 
world, taking passage on a sailing vessel which 
weighed anchor at Liverpool, bound for New 
York city. After spending a brief period in 
the east he came to Iowa in 1854. settling at 
Des Moines, where for twenty years he was an 
active factor in its industrial circles 33 super- 
intendent of Youngerman's brickyard. In 
that capacity he made the brick for the first 
brick building erected in the capital city and 
also had supervision of the manufacture of 
the In-ick for the first state capitol. That he 
was most loyal to his employer and mo.=it ca- 
pable ill his iHi-itioii is indicated by his long 



continuance therein. In 1883 he came to Dal- 
las county, settling in Spring Valley tow'nship, 
where he purchased one hvmdred and sixty 
acres of land, ujjon which he erected a comfort- 
able residence. Later he bought eighty-five 
acres and subsequently another tract of one 
hundred and ten acres. At one time his landed 
possessions aggregated about four hundred 
acres and in connection with the tilling of the 
soil he bred good grades of cattle. In his agri- 
cultural life he prospered, acquiring a hand- 
some competence that enabled him to leave 
his family in very comfortable financial cir- 
cumstances. 

On the 5th of May, 1862, was celebrated the 
marriage of Mr. Dooley and Miss Margaret 
Graney, in Des Moines. She was born in 
County Kerry, Ireland, June 23, 1835, and was 
a daughter of John and Mary (Callaua) 
(iraney, who were likewise natives of County 
Kerry, Ireland, in which country her father 
followed farming until his later years. He 
died in that land at the age of eighty-four and 
his wife at the age of eighty-two, both pa.ss- 
mg away in the faith of the Roman Catholic 
church, of which they were communicants. 
They had become the parents of seven chil- 
dren, of whom three survive: James, now liv- 
ing in Perry; Mrs. Dooley: and John, a resi- 
dent of Des Moines. Mrs. Dooley came to this 
country on a sailing vessel in 1852 in com- 
pany with her two brothers, James and John, 
and after a voyage of eight weeks and two 
days they landed at New Orleans, thence pro- 
ceeding up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to 
Madison, Indiana, and afterward by rail to 
Iowa City, Iowa, which was then the terminus 
of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- 
road. From that point they proceeded by 
stage to Des Moines, cro.ssing the river from 
East to West Des Moines by the ferry. Mrs. 
Dooley thus became one of the early settlers of 
Iowa, having for fifty-five years made her home 
in this state. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dooley were born seven 
children but two have passed away. Tho-e 
still living are: Hannah, the wife of .Viider- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



7(U 



sou ik'Lecs, a conductor on the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Raih-oad, living at Rock Island, 
Illinois; ^lary; Timothy; Margaret, the wife, 
of Lee Talbert, a conductor on the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, making his 
home in Perry; and Edward, who is engaged 
in the drug business in Perry. 

Mr. Dooley sei'ved as road sui>er\isor for a 
number of years and was always interested in 
cnmnnniity afFaii's, giving his aid and co-op- 
eration to many movements and measures for 
the public good. He was a conuuunicant of 
the Roman Catholic church. He never had 
occasion to regret his determination to seek 
his home in the new world, for he here found 
the business opportunities whicli lie -nu.'^lil 
and which when utilized Itrouglit liini t(i a 
place of affluence and enal>li'd him tn leave his 
family a good estate. Moreover lie left to them 
an untarnished name and he is yet remembered 
in Perry and in Dallas countv hv manv friends. 



JOHN IT. MOORE 



John H. Moore, for many years a resident 
of Dallas county, passed away at his home in 
Perry on tlie iGth of February, 1007. when 
in the eighty-fii'st year of his age. lie was 
born in Sidney, Shelby comity. Ohio, Novem- 
ber 20, 1821), his parents being Douglas and 
Sarah (Davis) Moore, both of whom were na- 
tives of Maryland. Removing to Ohio, the 
father cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers 
of tliat .state and there followed the occupa- 
tiiiii iif farming. His political endorsement 
\va- ni\cn to the whig party and his religious 
faith was indicated by his membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal church. Unto him and 
liis wife were born five children, four sons and 
a daiiiiiiter. 

Ill his boyhood days Jolm H. Moore left 
Ohio to become a resident of ^'ermilion county, 
Illinois, and he was there connected with pioneer 
life, sliaring in the hardships and trials incident 
to the establishment of a home on the frontier. 



Ill Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on the 9th of 
.luly, 1849, he was married to Mi.ss Martha 
Padgitt, whose birth occurred in Mason county, 
Kentucky, March 29, 1829, her parents being 
Alfred and EHzabetli (Bell) Padgitt, both of 
whom were natives of Kentucky. Her father 
died at the age of forty-five years and her 
mother when lifly-three years of age. He fol- 
lowed farming in Indiana and aided in reclaiiii- 
iiig a wild and unimproved region there, tak- 
ing part in it- piinieer develof)nient and up- 
building, lie. tun, was a whig in his political 
X'iews. In his fauiily were twt'ive ehildren, of 
whom fuur are ikiw living: Martha, now Mrs. 
Moore: \\'iliiiiiii W'.. who wedded Mary Hughes 
and live- in \'ei-iiiiliuii eimnly. Illinois: .Tolin. 
wild iiian-ied .Mi-,- I'^ield- and resides in Dan- 
ville. lUiniii-; and .Mrs. Minerva Shinlon, a 
l-esidellt iif ( le!)rgelown, Illinois. 

Mr. and Mr.-. .Moure began their domestic 
life in Illinois and while still residents of that 
state their ilder sun. .\lfred. was born. In 
1854 he brongiit his family to Iowa, settling 
in Boone eininty. where he entered from the 
governiiient a claim of one hundred and fifty 
acres. He tcmk u|i tlie arduous task of convert- 
ing the new land into cultivable and produc- 
tive fields and c-(nitimied to live upon that place 
until 1800. when, altracted by the discovery 
of gold in Coloi'ado, Jlr. Moore drove a herd 
of cattle to Denver and the family lived at 
Pike's Peak for a few years. But Iowa pos- 
sessed chaniis for him and he returned with 
his family tn this state. He then purchased 
what is now known as the James Peddicord 
place and for two years he kept the stage .sta- 
tion at Beaver. He afterward went to Denison. 
where he also kept the stage station. In 187.':'> 
he came to Dallas county and purchased a 
farm. Soon after Perry was laid out he re- 
moved to the new town, opened a hotel and 
■,\\<(> established a livery liarn. The hotel was 
located on Third avenue on the present site 
of the W. H. McCamon home. Tiring of city 
life Mr. Moore afterward purchased a farm 
south of town, where he lived for some time 
and when lie again look up his abode in Perry 



7«2 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



lif turned las attention to the business of buy- 
ing hogs and grain. He was one of the heavi- 
est shippers of Perry and there conducted a 
very extensive business, which brought him a 
large profit. He retired from active trade in 
1898 !ind his remaining days were spent in 
the enjoyment of well earned rest. 

Mr. Moore gave his political allegiance to 
the republican party and held various town- 
ship offices. While in Perry he served as a 
member of the council and was regarded a* 
one of the most capable incumbents in office. 
He stood for advancement and improvement 
in municipal affair.^ and exercised his official 
prerogatives in such a way as to produce good 
results for the city. In early manhood he 
joined the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
which he was ever afterward a loyal advocate 
and he contrit)uted liberally of his means to 
its support. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore were born two sons 
and a daughter, Alfred, Belle and Fred L. 
The daughter became the wife of J. P. Pattee, 
president of the First National Bank, and 
died about five year's ago. The death of Mr. 
^loore occurred on the 26th of February, 1907. 
and was deeply deplored by al' who knew him. 
There are few men who had as many friends 
•as Mr. Moore and he was held in highest es- 
teem by all. He had a friendly greeting for 
every one and his courtesy and kindly spirit 
came from the heart. In all life's relations he 
was honorable and upright and he left to his 
family not only a goodly measure of prosperity 
but also an vmtarnished name, which is rather 
to be chosen than great riches. 



•T. R. ELLIOTT. 



J. R. Elliott is the owner of the Walnut 
Grove Stock Farm, situated on section 9, Des 
Moines township, and as such is classed with 
the prominent and enterprising residents of 
this portion of the state. He is indeed well 
known as a bi-eeder of and dealer in Holstein 



cattle and Berkshire hogs, and has done much 
to improve the grade of stock raised in this 
locality. He has lived in Dallas county since 
1884, coming here when a young man of 
twenty-eight years. His birth occurred in Fay- 
ette county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of Sep- 
tember, 1856, his parents being Robert E. and 
Sarah (Goe) Elliott, both of whom were born 
and reared in Fayette county. The father 
sjtent his entire life upon one farm there and 
always followed agricultural pursuits as a 
source of livelihood for his family. Unto him 
and his wife were born ten children, nine of 
whom reached adult age and are now living. 
The first two were twins, and James R. of this 
review, is the third in order of birth. The 
father died in February, 1900, at the advanced 
age of eighty yeai-s, and the mother is now liv- 
ing in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in her 
seventy-seventh year. 

Like his father, James R. Elliott was reared 
to farm life and in his boyhood acquired a 
common-school education. When not busy 
with his text-books he worked in the fields, 
remaining with his father until his twenty- 
seventh year. He was married in his native 
(M.unty. in October, 1883. to *Mi.ss Mary Piit- 
terson. who was also born in Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of William 
Patterson. Mrs. Elliott has a complete geneal- 
ogy of the Patterson-Sharpies family, who trace 
their ancestry back to William Penn. This 
genealogical record is published in book form 
and is an immense volume, Avhich .shows many 
of the old time writings, deeds and manuscrijits, 
engraved from the original copies, which are 
very highly prized. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Elliott 
came to Iowa, arriving in Dallas county in 
1884, at which time they settled upon an im- 
jirovcd farm on section 18, Des Moines town- 
<]u\>. 'Slv. Elliott having previously purchased 
three hundred and six acres. He at once began 
to till and further develop this property, laid 
many rods of tile, and otherwise carried on 
the farm work along lines of modern progress- 
ive agriculture. He lived there for ten years 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



7(i3 



and in 18'J4 he moved on to the farm of one 
hundred and ninety-eight acres on section 9, 
De;^ Moines township, which he now owns and 
/has since made his home. It was in a badly 
run down condition when it came into his pos- 
session but he has since greatly improved it 
and brought it under a high state of cultiva- 
tion. He remodeled the two-story residence 
here and erected barns for the stock, a hay 
barn, hog sheds and other necessary outbuild- 
ings. Well kept fences divide the place into 
fields of convenient size, and Mr. Elliott has 
tiled his land and now has one of the neatest 
and best conducted farms on the state road. He 
also still owns a farm on section 18, Des Moines 
township, which he yet manages. He has been 
continuously engaged in the fine stock busi- 
ness since 1894 and is well known as a breeder 
of and dealer in thoroughbred Holstein cattle. 
He -tarted his herd by buying a full blooded 
male out of the prize herd of the McGuick 
family of cattle of Milwaukee. The stock is 
all A 1 grade and he makes sales to breeders 
all over the country. In 1902 he sold his en- 
tire herd to breeders of New York state. How- 
ever, he keeps on hand from fifty to sixty 
head of fine cattle all of the time and is known 
as one of the most prominent stockmen of this 
part of the state. Since 1902 he has al.so been 
raising registered thoroughbred Berkshire 
-wine, of which he sells about a carload each 
year, lie milks on an average of twenty cows 
throughout tlu' year and thus does a good dairy 
business. He has a wind pump connected with 
a one hundred and thirty foot well, a feed 
mill operated i)y gasoline engine, and other 
modern equipments, making the farm one of 
the tiest improved modern properties in this 
part of tile county. In addition to his other 
business intere-ts he is a directiir and sto;'k- 
holder in the ^^'oodwar(l State liank and a 
stockholder in the Woodward Improvement 
Company. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have been born 
six children, five .sons and a daughter. .lesse, 
who is at home with his father on the farm : 
Edith. RoViei't. .Tame? Earl. Lawrence and La 



\'erne Patterson, at home. The family attend 
the Christian church. Mr. Elliott is a life- 
long republican, who has served as township 
trustee for four years and has been identified 
with the school board for twenty-one yeai's. 
He has been a delegate to various conventions 
of his party and attended the republican county 
convention at Adel as a delegate in 1906. So- 
cially he is connected with the Modern Wood- 
men of America and is well and favorably 
known as an enterprising man, his beautiful 
home and well tilled fields being an index of 
his careful and methodical management and 
the system which characterizes all his work. 



ARTHUR H. HOUSER. 

.\rthur H. Houser, carrying on general ag- 
ricultural i^ursuits and also engaged in feed- 
ing cattle upon his farm in Adams township, 
is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth having 
occurred in Warren county, on the 25th of 
January, 1864. His parents were George and 
Elizabeth (Dye) Houser, and our subject is 
their only child. He was but two years of age 
at the time of his father's death and was reared 
in Warren county up to his eleventh year, 
when his mother, having in the meantime be- 
come the wife of Jonathan Bishop, removed to 
Dallas county, settling in Adams township. 
Here Mr. Houser has since made his home, his 
interest being closely identified with the wel- 
fare and progress of the community, especially 
along the line of its agricultural develop- 
ment. In his boyhood days he attended its 
]iublic schools and in his youth during the 
pt-riods of vacation he was trained to the active 
work of the farm. 

In 1888 he m-ulc jircparations for having a 
liome of his own by his marriage to Miss Delia 
Lee, of De Soto. Tbc young couple took u]) 
their abode upon liic farm which Mr. Houser 
now owns. He cultivated it for one year as a 
renter and then removed to Pocahontas county. 
Iowa, where he l>ouglit one hundred and twenty 



764 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



acres of land, upon which he lived for four 
years. After a winter spent in Missouri he 
returned to Dallas county and soon purchased 
his present place, comprising one hundred and 
sixty acres of good land in Adams township. 
His time and energies have since been given to 
the further development and improvement of 
the farm, which is now in excellent condition. 
He feeds a large number of cattle each year 
and is classed with the energetic agriculturists 
of the community. 

Unto Mr. and i\Irs. Houser have been born 
seven children, Myrtle, Charlie, Bessie, James, 
Virgie, Frederick and Louise, all yet under the 
parental roof. The parents are members of 
the United Brethren church, in which Mr. 
Houser is serving as a trustee and superintend- 
ent of the Sunday school. He belongs to Adel 
camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, 
while his political endorsement is given to 
the republican party. The years and his per- 
sonal worth of character have brought him a 
wide acquaintance and gained for him favor- 
able regard. He is a man of determined spirit 
and the terms progress and patriotism might 
well be considered the keynote of his character, 
for throughout his career he has labored for 
the improvement of every line of business or 
public interest with which he has been asso- 
ciated and at all times has been actuated by a 
fidelitv to his countrv and her welfare. 



SAMUEL G. ^'.\N CLE.VVE. 

The name of Van Cleave has long been con- 
nected with the history of Dallas county and 
to the residents of this part of the state it 
stands for progressiveness and enterprise in 
connection with farming interests. The subject 
of this review is one of the leading agricultur- 
ists of Adams township, making his home on 
section 6, where he owns and operates a good 
farm of ninety-three acres. He is one of the 
native sons of Indiana, his birth having oc- 
curred in Montgomery county, that state, on 



the 29th of Febmai-y, 1832. He is a son of 
Benjamin and Matilda (Taylor) Van Cleave, 
mention of whom is made in connection with 
the history of T. T. Van Cleave on another page 
of this work. 

In the days of his boj'hood and youth Sam- 
uel G. Van Cleave was a member of his father's 
household and worked in the fields as oppor- 
tunity offered, aiding in the task of plowing, 
planting and har\'esting. The public schools 
afforded him his educational privileges and he 
made good use of his opportunities in that di- 
rection. He continued with his parents until 
he had attained his majority and then started 
out in life on his own account, since which tinif 
he has depended entirely upon his own re- 
sources for a living. He came to Iowa in that 
year — 1853^*-and located in Dallas county, 
where he entered land. He experienced the 
usual hardships and trials of pioneer life in a 
district which up to that time had been very 
sparsely settled. Indians still sometimes visited 
the neighborhood and much of the land was 
uncultivated, being covered with the native 
prairie grasses, or with the natural forest 
groAvth. The streams were unbridged and com- 
paratively few roads had been laid out, but there 
came into the district a band of sturdy, courage- 
ous pioneers who resolutely undertook the task 
of subduing the wilderness and extending the 
frontier. Mr. Van Cleave bore his full share 
in this work and as the years pa.ssed by he con- 
tinued his farm labors until he brought his 
fields under a high state of cultivation. He is 
now the owner of an excellent farm of ninety- 
three acres on section 6, Adams township, on 
which are found the equipments and accessories 
known to a model proj^erty 'of the twentieth 
century. 

Mr. Ynn Cleave was married to Miss Tabitha 
Francis, who was born in Darke count^•", Ohio, 
September 5, 1831, a daughter of George and 
Elizabeth (Johns) Francis. Her parents were 
both natives of South Carolina and are now de- 
ceased. In their family were thirteen children, 
of whom five are still living, namely : Daniel, 
a resident of Des Moines. Iowa; Darius, who is 




mi. AND -MKS. S. (;. VAN CLKAVE 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY, 



707 



HOW living in Adel; Washington, a resident of 
Alberta, Canada; Frank, whose home is in 
Nebraska; and Mary, the wife of William Wil- 
more, of Kansas. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Van Cleave were born 
four children : Edward, the eldest, now living 
in Colfax township, married Miss Ida Houg- 
ham and they have one daughter, Mary Eliza- 
beth, who is now the wife of J. B. Walker. 
They have one son, Edward Grimes. Emma 
is deceased. Frank married Miss May Luding- 
ton, and they have one daughter, Esther. He 
resides upon the home farm, Avhicli he operates 
for his father. One child died in infancy un- 
named. In the year 1882 Mr. Van Cleave was 
called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who 
in that year was called to her final rest. She 
was a lady of many excellent traits of character 
and her death was deeply deplored by many 
who knew her. 

Politically Mr. Van Cleave is a prohibitionist 
and has served as school director. His religious 
faith is that of the United Brethren church and 
his entire life has been in harmony with its 
principles, making him a man whom to know 
is to esteem and honor. 



JOHN C. THOMSEN. 



John C. Thom.-en resides on section 3, 
Beaver township, where he is successfully en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising. His place 
coiripri.ses two hundred and forty acres of land, 
which is fertile and productive, responding 
readily to the care and labor he bestows upon 
it. Here he has lived since 1886, having come 
to the county two years previously. He was 
born in Germany, on the 31st of January, 
1868, and is a son of Hans Thomsen, of Ger- 
man birth, who was reared and married in the 
fatherland, the lady of his choice being Cathe- 
rine Mangelson, also of German birth. Hans 
Thomsen followed farming in his native coun- 
try, and in 1884 came to America with his wife 
and son John, their only child. They made 



their way direct to Dallas county, where the 
father purchased forty acres of land, upon 
which our subject is now residing. Here he 
began to develop his property and he spent his 
last years upon the old homestead, his death oc- 
curring on the 26th of April, 1903, when he 
had reached the age of seventy-three years. 
He had for about sixteen years survived his 
wife, who died in 1887, at the age of forty-six. 

John C. Thomsen was educated in the schools 
of his native country, pursuing his studies for 
nine years in accordance witli the laws of the 
land. He always remained upon the home 
farm and was early trained to the Avork of 
field and meadow. Practical experience well 
qualified him to carry on farming operations 
on his own account. He was married, in Sep- 
tember, 1888, to Miss Katy Schnoor, a native 
of Beaver township, and a daughter of Hans 
Schnoor, of whom mention is made elsewhere 
in this volume. Mr. Thomsen began life here 
with forty acres and as his financial resources 
increased he bought an eighty-acre tract and 
still later another eighty acres. He now owns 
altogether two hundred and forty acres, con- 
stituting a valuable and well improved farm. 
He built the house and barns, added other 
equipments, planted his orchards, which are 
now in good bearing, drained his land by the 
use of tile and fenced his fields. Everything 
about the place indicates his careful supervi- 
sion and practical, progressive iiu'tliods, and 
in addition to the prodtiction of grain he is 
also engaged in the raising and feeding of 
stock. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomsen have been born 
three children, Lena, Dora and Mary, all at 
home. The parents are members of the Ger- 
man Lutheran church, and Mr. Thomsen is 
a republican where national affairs are under 
consideration but casts an independent lucal 
ballot. He haa served as road supervisor for 
one term but has never l>een a ]iolitician in tin- 
sense of office-seeking. His life has been a 
busy and useful one and his prosperity has 
resulted from his own well directed labors. He 
now rents a part of his land but he still give? 



7(58 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



personal supervision to the farm work and is 
meeting with prosperity' in his undertakings. 
He makes a specialty of the raising of Duroc 
Jersey hogs, keeps a number of cows for dairy 
purposes and uses a cream separator in the 
dairy. In fact all modern accessories of the 
model farm are found upon this place, which 
has always been well kept, indicating his care- 
ful supervision. His health, however, requires 
that he rent a part of his land. Coming to 
^\.merica when sixteen years of age, he worked 
with his father until he had attained his ma- 
jority, then bought the home place of forty 
acres, and ha^ .*ince added to his po-se-.-iiiu- 
until he is now the owner of an excellent farm 
of two hundred and forty acrc^. pleasantly and 
conveniently situated about two miles west of 
Woodward. 



THOMAS H. GORDON. 

Better methods menn <irt'ater ^u(•(■L'ss and 
the man who expects to progress in his busi- 
ness life must continually improve upon the 
methods which he follows, learning the lessons 
which experience teaches, and continually ad- 
vance beyond what he has done in the past. 
Such ha.s been the record of Thomas H.<Gor- 
diin. who resides on section 11, Des Moines 
town.ship, where he owns a good tract of land. 
In addition to general farming he is engaged 
in raising live stock and fine chickens, and in 
all his work is meeting with success. 

Mr. Gordon wa.s born in this state Ma\ J'.t, 
1854. His father, Thomas Gordon, was born 
and reared in Indiana, where he man'iid X:mi •^• 
Steward, also a native of that state. In 1846 
they removed to Iowa, which was still under 
territorial rule, and located on the Mississippi 
river, but later took a homestead in Kossuth 
county, where he engaged .in farming for a 
number of years. At length he sold that prop- 
erty and removed to Boone county, again lo- 
cating on a farm. His last years were spent at 
old Xenia. in Dallas countv. 



Thomas Gordon is one of a family of eight 
children and the only son. Four sisters, how- 
ever, survive. He was reared to manhood in 
Boone county and was educated in the com- 
mon .schools. He remained with his father 
until he had attained his majority and then 
canif to Dalla.s county since which time he has 
been identified with its farming interests. He 
was married in Boone county, July 24, 1885, 
to Miss Laura Pierce, who was born and reared 
in Boone county, a daughter of John Pierce, 
who resided in that county, where he followed 
the occupation of farming. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Gordon engaged in farming for four 
years in Boone county and then removed to 
Calhoun county, where he carried on general 
agricultural pursuits until 1895. He then 
M)ld out and removed to Madrid, where he 
lived for eighteen months, after which he 
bought fifty acres and located where he now 
resides. He then began farming and improv- 
ing this property, which is situated on section 
11. Des Moines township. Here he has a good 
home and with the cultivation of grain he 
raises good stock and fine chickens, making a 
sjiecialty of buff leghorns and Rhode Island 
rods. He has some very fine fowls, which ho 
!ias exhibited at the county fairs. 

Mr. and Mi"s. Gordon have become the par- 
ents of six children : Roy Elsworth, a farmer 
of Des Moines township, who is married and 
has three children — Letta May, Yelma Aline 
and Elsie Belle; Earl Levi, a coal merchant, 
who is married and has one child. Leona Fay; 
Lottie May. at home; Millie Mattie and Morty 
Mclvin. twins: and Ray Howard, who com- 
jilctcs the family. They also lost one .«on. Basil, 
who died in infancy. 

Politically Mr. Gordon is a republican. He 
lia- served on the school board for nine years 
and is much interested in the development of 
the system of public education here. He belong-s 
to Woodward lodge, I. O. 0. F., while his wife 
is connected with the Rebekah degree and is 
also a member of the Christian church. They 
are l>otli well known in this part of the county 
and ^Ir. CJordon is one of the representatives 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



76St 



of progressive fanning, believing in the adop- 
tion of the best methods known for facihtat- 
ing the farm work and thus augmenting re- 
sult.-. 



BEX.IA.MIX M. KKLL\. 

Benjamin .M. Kelly, the owner of one hun- 
dred and titty aeres of well improved land in 
this eounty, wa.'* born in Blair county, Penn- 
sylvania, December 10. 18(il. and wa.s a son 
of Joseph and Susan iM. (Wilt) Kelly, both 
natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 
181-2 and the latter in 1821. The father passed 
away in Sugar Grove township. Dallas county, 
in 1806, while the mother died in Rock Island 
county. 'Illinois, in the year 188S. Joseph 
Kelly (jwued and operated his farm in Pennsyl- 
vani:i until 1869, when he went to White.side 
county. Illinois, where he lived for twelve 
yrnr- and then came to Grant township, Dal- 
la- (Dunty. where he bought one hundred and 
si.xty acres. After thoroughly improving this 
piece of land he was offered a price which well 
repaid liiiii for the laljor which he had ex- 
pended and lie accordingly sold his place and 
retitiiied III Ruck Island county, Illinois, where 
he Imught a small farm on which he lived until 
the death of his wife. He then sold this place 
and returned to Dallas county, where he lived 
with his son Daniel up to the time of his death. 
The^e worthy jieople were the parents of twelve 
children, si.x of whom are now living: Jo.seph 
S.. David S.. ThoiiiiH J.. Daniel C. Charles H. 
and itenjaiiiin M. 'I'wo of the sons. Peter 
Kelly, a half brother of our subject, and Wil- 
liam ser\ed as sdldiers dining the war. Peter 
wa- with a Peimsylvania regiment of sharp- 
-liooiers and -erved until the close of hostilities. 
\^llile \\'illiaiii seized in an infantry regiment 
and was last heard of after be had gone into 
battle. 

P>enjainin M. Kelly was educated in the 
common schools of Illinois and Pennsylvania. 
.\t the aye of nineteen he be<ian to work for 



himself and early decided that he would never 
go into debt but would rent land until he could 
accunmlate sufficient capital to purchase his 
own farm. His first venture was ui Whiteside 
county, Illinois, where he rented a farm. In 
1882 he removed to Dallas county, working 
his father's place on shares for three years. He 
located a very fine piece of land in Sugar Grove 
township, which he succeeded in renting, and 
ojierated with success for the following two 
years. At the end of that time he rented the 
land he now owns, and after operating it for five 
years he purchased the place in 1892. It con- 
sisted of one hundred and twenty acres, on 
which only a few improvements had been made. 
He has taken great interest in -bringing this 
land to a condition where it yields abundant 
crops and he has added a house, a large barn 
and many outbuildings. So successful was 
his work upon this ground that he has since 
been able to add to his original purchase. In 
1902 he bought thirty and one-fourth acres 
across the road and now owns one hundred 
and fifty and one-fourth acres of the best farm- 
ing land in this county. 

On November 2, 1884, Mr. Kelly was mar- 
ried to Jessie M. Hall, a daughter of Ichabod 
H. and Ann Eliza (James) Hall, of Grant 
town.ship, Dallas county. Ichabod H. Hall was 
born in 1827 and is now living with Mr. and 
Mrs. Benjamin Kelly. He was a w-ell known 
farmer in Canada for many years but after his 
marriage in 1853 he came to Porter county. 
Indiana, where he remained until 1867. He 
then removed to Dallas county, where he 
bought one hundred and twenty acres of land. 
He now owns eighty acres and for thirty-si.x 
years, or until the time he came to live with 
his daughter, made this place his home. His 
Avife was born in 1826 and passed away July 
26, 190?>. There were seven children born to 
these good people, five of whom are now living: 
A\'. 11.; ^Irs. Allie Wain.scott: Maria, who died 
in infancy; Fi-ank; Frederick, who died in in- 
fancy; Mrs. Benjamin M. Kelly: and Mrs. 
Carrie Paine. To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin M. 
Kellv have been liorn five children: Carrie 



770 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Florence, Garland Eliza, Kathryn A., Hazel 
Je.-isie and Joseph Benjamin. 

Mr. Kelly has always given his political 
support to the men and measures of the repub- 
lican party and has held the office of trustee 
for eight yeai"s and that of school director for 
eighteen years. Mrs. Kelly is a member of 
the Methodist church at Dallas Center, and fra- 
ternally Mr. Kelly is connected with the Mod- 
ern Woodmen. In manner he is free from 
ostentation and display but his intrinsic worth 
is recognized and his friendship is most prized 
by tho.-e who know him best, showing that his 
chariU'ter will bear the scrutiny of close ac- 
ciuaintance. He is a generous spirited man 
and a true type of the American citizen. 



JAMES H. BARLOW. 

No history of Woodward would be complete 
without mention of James H. Barlow who built 
the first business house and sold the first goods 
in the town. He has been closely associated 
with its growth and the part which he has taken 
in its upbuilding makes him one of its honored 
and representative citizens. For twenty-five 
years he has resided here, while the period of 
his residence in the county covers almost a third 
of a century. 

He arrived in Dallas county in February, 
1876 — ^^a young man of about twenty-six years. 
He was born in Elmira, New York, February 
23, 1850, and is a son of Eli A. Barlow, a na- 
tive of Delaware county. New Y'ork, where he 
was reared. Having attained his majority he 
married Miss Esther Moore, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and ten children were bom unto 
them during their residence in the Empire 
state, where the father followed the occupa- 
tion of farming. In the year 1857 he removed 
with his family to Illinois, settling in Kane 
county, in the vicinity of Geneva and St. 
Charles and again the father gave his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits. There he reared 
his family and spent his last years. Five of 



the sons and three of the daughters reached 
years of maturity, but only two are yet liv- 
ing, the sister being Mrs. Sylvania Penn Her- 
rington, a widow residing in Greenville, Iowa. 
The eldest brother, Banajah P. Barlow, was 
a soldier of the Fifty-second Illinois Infantry 
and died while in the service of his country in 
August, 1863. Hiram G. Barlow, another 
brother, was a member of the One Hundred 
and Fiftieth Illinois Infantry and served 
through the war. Later he married and set- 
tled in Kane county, Illinois, and at his death 
left a wife and two daughters. The next 
brother, Cyrus W., died in the state of New- 
York in 1856. A sister, Dolly, became the 
wife of X. r. Atwood. who was a soldier of 
the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry and served 
through the war, later settling at Belvidere, 
where his wife died. The other sister, Anna, 
died unmarried. 

James H. Barlow, whose name introduces 
this review, was reared to manhood in Kane 
county, spending his boyhood and youth on 
the fai'in, where he followed the plow or worked 
in the harvest fields when not busy with the 
text-books which brought him a good common- 
school education. Having attained his major- 
ity he made arrangements for having a home 
of his own through his marriage to Miss Jane 
Siglin. the wedding being celebrated on Christ- 
mas day of 1873. Mrs. Barlow was born and 
reared in De Kalb county, Illinois, a daughter 
of Jacob Siglin, one of the pioneers of that 
county, who lived to the ripe old age of ninety- 
two years. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow began their 
domestic life in De Kalb county, where lie 
engaged in farming for three years and then, 
removing to Iowa, in February, 1876. pur- 
chased land on section 1, Beaver township, Dal- 
las county, w-here Mr. Barlow broke the sod 
and developed a farm. He fenced his land, 
erected good buildings and carried forward 
the work of improvement, successfully operat- 
ing his farm until 1882 when he came to 
Woodward and built the first business house 
of the town and sold the first goods here. 
Opening a hardware and implement business, 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



he (.■oiitimu'd iu that line until 1893, when he 
sold out. It was not until 1902 that he again 
entered the field of mercantile operations, open- 
ing a grocery store in which he has met with 
success, now carrying a large and well selected 
line of staple and fancy groceries and shoes. 
He has huilt up a good trade and is well known 
as an eutei'prising and reliable merchant whose 
success is well merited by reason of his straight- 
forward dealing and progressive methods. 

Mr. and Mrs. Barlow have one daughtei', 
Gertrude, the wife of Dr. A. M. Slatten, a prac- 
ticing physician of Des Moines. The parents 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and Mr. Barlow is one of the charter members 
of the Odd Fellows lodge at Woodward. He 
has several times been elected to all the ofhces 
of the order and for fifteen years acted as con- 
ductor to every member initiated. He was also 
district grand deputy for one term and he and 
his wife are connected with the Rebekah lodge, 
Althiiugh reared in the faith of the Jeffersonian 
demncracy his father supported John C. 
Fremont for the jiresidency in IHoi; and be- 
came an ardent advocate of republican prin- 
ciples. • He has followed in his father's foot- 
steps in this regard and also votes with the re- 
publican jjarty. He has never been a politi- 
cian iu the sense of oflfice seeking and in fact 
has always preferred that others should occupy 
the ]iolitical positions, but for several terms he 
was mayor of the city, and l>r()ught to l)ear in 
the discharge of his duti(>~ the .-auie lidelity 
and enterprise which he has ever manifested 
in liis business life. He is ever public-spirited 
and helpful and Woodward's citizens acknowl- 
edge and appreciate his worth. 



lOIlX BRE.VK FIELD. 



.Inliu lireaklield, living on section 18, Des 
Mdincs township, is now retired from active 
farm work but for a period of about a half 
eeniury was cldsely associated \nth general 
agi'icultm-al )iursiii|s. Tie is now nunilxM-cd 



among the old settlers, dating his residence in 
Dallas county from 1854. He was a young 
man at the time of his arrival, and as the years 
have gone by his strong purpose and laudable 
ambition have gained for him a goodly meas- 
vu'e of success. 

Mr. Breakfield was born in Pickaway county, 
Ohio, October 25, 1825, and was a son of 
George Breakfield, a native of Virginia who 
was reared in that state and afterward went 
to Ohio, becoming an early settler of Picka- 
way county. He served his country as a soldier 
in the war of 1812 and was ever loyal to the 
interests of the government. He married 
Eleanor Yates, a daughter of Joseph Y'ates, 
one of the pioneers of Pickaway county, and 
unto them were born several children. In 1838 
he removed with his family to Indiana, set- 
tling in Henry county, where he purchased 
land and opened up a farm. r])on that place 
he reared a family and sjjent his last days, 
living to the ripe old age of seventy-four years. 

John Breakfield grew to manhood on that 
farm and early became familiar with llie duties 
and labors that fall to the lot of the agricul- 
turist. AVhen he had reached man's estate he 
was married in Henry county, in 1850. to 
Amelia Ann Wallace, who was born near Ports- 
mouth. Ohio, and was there i"eai"ed. The 
yoinig couple began their domestic life on a 
farm in Henry county, Ohio, where they lived 
four years, and in 1854 they jinu'neyed acro.ss 
the country with ox-tcanis to Iowa, reaching 
their destination in the month of September. 
Being pleased with Dallas county and its ])ros- 
pects, Mr. Breakfield entered forty acres of 
land from the government and began tlie de- 
velopment of the farm. Later he sold that 
property. He worked in the timber for one 
or two winters, for at that time the whole coim- 
try was almost an unbroken wilderness. In 
1865 he purchased a portion of his present 
property, becoming owner of sixty-eight acres 
of timber and brush land of which about eight 
acres had been cleared, while nn old hewed 
log house had been built. He lived in tiiat 
primilivi' dwelHiig fur -lA-enil years and e\]ie- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



rienced all the ditticulties and hardships of 
pioneer life which conic to those who aid in 
reclaiming the wilderness and converting it 
into uses of civilization. After some time Mr. 
Breakfield bought forty acres more land and 
now owns one hundred and eight acres. He 
has built a good substantial residence, a good 
barn, corncribs and sheds, has planted an 
orchard and has made the farm what it is 
today — a valuable and desirable property, lie 
continued to engage actively and successfully 
in busines.s until 1905, when he suffered an ac- 
cident, having his hip broken. Ho has since 
jiractically lived retired. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Breakfield were liom four 
sons and one daughter: George, u resident 
farmer of this township; R. A., a business man 
of Madrid: Samuel T,. who resides on the home 
place; R. H., who is mentioned elsewhere in 
this volume; and Ann Sophia. 

Politically Mr. Breakfield is a stalwart demo- 
crat of the Jeffersonian school. lie served a.-^ 
township and road supervisor for eight years, 
but the honors and emoluments of oHice have 
had no attraction for him. He was formerly 
a member of the Presbyterian church and his 
wife is a member of the Chi'istiau church. 
During a little more than a half century he 
has been largely familiar with tlie hi-tory <it 
the county and has intimate knowledge of 
many of the events which have shaped its 
hi.story and guided its policies, fie is there- 
fore numbered among the pioneer settlers wlio 
well deserve a i>lace in the county records. 



M. W. SICLIX. 



Prosperity in the great majority of eases 
comes not through inlieritanee or through any 
fortunate combination of eireunistaiices hut 
as the direct result of close aiiplication and 
ceaseless activity, and it has been by this means 
that Mr. Siglin has gained a place among the 
prosperous farmers, stock-raisers, feeders and 
shippers of Dallas county, where he owns and 



cultivates a farm of two hundred and ten 
acres of well improved land in Beaver town- 
ship. This farm has been his home since 
Febmary, 1876. His birth place was near 
Easton, Moni-oe county, Pennsylvania, where 
he first opened his eyes to the light of day on 
the 28th of September, 1850. His father, 
Jacob Siglin, was born in the same county and 
was a son of Jacob Siglin, Sr., also a native of 
the Keystone state. The great-grandfather 
Siglin was a soldier of the Revolutionary war 
and the family comes of English ancestry, 
early representatives of the name being num- 
bered among the pioneers of Pennsylvania. 
Jacob Siglin, Sr., was reared to manhood in 
that state and .served his country as a soldier 
in the war of 1812. He married and spent 
his entire life in Pennsjdvania, while Jac(jb 
Siglin, Jr., was there reared. Having arrived 
at years of maturity, he wedded Hannah Zet- 
zer, also a native of Monroe county, where they 
lived until 1852, when they went with their 
family to Illinois, making permanent location 
in De Kalb county. The father purchased 
land near Sycamore, where he opened up a 
farm of two hundred and forty acres and he 
afterward added to his po.sse.ssions until at one 
time he owned seven hundred acres of val- 
uable land in that locality. He was a pros- 
perou^ and successful agriculturist, conduct- 
ing his work along practical lines that have 
brought most desirable results. There he 
reared his family and made his home until 
he ilied in 1902. at the ripe old age of nini'ty- 
two years. His wife had passed away .-ouic 
years previously, when eighty-one years of age. 
In their family were five sons and five daugh- 
ters, all of whom reached mature years, while 
three sons and four daughters are yet living. 
The eldest brother, Hon. Jacob Siglin, enlisted 
for service in the Civil war. first joining the 
Thirteenth Illinois Infantry. Later he was 
discharged and returned to Sycamore, where 
he and Cajitain Whitney raised a company, 
of which Mr. Siglin became the first lieuten- 
ant. They joined the Eighth Cavalry and 
Lieutenant Siiilin served with that command 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



773 



for ;iboul twii vt'ars, when he wa.s lionorably 
discharged for disability and returned home. 
He was a man of superior education and a 
lawyer by profession. Removing to Nebraska, 
he spent some time in that state and then went 
to Missouri but afterward made his way to 
the Pacific coast, locating at ]\Iarshfield, Ore- 
gon, where he successfully engaged in the prac- 
licc of law. lie was nominated and elected to 
the slate legislature, serving for one or more 
terms. The iie.xl lirntiicr. .Fosliua Siglin. cii- 
li.stcd in the l'ni^)n army, joinnig the Seven- 
teenth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, witli which 
he served through the period of hostilities. He 
then returned to Sycamore, was afterward mar- 
ried, and settled u|ion a farm near Genoa, where 
be spent his last days, his death occurring there 
in 190.7. The next brother. Lsaiah Siglin. 
reached adult age. was married in De Kalb 
comity and later removed to Iowa, settling on 
a farm in Crawford county. lie is now living 
retired in Dunlap, Iowa. Taylor Siglin re- 
sides at Marshfield, Oregon. He is a. man of 
good education and for some years was a 
teacher. Becoming iirominent in (be west, be 
was elected and served as sheriH' of bis county 
and also filled the office of custom liouse oHieer 
at Empire City for fcau' years. The sisters are: 
Mrs. Mary Wright, a widow, living in Wood- 
ward, and the mother of J. II. Wright, who is 
mentioned elsewhere in this voliune; Hannah, 
the wife of J. H. Barlow, whose sketch a|)pears 
on another page; and Ella, Ibc wife of William 
^^'hipple, of De Kalb county. Illinois. 

M. W. Siglin was reared to manhood in J')e 
Kalb county upon the old bomestcad farm, 
which he continued to a--i-l in cultivaling 
until twenty-two years of age. He llien took 
charge of the farm belonging to bis -i-ler. Mrs. 
^\'^iglll. who was a widow, and cullivateil that 
jilace for three year-. .Mr. Siglin \\a- married 
in the .Methodist Episcopal ]iar-onagc. al (ienoa, 
on Ibr !»lb of .Tamiary. ISTC.. jo Mi-s CbarloUe 
Edna Lawrence, who wa-^ roared and rdneatefl 
in De Kalb eounly. In (be fall of 1 S7.7 Mr. 
Siglin bad vi-itcd lnwn nnd |iiirclia-i'(l tlic land 
where br imw r(-i<lc-. coiiipri-inu two JiinMli'cd 



and ten acres in Beaver tt)wnsbip. He then 
removed to the county in February, 1876, fol- 
lowing his marriage, and located on his pur- 
chase. He first Ijuilt a small house, which 
was his home for a few years, while he was 
breaking his land and opening up his farm. 
He later added to and remodeled this and he 
now has a commodious and neat frame resi- 
dence. There are also good barns and out- 
buildings upon the ])lace and be has set out 
an excellent orchard and many shade and or- 
namental trees. He ba< also drained his land 
after the modern methods of tiling, has fenced 
his fields and has his farm imder a high state 
of cultivation, it being one of the best in Beaver 
township. Annually he harvests good crops 
as a reward of his labors and he has also made 
a business of the raising, feeding and shipping 
of stock, which ])roves to him a profitable 
source of income. He is an excellent judge 
of stock and therefore makes his purchases ju- 
diciously. Having bought lots in Woodward, 
Mr. Siglin, in 1903, built a good brick business 
luarse there and established a meat market. The 
following year, 1904, he built a fine brick 
hotel building adjoining his meat market, 
known as Hotel Charlotte, being thus named 
in honor of his wife. This .structiu'c is an orna- 
ment to the city and is one of the best hotel 
buildings in Dallas county. It is supplied with 
furnace and there is steam heat in all of the 
rooms, which ai'c neatly and tastefully fur- 
nisbe(l. .Mr. Siglin was one of the promoters 
and stockholders of the Woodward State liank, 
and for some time served a- a trustee, which 
position he recently resigned but he is still a 
director. He is also a .stockholder in the I'arm- 
ers Mutual Telephone Company and al-o in 
the Woodward Im[)rovemeiit ('onipany. His 
business ability is such as Id make him one 
()f the most successful and valued citizens of 
bis conununity. His laVjors have done much 
to promote public progress as well as indi- 
vidual success and thus he is accounted one of 
the i)ublic-spirited residents of this jmrt of 
the state. 



774 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



Mr. and Mi>. Siglin are the parents of nine 
children, seven of whom are living: Jacob M., 
the eldest, is married and has three children. 
He is a man of good business ability and is 
associated with his father in the conduct of the 
meat market and hotel. Lawrence. .Joshua 
and Harold are at home. Stella M. is also 
under the parental roof. Ethel is the wife of 
Claude Conger, of Kansas City, and Hannah 
J. is at home. 

Politically Mr. Siglin is a republican as are 
two of his brothers, whDe two of the sons of the 
family are democrats. The father was origi- 
nally an old line whig but also became a .stanch 
republican. Mr. Siglin of this review has 
been twice elected and served as township 
triLstee and has done effective work in behalf 
of public education as a member of the school 
board. He has never desired office, however, 
but liii- helped to elect good men to local posi- 
tions. He and his wife are members of the 
Woodward INlethodist Episcopal church, to the 
support of which he contributes liberally and he 
was also generous in his contributions toward 
the Vjuilding of the house of worship. He is a 
subscriber now for the prospective new church 
to the amount of five hundred dollars. Fra- 
ternally he is connected with the Knights of 
Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. A man 
of tried integrity and worth, he has the confi- 
dence and esteem of the community and he 
has found in business life the reward for 
earnest, well directed and honorable effort. He 
stands today as one of the leading and suc- 
cessful men of the county and his strong indi- 
viduality and upright character are widely rec- 
ognized. 



T. J. GOSE. 



T. J. Gose. who is a native son of Iowa and 
a retired merchant who owns and operates one 
hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, dates 
his residence on his present farm in Dallas 
comitv from the vear 1899. He was born in 



Marion county, Iowa, February 4, 1858, and 
is a son of S. Y. Gose, a native of Virginia, 
who. when a child, removed with his parents to 
Inchana. where he was reared upon a farm. 
In 1849 he came to Polk county, Iowa, and 
made his home for several years with Judge 
McHenry, who at that time lived about seven 
miles northwest of Des Moines. He subse- 
quently entered government land in Polk and 
Marion counties. He was twice married, his 
firet wife bearing the maiden name of Martha 
Miller and being a native of Ohio. To this 
union were born seven children. Mrs. Gose 
passed away at the age of forty-two in the 
year 1874. The second wife of Mr. Gose 
was Margaret Cart, who died and left two sons. 
S. Y. Ga5e is still living in Marion county 
with a daughter and has now attained his 
eighty-first year. He repre.sented his district 
in the Iowa legislature for one term. 

Thomas J. Gose of this review was reared 
upon his father's farm in Marion county and 
there acquired his early education in the dis- 
trict schools. On leaving home at the age of 
nineteen years he attended the State L'niver- 
~ity of Iowa for one year. Subsequently he 
rented a tract of land in Polk county, which 
he operated for four years, remdving at the 
end of that time to Dallas county. On account 
of ill health and feeling that he might per- 
haps do better in business, he bought an inter- 
est in a general .store at Rockwell City and con- 
ducted it until October, 1886, when it wa- 
consumed by fire, this being a total los-. Ik- 
then closed out the business and accepted a 
position in another store, where he remained 
until December. 1887. He next bought grain 
until August, 1888. Having secured employ- 
ment as a clerk in Des Moines, he removed to 
that city and served in that capacity for four 
years. At the end of that time he again em- 
Imrked in business for himself at Churdan, 
Iowa, where he carried on operations for seven 
years, enjoying a good trade. .At the end of 
that time he removed to his present farm, 
which constists of eighty acres in Lincoln 
to^vn^hi[l :md he also has eighty acres in Linn 




.Ml;. AND .Mi;s. T. .]. (lOSK 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



777 



township. He has greatly improved the land 
and has thus almost doubled its eaiuiing capac- 
ity. He has remodeled the house and built 
corn cribs and outbuildings, has tiled and 
fenced the land and is now engaged in rais- 
ing Poland China hogs. He set out the splen- 
did orchard which now bears such luscious 
fruit, and has planted much small fruit on 
iiis place. 

Mr. Gose was married on December 26, 1878, 
to Emma Johnson, a native of Marion county, 
Iowa, and a daughter of E. Johnson, who wa.s 
born in Ohio and is now living at Linden, 
Iowa. Five children have been born to this 
union ; William R., who married Bertha Wine- 
hart and is now engaged in the telephone busi- 
ness in Ankeny, Iowa; Charles S., who oper- 
ates a part. of tlie home farm; Grace, who was 
graduated from the Guthrie county high school 
in 1907 and intends teaching; Earl J., who has 
been attending the Guthrie county high school ; 
and Albert Harold, who is at home. 

In national affairs Mr. Gose has always voted 
the republican ticket and for four years was 
township clerk in Lincoln township. He 
served in the same capacity and also as justice 
of the peace at Churdan for tW'O years. He 
and his family are all members of the Meth- 
odist church at Linden and Mr. Gose is an 
official member of that church and for a num- 
ber of years has been superintendent of the 
Sunday school. He has always been very 
much interested in young men and on that 
account has given special attention to the Sun- 
day .school work, where he feels that the moral 
and religious life of the coming generation is 
largely built up. The Sunday school has grown 
under his management, for he always has a 
warm s,ympathy for the fun as ^\ell as for the 
serious part of life and on that account the 
young people find him a genial companion. 
His religion is not all in theory, for he has led 
a conscientious Christian life, having made 
practical use of his religion in his every day 
affairs. He Ls honest and upright in his deal- 
ings with his fcllowmen and they honor and 
n'-jiiM't him. Tlis fi-iends are legion and lie 



is well known in the central part of the state. 
He is the president of the Linden Rural Tele- 
phone Company. 



NATHANIEL ALLARD. 

Nathaniel Allard is the proprietor of the 
Walnut Grove Stock Farm, which embraces 
four hundred acres of well improved land sit- 
uated near Perry, in Lincoln township, and 
dates his residence in this county from the 
year 1871. Mr. Allard was born in Morgan 
county, Ohio, July 29, 1845, a son of Daniel 
and Susanna (Swope) Allard, both of whom 
were likewise natives of the Buckeye state. 
From Ohio Mr. Allard removed to Henry 
county. Illinois, where he opened up and de- 
veloped a farm and reared his family. He lost 
his first wife, after which he was married a 
.second time and then removed to Jackson 
county, Kansas, where his death occurred. 

Nathaniel Allard was reared mostly in 
Henry county, Illinois, and there acquired his 
education. He assisted his father in the opera- 
tion of the home farm and thus gained prac- 
tical knowledge of the best methods of carry- 
ing on a work of this character so that he was 
well fitted for carrying on business on his own 
account when he later entered upon an inde- 
pendent venture. 

In 1862 Mr. Allard enlisted for service in 
the Civil war, becoming a member of the One 
Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry. Going south with his regiment, 
the fir.'it l)attle in which he participated was at 
Port Gibson. He took part in the battle of 
Vicksburg and later in the siege of Mobile, 
Black River, Cham])ion Ilili.'^ and many others 
of lesser importance. He served until the final 
close of hostilities and was mustered out of serv- 
ice at Camp Butler. Illinois, in August, 1835. 

Returning from the war Mr. Allard located 
once more in Henry county, where he worked 
on a farm by the month. He later removed 
westward to Iowa and cxonlunllv. hv inu'chase. 



778 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



fiiine into posse.*?iou of a tract of land in Lin- 
coln township. He improved and cultivated 
that tract for a few year.-- and upon dispo-^ing 
of it bought tlie farm where he now makes his 
liome. Ihi- luMiiti >itu:ilcil mi -ccliini- 1 'J and ]■"> 
of the .same township, lie has Imilt a .liood 
residence, substantial barii< and other <iull)uild- 
ings, ha.s added to liis oriiiinal lioldiiijis as his 
financial n>oiii-cc- lia\i' incrca-icil and now 
has a valnal)le pro]iiTly of four hniidvcd acres. 
located in Lincoln town-hip and known' as 
the Walnut Grove Stock l'"anii. Mr. .Mlard 
keeps everything al)Out hi> ]ilace in an e.xceL- 
lent .-^tate of rejiair and had added to it a good 
ordiard and many sliade and ornamental trees, 
so thai the place pi-esents a neat and attractive 
appearance. He is quite extensively engaged 
ill rai.-ing and feeding stock for the city mar- 
kets, shipi)ing from two to tin-cr cai'load-^ each 
of cattle and hog.< annually. 

]\Ir. Allard has been three times married. 
He was Hr-1 married in Henry county, Illi- 
nois, to Miss Mary W'ilhelm. who.se death oc- 
curred in Dallas county. -lanuary 17, 1872, 
soon after her removal to this county. His 
second union Avas with Emily E. Wilhelm, a 
sister of his first wife, their marriage being 
celebrated in Dallas county. She was born 
in Pennsylvania and liy her marriage became 
the mother of two children. Her death oc- 
curred here Feliruary 12. 1.S78. and Mr. Al- 
lard was man-ied a third timt — to Lucy 
II. Isenliort. who wa.- l)orn in Ogle county, 
Illinois, a daughter of Al)raham Isenbort, who 
was born in the Keystone state and became one 
of the early settlers of this state, .spending his 
last vears in Perry, where his death occurred. 
The children of the second marriage are: 
Elmina. the wife of L. 1'. New])ort, a farmer 
of (iuthrie comity, and 'tlieir family consists 
of four children: and William, who resides in 
Otero county. New ik'xico. where he owns 
land. The children born of the last marriage 
are: M. D., R. V. and Nina. 

Jlr. Allard gives his political support to the 
reiniblican ]iarty and cast his fir.-^t presidential 
ballot for (ieneral Oraut. and has .supported 



each candidate of the party since then. For 
three or four years he served as assessor, while 
for a long period he has acted as township 
trustee. He has been a delegate to numerous 
county conventions. He and his wife are iden- 
tified with the Fairview Christian church and 
he holds membership with Redfield post, G. A. 
i;.. at Perry. Mr. and !Mrs. Allard attended 
the (irand Army encampment at San l''ran- 
cisco in 1903 and spent some time on the Pa- 
cific coast, visiting the principal cities. Tliey 
lia\(' al-o traveled through Oklahoma and 
\vt'slei-n states and have made two trip- to 
Pennsylvania, visiting a number of eastern 
cities. Xo man of Dallas county more fully 
enjo\s the trust and confidence of the people 
and his example should serve as a source of 
insi)iration to others who start out in life in 
like circumstances, for from a humble begin- 
ning he has worked his way upward through 
diligence and perseverance until he is now 
numbered among the substantial resident- of 
this section of the state and all that he today 
po-^ses.-^es has been won through the mo-t lion- 
oral ile methods. 



ALBERT S. STEPHENS. 

.\ll)ei1 S. Stephen- is cla.-sed among the 
>ulistantial pioneer re:-idents of Dalla- comity, 
dating his residence here from ISHS. He owns 
and o])erates a well improved and valuable 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated 
on section ;>2. Lincoln township, where he re- 
sides, and in addition to this jirojM'rty al.-^o 
owns a tract of eighty acres in Linn town- 
shi]i, used mainly for pa.sturage. 

.Mr. Ste])hens i- a native of Steuben comity. 
New York, born .lune 10. PS:!."). His father, 
Penjamiii Stephens, died when the son was a 
little lad of two years, and he was then reared 
by an uncle. He wa.s educated in the cominon 
schools of Steuben county and was reared to 
farm life. .\t an early age. however, he was 



PAST AND PRESEiNT OE DALLAS COUNTY. 779 

lliidwii uiKiii lii< own rcsouivcj:. fio lliat wliat- among the ^^nlwlantial t-ilizens of this section 

ever >ii(ci'ss he today enjoys is (hie entirely of tlie state. 

to lii- own elVmls. Mr. Stei)liens chose a.s a companion and lielp- 
In early litV he worked in a mill, manii- mal<' for life's jonrney Miss Sarah E. Iloagc, 
facluring InmlxT. and in IS.lC) rcmoxcd to wlni was lidni and reared in S(enl)en county, 
-Minnesiita. which was at thai lime a U'rritory. where they were also married. 'IMieir mar- 
There he joined a l)r(ither and lliey secured riagc has been liles.sed wilh three .sons, one of 
an ox-team and a hreaking plow and for one whom died in infancy, and fonr daughters. 
season engaged in lii'eaking raw pi'airie. In l'"i'ank J), is mai'ried and tnllows farnnng in 
1S.")7. Ilie year of llie linancial panic. th(\y re- Lincoln township. His family consists of two 
moved lo Slaik coinily. Illinoi-, locating near children. l''red E. is a carpenter and con- 
O.sceola. when' in company witii anotiicr tractor and makes Ins home in Polk county, 
hrollier he |iureiia-ed a small tract of land, Nebraska. Laura, the eldest daughter, became 
which he tarme<l mitil ISIIS, in which year the wife of Jurvis I'ottei- and died in I'erry. 
lie. came lo i)alla- county and ])urclia-;ed liis Iowa. Siie resided on a farm in Dallas couidy 
jtresenl fai'ui comprising one hundred and sixty and at her death left a son and daughler: 
acres, 'i'his was all I'aw |ii'airie when it <-an:e l''i'ed * ). I'oller, who has alwaxs made bis home 
into ins possession bnl with characlerisf ic en- with his gi-andpai'ents, .Mr. ;ind Mrs. Slepbens; 
ergy be at once' began the devi'lopmeni and and .lessie .\. I'otter, the wib> of I!, h. j.og.^don, 
cullivalion i]f the land. He built a, small house an in\cnlor of ('(unicil Ulull's, Iowa, who in- 
sixleen by Iweidy-biur b'el, and this was later vented tbi> elecli-ic railioad signal. .Myra I'.elle 
I'eplaced by a more commodious country rcsi- Stephens is Ibe wile (jf iMnerson (li'een. a 
dence — a, neat, two-story sirncture. lie lias farmer of i,inn township, \>y whom she has 
also bnill two good barns, crib-; and sheds, ha< Iwo children. I>illy is the wih' of .\llierl D. 
pill up a wind ]nim]i and slock scales, iias Dover, a tai'mer residing near Siromsburg, 
fenced and tiled iiis laml. and now lias a well .Nebraska, and has two boy- and one girl. 
e(piipped farm, well suiled lo Ibe purpose lo l.ollie became Ibe wife of .Mr. liales. of i.inn 
wiiicli il i- put. ill addition lo liis home ])lace lownshiji. and iia> Iwd daughler- and lliree 
i\ir. Stephens likewise owns eigiily acres of <ons. 

land in I.inn |ownshi)i. liiis being used bir Mr. Slepbens gives bis polilieal allegiance 
paslurage foi- iii.- callle and hogs. ile is en- lo tlii' denioei-alic parly where nalional issue- 
gaged (piile extensively in raising live slock, ai-e invoKcd, hul al local election- cast- an 
feeding .-uiil bitteuing (wo carloads of caltic indcpendenl ballol, lie has .-eived on tlie 
and one oi- more carloads of iiogs eaeii year. gi'and an<l |ielil jni-ies an<l lias been a dele- 
in addition lo his farming, Mr. Stepliens also gate lo e(ainly and stale coiiveiilions. He is a 
i- inlere-ted in oilier eiilerprises, being one of Mason, belonging to Ibe blue lodge at Linden, 
tile organizers and now the vice-president of and be and hi- wife are members of liie i'"a>lern 
the Linden ilank. lie is also a stoekiiolder in Star, of wliicb be is now tiie treasurer, wiiile 
tlie [•"armer< .Mutual '{''elepiioiie Company and his wib' has ser\ed in se\'eral odices. Mrs. 
as,-i>tt'd in the organization id' a co-o]ieral ive .Slepbens is a member of Ibe rniled ilretiireil 
store, whicii was conducted for live years and cliurcii. wiiile .Mr. Slepiieiis is an attendant 
was ibeii -old. Witii otlier< lie bougbl Ibe upon its services and is a liberal eonlrilnilor 
land for the \\'esl Linn cemetery, wiiicli was thereto. He is well known as a, pioneer of 
later -old to llie town and is now known a- the the county and is a most industrious and use- 
Linn eemeli'i-w lie manil'esls a deep inlere,-l ful man, wliose lione-ly stands as an niu|ucs- 
in an\tbiiig wliicli pertains io the beiielil ot bi< lioned bid in liis career. Starling out in life 
town and coimly and i< Ibi'rel'on' numbered dependeiil upon hi- own resources from an 



780 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



early age, he has steadily worked his way up- 
ward and the success which he is now enjoy- 
ing is richly merited, showing what energy 
and perseverance can accomplish when one has 
the will to dare and to do. 



JACOB RHOADS VAN METER. 

Jacob Rhoads Vnn ileter is the president of 
the Van Meter Milling Company at Van Meter, 
Iowa, and several other business interests claim 
his time and attention and profit by his sound 
judgment as well as unfaltering diligence and 
activity. He is now in the eighty-second year 
of his age and few men who have advanced 
thus far on life's journey remain in active life, 
but Mr. Van Meter is one whose record proves 
the fact that old age is not necessarily a syno- 
nym of weakness nor inactivity nor need it 
suggest as a matter of course idleness or want 
of occupation. There is an old age which 
grows stronger and brighter as the years go 
by, both intellectually and spiritually, and 
gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and expe- 
rience. Such has been the case with Mr. Van 
Meter and it is with pleasure that we present 
to our readers the record of his life. 

A native of Bartholomew county, Indiana, 
he was born on the 27th of September, 1824, 
his parents being Joseph H. and Elizabeth 
(Grundy) Van Meter, both of whom were na- 
tives of Kentucky. The father was born in 
Hardin, September 30, 1792, and was a son 
of Jacob Van Meter, a native of ^''irginia, while 
his grandfather also bore the name of Jacob 
and was a native of the Old Dominion. The 
family came from Scotland, the original an- 
cestors in America settling in this country at 
a very early day in its development. Joseph 
H. Van Meter was a boatman and pilot on the 
Elizabeth, the third steamboat ever run on the 
Mississippi river. Later he turned his atten- 
tion to farming, removing to Indiana about 
1821 and there carrying on general agricultural 
pursuits until in 1858, when he came to Iowa. 
He died in thi? township at the very venerable 



age of ninety-five years and thirty days. The 
mother of our subject died when her son Jacob 
was but eight years of age and left four chil- 
dren, namely: Jacob; Susan G., the deceased 
wife of Edgar H. Haycraft; Julius J. and Gro- 
ins, who have also passed away. 

Mr. Van Meter of this review was reared 
upon his father's farm in Indiana and was a 
]iupil in one of the old-time log schoolhouses 
>uch as were common in that daj'. He after- 
ward took up the study of civil engineering 
in Hardin county, Kentucky, and at a later 
date returned to Indiana. Settling at Koko- 
mo, he there carried on merchandising and in 
1850 he came to Iowa, making the journey 
with a two-horse wagon. Here he located land 
warrants and thus prepared for the establish- 
ment of a home on the frontier. Subsequently 
he returned to Indiana and in 1851 he again 
came to this state, where he has since lived, 
lie first made his honie near De Soto, where he 
had six hundred and forty acres and with 
characteristic energy he began to cultivate and 
develop this. He carried on fanning on that 
property until 1856, when he tui-ned his at- 
tention to the banking business in Adel, the 
jiartners being J. R. and H. G. Van Meter. 
That business was conducted from 1857 until 
1860, when in the vicinity of De Soto, Mr. 
A'an Meter built a flouring mill, which he 
operated until 1864. In that year he organ- 
ized a company for service at the front, for the 
Civil war was then in progres.'*. 

Mr. Van Meter, with patriotic spirit, otfered 
his services to the government, enlisting as a 
member of Company C, Forty-sixth Iowa In- 
fantry, and was mustered in with the rank of 
captain at Davenport. He went to Memphis, 
Tennessee, in June, 1864, and was engaged in 
guarding railroads there under Colonel D. B. 
Henderson. He was under no fire in any 
regular pitched battle but a number of his 
men were killed by biishwhackei-s. He con- 
tinued to discharge the military duties assigned 
him until after the close of the war, when he 
was mustered out at Davenport in the fall of 
1864. 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



IHI 



Mr. Van Meter returned to liis home much 
impaired in health and it required some 
months to recover but as soon as possible he 
again became an active factor in business life. 
He built a mill at Van Meter, which he oper- 
ated until 1884, when it was washed away in a 
freshet. It was a four-story structure but the 
high waters completely destroyed it, causing 
considerable loss. At that time Mr. Van Meter 
went to Adel, where he also built a mill and 
later he built another at the town of Van 
Meter. In January, 1867, he came to Van 
Meter, where he has since resided with the 
exception of two years spent in Adel. He is now 
engaged in the milling business as president 
of the Van Meter Milling Company and as 
such is associated with one of the important 
industrial concerns of the county. He is also 
the owner of much valuable land, having six 
hundred and thirty acres in this county and 
one hundred and sixty acres in Dakota. He 
has at different times owned other property 
but has disposed of this save his residence in 
Van Meter. 

On the 27th of i\Iarch, 1855, Mr. Van Meter 
was united in marriage to Miss Mary Pea- 
body, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, 
October 14, 1834, and was a daughter of 
Stephen and Susan (Elliott) Peabody, the 
former born in Maine on the 5th of November, 
1795, and the latter in Ohio, April 20, 1801. 
The father died in Van Meter at the age of 
eighty-one years, while the mother passed 
away in 1894. They were the parents of nine 
children of whom Mrs. Van Meter and one 
son, Stephen, of Hamilton, Missouri, are still 
living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Van Meter have 
been born seven children, of whom four still 
survive: Ellen E., the wife of S. B. Kenworthy, 
of Des Moines; Joseph, who died at the age 
of fourteen years; ]\Iary Ann, the wife of Ira 
Hall of Nebraska; John, who died in infancy; 
Jacob R., who was killed by a horse falling 
upon him in 1884; Carrie, the wife of W. C. 
Dack, of Des Moines; and Henry C, who is 
living upon the home farm. 



Mr. and Mrs. Van Meter celebrated their 
golden wedding on the 27th of March, 1905. 
Tliey have traveled life's journey together for 
a half century, sharing with each other its 
joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. 
Two more years have now passed and it is to 
be hoped that they will be spared for a long 
time to come as fellow travelers on life's jour- 
ney. They are members of the Christian 
church and Mr. "\''an Meter is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity. His has been an active, 
useful and honorable life, and as one of the 
most venerable and most respected citizens of 
Dallas county he well deserves mention in this 
volume. 



JAMES R. OGLEVIE. 

James R. Oglevie, although now in his 
eighty-fifth year, is still actively interested in 
farming, giving personal supervision to his 
place of more than two hundred acres on sec- 
tion 23, Des Moines township. This constitutes 
one of the well improved farms of the county 
and the owner is numbered among the valued 
citizens. He is one of the oldest settlers of 
the state, for he became a resident of Keokuk 
county in 1842 and of Polk county in 1846, 
while the year 1878 witnessed his arrival in 
Dallas county. 

Mr. Oglevie was born in Shenandoah county, 
Virginia, February 4, 1823. His father, 
George Oglevie, was born in Virginia about 
1792 and was of Scotch parentage. He grew 
to manhood in the Old Dominion and there 
married Miss Catherine Nihizer, a native of 
Mrginia and of German lineage. He was a 
tanner by trade. At the time of the war of 
1812 he joined the American Army, served out 
his term and was given a land warrant for the 
aid which he had rendered. Later he again 
joined the army, and he had one brother, Wil- 
liam, who was killed in battle. Some time 
after hostilities had ceased he removed to 
Iowa and located his land warrants in Polk 



782 PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 

(Miuiity. His familj- numbered four tions and tiled his land and in eunneetioii with tlir work 
lour daughters, of whom but. two are now liv- of rai.-ing the eereals best adapted to Miil and 
ing: James R. and J. F. Oglevie, the latter climate he has engaged in raising, feeding and 
residing upon n farm in Polk county. t'atlening stock, selling a earloatl of fat cat- 
Lithe state of his nativity James R. Oglevie tie and imc of hugs annually. His liu>iness 
spent his youth and then accompanied the ha.-; thus prdvcd prolitalile and although his 
family on their removal to Illinois. A few life has been one of earnest toil, it ha- never 
months were passed in \'ermilion county, after been a fruilles- lalior. but on tln' contrary ha- 

which they came on to Iowa. — then a terri- brought bim a g ll\' measure of -ucee-,-. 

tory. They .settled first in Keokuk county, In I'.Hi-l Mr. ()gle\ie was called upon lo 

where they remained for about four years, and mourn the lor- of bis wife, with whom lie bad 

in the .-spring of 184(3 went to Polk county, long traveled lifVs journey. She pa— eil away 

where the father entered laud and opened up on the 23d qf 8eptend)er, of that year, and was 

a farm, within se\-en miles of the city of Des laid to re-t in Robbin- ('ba|iel eemeterw Two 

.^hliues. Upon that place he spent his re- sons an<l b)ur daughters of the family are 

Inaining days. The sub.jeet of thi> review yet living: C. L. Oglevie. a farmer of Des 

assisted in the arduous ta.sk of opening up a .Moine< townshi)); I'erry. who i- man-ied and 

new farm and experienced all the hardships i- ojierating the home farm and al.-o owns land 

and privations of pioneer life. He had been adjoining; Elizaljcth, the wife of W. P. .Icwett, 

married in \'erniilion county, Illinois, in lS4r>, of Stanley, North Dakota; ^'enns, the wife of 

to Miss Louisa Keith, a native of Bartholomew .\. Cole, of Woodward, Dallas county; Mrs. 

county. Indiana, althou.gh reared in ^'ermilion Sue Sullixan, a widow, who is now acting as 

county. her father's housekeeper; and Eflie. the wife 

.\fter his marriage .Mr. ()gle\ie located on of David Oyler, a farmer of Polk county. They 

his land, having entered forty acres fn.im the lost their lirst born, a sou — (icorge I!. ( lgle\ie, 

government, while he pvu'cbased si.xty acres who grew to manhood and was mariied. lie 

adjoining. ^Vt once he began to till the soil was a graduate in law of the .Michigan I'ni- 

and Ijring the fields into a state of rich fer- versify and also of the Iowa *"ity I'niversity 

tility. and for a number of years he continued and practiced law in Des .Moiiie- until hi< 

the improvement of the place, after which he death. 

sold his property in I'olk county and removed l'oliticall\- .Mr. Oglevie i- a .b'H'er-onian 

to Dallas county, wbi're he has now lived for <leniocrat. casting his lirst ballot for pre-ident 

about thirty years. lie purchased two liuu- bir .bnues'K. Polk and for each iiomiiiee at 

dred luid eleven acres where he resides, upon the liead of the ticket since that time, with 

wliieli was a log laaise and slight improve- the exception of ISTO, when be did not vote, 

nients and this be at once began to develop. While in Polk count\- he rerxcd as township 

Aliont PS.Sl he liuill a good neat residence trustee and was officially identified with the 

and he set out eedai- and maple trees, which schools. In Des Moines township he has been 

now afford line shade from the rays of the towurbiii trustee for ten or twelve years and 

summer sun. He al-o ])lanted an orchard, |ii-o\'ed a cajiablc and trustworthy ollicer. a< 

which long since has come into good bearing, is indicated by his long retention in the posi- 

and he has built barns and other outbuildings, tion. lb' i.- a member of the ^lethodist Episco- 

thus developing one of the excellent farms of pal cbnrcb. and wa- a trustee of Robl)ins 

the township, .\round his house is a beauti- ( 'bapel for a numlier of years, his wife being 

ful. well kept lawn, sm-rounded by an orna- also a biithful member of that church. He 

tnental wire fence, and the place is most attract- belongs lo the Masonic lodge of Woodward and 

ive in appearance. ^Ir. Oglevie has fenced and was formerly connected with the Odd Fellows 



PAST AND PRESP:NT OF DALLAS COUNTY. ' '83 

l<i(lt;e ol Dcs MoiiR's. His litV' liiis liccii ill liar- Willi little oppdi-tuiiity to attend school, 

liMiny with the beiielieeut spirit of those orders .lames IL Wat.soii is largely a self-educated 

and with his in-dfessidiis a.-, a iiieiiil)er of tlu' man. He made his home with his parents up 

cliureli. and in the evening ot life he receives Id the time of his marriage hut has provided 

the respect and veneration of all wIki kiniw him. for his own .support from the age of ten years, 

his first work bringing him three dollars per 
■ ■ month. He then worked in the coal mines 

and on various farms and also did railroad 

JAMES H. WATSON. grading and miscellaneous work until 1894, 

when he was married, and turned his attention 

James H. Watson is ])roprielor of the FJm In general agricullnral imrsnil,-. 

Park Stock Farm and a.s .such is one of the It was in .\pril. 1SM4, that Mr. W'at-oii was 

hest known raisers of tine stock m central Iowa, juined in wedlnck In Mi.ss Cassie Mills, a na- 

ile resides on the east Muff of the lies Moines live of I'olk county. Iowa, and a daughter of 

ri\cr where lie condnets- a vahiahle and well nil- Willi- .Mills. lie reiitid land for two years 

proved farm of one hundred and .seventy-eight after hi- marriage and then with the capital 

acres, within two and a, half miles of Madrid. he had saved from hi- earnings he purchased 

where lie has lived since lOOl). lie dates hi> a coal mine, after which he mined for six 

residence in the county, howexcr. from 1S7:I. year-. In 1 '.•()() he pnrchascd his present farm 

arriving here when a hoy of seven year.-. of one Inmdred and seventy-eiuht acres on sec- 

Tlie place of his nativity is Oneida, county, lion 1-!. I )e- .Moine- lownship. on the east side 

.\ew York, and the date l)c(eml)er (J. ISfiti. of the river, and look np hi- aliode there in the 

His father. .lohn Watson, was al-o horn in -pring of 1!H)1. Coal ha- heeii discovered on 

Oneida comity. New York, and was there thi- place and he ha- that ixjilion leased for 

reared, following carpi'iitering and farming in a term of years, receiving a. royalty from the 

early life, lie wa- married ihei-e lo Mi- ( 'lar- product. Since ]inrcha,-ing the farm he has 

i-a 1 mis. who wa- reared in Oneida ciainty addc>(l lo the dwelling, built stock and hay 

Imt wa- born in Lewis county, .New York. barn-, shed- and other buildings, has fenced 

They had a family of .seven sons, four of whom and tiled the fields and has otherwise improved 

were born in the Empire state, and all arc yet the property. Since 189.") he has devoted his 

living. eiiergie- continuously to the tine stock busi- 

.lanic- II. Watson i- the eldest of the sons ne--. rai-ing thoroughT)red Poland China hogs, 

and came to Dalla- comity with his parents which be has been regi-stering for ten years. 

in 1S7:1. 'i'hey fir-t settled a mile northeast of lie yearly attends the State Fair for advertis- 

reiry, wheiv the father pnrcha-ed an I'igbty- ing purpose- but has never cared to exhibit for 

acre farm, but after a year he sold that prop- iireminms. lie is also a lirceder of and dealer 

erty and removed to Peoples township, Boone in -bortliorn cattle both thoronghiired and reg- 

coniity. where he bontilit laial which he ciilti- i-lcred. and he owns one of tin; chief males 

vatcd for two -easons. lie then :-old there and from the Bates family of cattle. He has held 

took up his abode in Dcs Moines township al hi- liftli annual -lock sale, which is an im- 

Piitir- mill, where he purcha.sed some land |ioi-lant event in li\-c-tock circle.- in the conn- 

and made a home, devoting his time and at- ty an<l thi- part of llu' -late. I le has constantly 

teiition to ear]ientering. I lis wife died in 1892. -Iriveii to im]irovc the grade of stock rai-ed 

at the age of forty-six years, while the father and has been -o -ncce.-sful in the lines of busi- 

-pent his last years with hi- -on James and ne-s t(( which he ha- given his attention that 

metdeath by accident in February, 190."), when he is regarded today as one of the leading 

eightv years of age. -tockmen of thi- jiart of the state and the Elm 



784 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY 



Park Stock Farm as one of its most valuable 
properties. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Watson have been born 
six children, but they lost their eldest, Donald 
E., M'ho died at the age of eight months. The 
living are Leilia, Glen, Cecil, Roy and Roland 
John. 

In his political views Mr. Watson has been 
a life-long republican, but casts an independ- 
ent local ballot. He has served as assessor for 
one term and is now township trustee for two 
years. He has been on the school board for 
seven years, and at this writing is president 
of his district. He and his wife attend the 
Robbins Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, of which 
Mrs. Watson is a member, and in the com- 
munity where they reside they are most highly 
esteemed people. Although he started out 
empty-handed at the age of ten years and had 
but limited opportunities in youth, he is now 
one of the prosperous stockmen of this part 
of the state and his success demonstrates his 
business activity and the worth of his char- 
acter. 



JOHN TICE. 



John Tice is a retired farmer living in Red- 
field. His activity and enterprise in former years 
have brought him a comfortable competence, so 
that he is now enabled to enjoy a well-earned 
rest, though for many years he was closely asso- 
ciated with agricultural interests. He was born 
in Ingham county, Michigan, October 17, 
1850, his parents being Daniel and Delaney 
(Smith) Tice, natives of the Empire state, 
where they were reared and married. Re- 
moving westward to Michigan at an early pe- 
riod in the development of that state, they 
established a home in the midst of the forests 
in Ingham county, Mr. Tice hewing out a farm 
in the green woods. He came to Dallas county, 
Iowa, in 1863 and settled on section 21, Col- 
fax township, upon a tract of land of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres which the older brother 
of our subject had purcha,«ed in 1856. This 



was raw prairie, not a furrow having been 
tvu'ned nor an improvement made upon the 
place. The father built the first house upon 
the farm and it still stands, it now being used 
as a granary. It has been a mute witness of 
the many changes which have occurred as the 
years have gone by and is one of the old land- 
marks of this part of the state. The fatlier 
continued to engage in farming throughout 
his remaining days, passing away at the age 
of seventy-six years. He was born February 8, 
1806, and died February 14, 1882. His wife, 
who was born September 11, 1809, died on the 
4th of February, 1892. In the family were 
nine children, of whom the following are still 
living: Mrs. Mary Colton, who is living in 
Colfax township; Mrs. Lota Marshall, of Cali- 
foi'nia; Manson, who resides in LTnion town- 
ship, this county ; Mrs. Asher Lyon, of Union 
township; and Mrs. B. F. Ralston, of Colfax 
township. 

John Tice was reared upon the farm and 
acquired a common-school education in Michi- 
gan and in Dallas county. He was a youth 
of thirteen years Avhen he came with his par- 
ents to Iowa and made his home upon the old 
farm. A few years prior to his parents' death 
he took possession of the property and cared 
for his parents throughout their remaining 
days. The occupation to which he was reared 
he made his life work, save that for a few 
years he was in business in Adel. There he 
suffered a loss by fire, after which he returned 
to the farm, where he carried on general agri- 
cultural pursuits until 1896. He then retired 
to private life, turning the farm over to his 
son, and at the present writing he is a resi- 
dent of Redfield, where he has now lived for 
a year in enjoyment of the rest which he has 
truly earned and richly deserves. 

Mr. Tice was married to Miss Mary Edwards, 
a native of Porter county, Indiana, and they 
have three children: James, who is proprietor 
of a hotel at Bozeman, Montana: Jessie, who 
is conducting a bakery and restaurant at Red- 
field: and Chauncy E., who remains upon the 
home farm. 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



785 



Mr. and Mrs. Tice have been life-long mem- 
bers of the Christian church and for a num- 
ber of years Mr. Tice was an elder in the 
Prairie Home church. Li i^olitics Mr. Tice is 
a republican and has held the office of justice 
of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair 
and nnpartial. He was school director for 
one year and has always been interested in 
those matters which pertain to general prog- 
ress and improvement. His life has been 
quietly passed and yet his history contains 
many lessons worthy of emulation, for it has 
at all times been characterized by those prin- 
ciples of conduct which ever awaken confidence 
and regard. He has been honorable in busi- 
ness, loyal in citizenship and faithful to the 
ties of home and friendship. 



WILLIAM R. TIIOILXTON. 

William R. Thornton, who i^ engaged in 
the livery business in Van Meter, having a well 
appointed stable which receives a liberal pat- 
ronage, is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth 
having occurred in Polk count}', on the 16th 
of September, 1848. His paternal grandfather 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and 
served for seven years in defense of the cause 
of liberty and thus aided in laying the founda- 
tion of the republic. The father, Isaac Thorn- 
ton, was a native of Ohio and married Miss 
Rebecca Stanfield, whose birth occurred in 
Greene county, Tennessee. The wedding, how- 
ever, was celebrated in Vermilion county, Illi- 
nois, where each had removed in early life. 
During the infancy of their son William they 
came to Iowa and took up their abode in Dal- 
las county when the Indians still roamed over 
the prairies, frequently visiting the pioneer 
homes, begging food and other things of the 
settlers. The family suffered all the privations 
and difficulties incident to life on the frontier 
during the period when the father, assisted by 
his sons, was developing a farm from the wild 
prairie. In the' family were nine children : 



Thomas, a valiant defender of the Union 
cause who died in St. Louis in 1862 while serv- 
ing as a soldier in the Civil war, being a mem- 
ber of the Second Iowa Heavy Artillery; Na- 
thaniel, Avho also became a defender of the 
Union cause, a member of the Second Iowa In- 
fantry, and laid down his life as a ransom on 
the altar of his country in 1863; Leander; Wil- 
liam R. ; Anna M., now deceased; Marietta; 
Cynthia, who has also departed this life ; Lewi.s, 
located in Nebi'aska; and Minnie, whoso home 
is in Minnesota. 

William R. Thorntou was reared amid scenes 
and environments of the frontier at a time 
when Iowa was on the verj' border of civiliza- 
tion. He can i-emember when there were very 
few houses in the county, the greater part of 
the land being still uncultivated. He remem- 
bers seeing Indians as they wandered from 
place to place, hunting and trapping, and he 
visited Des INIoines when that city contained 
but two stores. Many of the now flourishing 
towns and villages of Dallas county had not 
yet sprung into existence and there was little 
to indicate the great growth and improvement 
which have .since transformed this district into 
one of the leading counties of the common- 
wealth. He embraced such opportunities as 
were offered for acquiring an education and 
from the time of early spring planting until 
the harvests were gathered in late autumn he 
was busy with the work of the fields. He now 
owns a fine residence in the village of Van 
Meter, where he makes his home, and his time 
and energies are devoted to the conduct of the 
livery business. He has a large barn and a 
number of good horses and vehicles and is 
receiving a liberal patronage because of his 
earnest desire to please his patrons and his 
reasonable prices. 

Mr. Thornton was married to Miss Olive 
Aldrich Avho was born in Jones county, Iowa, 
Juno 5, 1850, while her father was a native of 
Massachusetts and her mother a native of Illi- 
nois. In their family were five children, two 
daughters and three sons. The marriage of 
Mr. and Mrs. Thornton was colchratcd Decern- 



78<i 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



luT 5. 1872, and has licni blessed with live 
ehildrcu. llattie and Jlionia-s are now de- 
ceased. The other.s are Cecil, Ora and Mary. 

Politically Mr. Thornton i.< a democrat and 
has lieen an intei'ested witness of the growth 
of the party for many years. He ha.s held 
ciliicc a~ a school director for twenty years and 
ha- always been a champion of j^rogressive 
measures for the interests of education. He 
liclongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at ^'an Meter, 
in which he h.as filled all the chairs, and he 
and his wife arc faithful and consistent mem- 
licr- of the ('hri:-tian cjmrcli at Dc Soto. They 
own and occup>' a line i'c<idcncc in the vil- 
lage, have many friend- here and the hospi- 
tality of the best homes is extended them. For 
fifty-eight yeai-s he has been a resident of the 
county and few citizen- within it- liorders have 
a more intimate knowledge of the history of 
this section of the state and its development. 
He can rcuKMuber when the evidences of pio- 
neer life here wei'e many but lliey have been 
dis[)laced \)\ those of advancing civilization 
until the county today l)ears little resemblance 
to the region into which the Thornton family 
came almost si.\ decades ago. The log cabin is 
now a thing of the i)a-t and upon the farms 
are sul)stantial, conmiodion- dwellings, while 
the villages liax'e urown into thrixing towns 
and cities with all the eoniforls. conveniences, 
acce.ssfiries and bu-ine-s interests of the older 
ea.st. 



FK.\NK MIDDI.KKOFF. 

I'^-ank Middlekolf. \\\\n for a quarter of a 
century has been the leading contractor and 
laiilder of Adel. has contriliuted in very large 
mea-ure to the im])rovemenl of the city, hav- 
ing more than one hundred residences and 
linsine-s houses to his credit here. He was born 
in Ilaiicr-towu, ^laryland. in 1857, his parents 
being ('hri.stiau and Jane (KoOdy) iliddlekoff, 
who were likewise natives of Maryland. The 
father died in .\del seven vears ago, while the 



mother i.s still living in this city with her son 
Charles. 

Frank iliddlekoff was only a year old when 
his parents left ^laryland and removed to (_)gle 
county. Illinois, settling on a farm there which 
remained their home until 1880, when they 
came to Adel. The son was therefore reared 
to agricultural life, early becoming familiar 
with the duties and laliors of the tields. while 
in the public schools of the neighborhood he 
acquired his education. Two years after the 
removal to .\(lcl he Ijegau conti'acting and 
l)uilding and for twiMity-hve years has been the 
lea<ling re]ire>entative of this line of business 
in the citv. lb' had little experience when 
he started out to make his own way in the 
world but he possessed natural mechanical 
.uvnius and bis ready adaptability led to excel- 
lent workmanship, while his thorough relia- 
bility has secured to him the trust and the ])at- 
ronage of the |)ublic. Many of the finest struc- 
ture- of the city .-tanil as monument- to his 
thrift and labor. lie is always true to the 
term- of a contract and is prompt and faithful 
in the executi<in of the duties which devolve 
upon him in this connection. 

Mr. Middlekotl' wa- married to Miss :\Iattie 
Sutton, who was born in Polk county. L)\va, a 
daughter ol' iiran-on and \ancy Ann .'-^utton, 
both of whom are now deceased. They came 
to Iowa at an early day and were closely as- 
sociatecl witli jiioneer dt'Vt'lo]imeiit. Fnto Air. 
and Mr-. .MiddlekolV have been bm-ii nine cliil- 
di'i'ii, namel\': ( luy. who is married and is liv- 
ine ill .\del, where be is enqiloyed by bi- 
fatber: Cold.-i. tb.' K\fv of Fred C. Draki'. 
an attorney and ab-tract agent of Mitchell, 
South Dakota; Urbana. at home; Bernice, the 
wife of Del Paul at Dallas Center; Lavonne. at 
home; Park, who died at the age of eleven 
years: Doyle and Trent, Ijoth at home: and 
Naomi, who died when only six months old. 

The parents and children are members of 
the Christian church and Air. Aliddlekotf is 
interested in its work and generous in its sup- 
port. He exercises his right of franchise in 
supjiort of the republican party Imt ha- never 



PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 781 

.■sought or desired oHice. Ili.s life has been one ^liddleloii MfClelhiii Mills was educated in 

of eoiitinuous activity, in which has been ac- the district schools of this county, devoting iiis 

corded due recognition of labor and today he iiours outside of the .school idom to his \\(irk in 

is numbered among the substantial citizens of the fields on his father's farm. It was in this 

liis ccnnity. ,\s a business man he lui.s been way tluil ln' [la.s-^ed his yi-ars unlil be bad al- 

couspicuons aiiiong bis associates, not only for taincd his majority, when he felt (bat it was 

his success but for his probity, fairness and time for him to do something on bis own 

honorable methods. In everything he has been acc(nuit. With bis pri'iianitiou as an a^ricul- 

emini'ntly jirartical and this has been manifest lurisl. he naturally scU'cted this lirlil of m-tivity. 

not only ill \u< liu~iiii'ss undertakings b\il also I'^ir some leu or eleven years be i-eiited land, 

in <oeia! and prixate life. wbieb be farmed as conscientiously a- ibougli 

il Jia.l belonged 1.1 iiim. In 1.S04 be bad -aved 
eiiouiiii money to ])urcliase tjie iiorib half of 

ibe northeiust quarter of section ;'..">, W'a.-liiiiglon 

MIDDId'ri'ON .M(('ld<:id.A.\ .MILLS. lownship, Dallas county, but lie .•.mtiiiued to 

("arm as a, renti-r up to i\\o fall of bSDii. lie 

Carlisle has .-aid that history is the essence of IIk'U niiioved to his present home, 

innumerable liiograpbies, and .Macanlay has -Mr. .\Llls wa.s married in 1S!):> to .Miss Lnima 

added in a like vein, ■'tbe history of a nation is -1. Slever, of Bureau county, Illinois, who 

l)C.st tolil ill llie lives of its people." I'laLaps this jia.ssed away in ISOb. lie was married a second 

is truer of .Viiierica llian of any other country. Iim<' lo the sister of his (irst wife, Ida, L. Stever. 

for it is upon llii' modesl. i-elired lib' of ils pri- who died .lune 2, 190:>, leaving one child. Hazel 

vate cilizens and ciiiefly ils auricullurists that -May. 

the United Stales h.-is built up ils ]in'senl status. .Mr. .Mills is iu<lependenl in his political allib 
Tt is on Ibis aeconnl llial one is always in- iaiions, ]ireferring to vote for the man rather 
terested in agrieulluri' and we are glad to men- than the ]iarly. lb' is conscientious in ever\- 
tioii .Middlelon McClellan .MilL a^ a. citizen of lliiiig that be undertakes and follows the motto. 
this type. "lie sure you are right a,nd then go ahead."' 
lie wa.s born in Colfax townsbi|i, Dallas Willi this ju-inciple of living be has carefully 
county, on -luly I'.t, iS(i4, and ibroiigbont lib' studied the modern birni ]iroblcnis and has 
lias been interested in e\-ery enlerpi'ise that worked out. a. great man\' on bis own account. 
would pi-oni<iti' Ibe progres- of tlie eounly. \lc To these methods he may allribute his success- 
is a son of .li'liii Middleton ;md Ilannab ( Flint) fnl work in the agricultural world. He is sur- 
Mills. Ibe birmer a. native of Xorib Carolina, rounderl by a, large circle of frii'iids. who bold 
anil the latter of liidia,na. These good ]ieoplc him in the highest esteem, 
were Ibe ]iarenls of elexcii eliildreii, of wbom 

the billowing survive: Robert .1., of Spring 

^'alley townsbiji. tiiis county: .Mary -I., the wife 

of .1. K. .leukins. of Colfax Inwnsbip. tiiis CHARLES C. MILLS. 
coiinl V : .losepb William, of the same lownship : 

.Jacob 11., a i-esideiil of Dickinson eoinity, Iowa.: In the matter of progressive binning this 
.Icbu .M., of Colbix lowii^bip; Middleton M., county has always been in the front rank. 
the siilijeet of Ibis review: Cbarle- ('., of Wash- Prominent among the men who have helped 
ingtou l<n\iisbip. tbi< eounty: Klli.n. wlio mar- to put it there is Charles C. Mills, who wa- 
ned Xoali M. bejip, a ri'siileiit of Terry. Iowa: born in Dalla.s county, Iowa, Jaiuiary 1, 1S(>7. 
and Emma, who is living with her brolber ITe i- a son of .Teh\i M. and ITannah (Mint) 
John. .MilL, the former n native of Xorth Carolina 



788 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



and the latter a native of Indiana. Mr. Mills 
went to Indiana when he was a lad of eight 
years and was married in that state. In 1856 
he removed to Dallas county, Iowa, where he 
located on a farm in Colfax township. He 
took much interest in bringing thi.s farm to 
a state of perfection where it would yield abun- 
dant crops, and here he lived until the time of 
his death in 1891. His wife survived him for 
three years. There were eleven children born 
to this worthy couple, of whom nine are still 
living: Robert J., of Spring Valley township; 
Mary J., the wife of J. K. Jenkins, who lives 
in Colfax township; Joseph William, of the 
same township; Jacob H., a resident of Lake 
Park. Iowa; Jehu M.. Jr., of Colfax; Middk- 
ton M., of Washington township; Charles C, 
the subject of this review; Ella S., the wife 
of Dr. N. M. Repp, of Perry, Iowa; and Emma 
J., who lives with her brother on the old home- 
stead. 

Mr. Mills acquired his early education in 
the public schools and devoted his hours out- 
side of school to assisting his father on the 
farm. Considering the fact that he has since 
followed the pursuit of agriculture this prac- 
tical training that he received under the super- 
vision of so competent an agriculturist as his 
father was of great benefit to him. In fact 
he remained upon the home farm until he had 
attained his twenty-second year. With the 
money which he had saved he then bought the 
farm in Washington township where he now 
lives. So successfully has he operated this land 
and so thoroughly has he studied the details 
of farming that he has been able to add to 
his original purchase. He now owns one hun- 
dred acres of land on section 35, Washington 
township, and operates four hundred and forty- 
three acres. In addition to the business of a 
general farmer he has added that of stock- 
raising and has for several years made a spe- 
cialty of thoroughbred horses, M-hich has 
proved his most successful venture and is now 
V)ringing him large financial returns. 

Politically Mv. Mills is affiliated with the 
democratic party and for six years held the 



office of constable. He is a member of the 
Masonic lodge, No. 356, at Dallas Center, Iowa. 
His finely improved farm speaks well for the 
mdustry and enterprise of its owner. He has 
added all the modern equipments so necessary 
to the management of a farm in this age and 
has kept the buildings not onh^ in good repair 
but ha.* added many accommodations to them 
for his stock and for his grain. 



J. J. HOY. 



J. J. Hoy, who owns and operates two hun- 
dred and thirty-five acres of land on section 
18, Union township, Dallas county, was born 
in Pennsylvania, March 1, 1853, a son of Dan- 
iel and Jesty (Miller) Hoy, both of whom were 
born in Pennsylvania. In 1854 they removed 
to Illinois, where the mother died in 1861, 
after which Daniel Hoy returned to Pennsyl- 
vania, being married in that state, a second 
time, in the year 1865. He afterward again 
removed to Illinois and in 1866 was assassin- 
ated by W. J. Hackney. He had seven chil- 
dren by his first wife, of whom four survive: 
Daniel J., who, in 1870 was shot by the same 
gang of ruffians who killed his father, being 
at the time only nineteen years of age ; Joseph, 
residing in Illinois ; J. J., of this review ; Frank- 
lin, who makes his home in California; and 
G. W., of Dallas county, Iowa. To the father's 
second marriage one daughter was born, Lilly, 
the wife of Elmer Russell, who now lives in 
Kansas. 

J. J. Hoy received a common-school educa- 
tion and ha.= always been an agriculturist. He 
came to Dallas county in 1891 and is now the 
owner of two hundred and thirty-five acres 
of land on section 18, Union township. The 
highly improved condition of this farm is evi- 
dence of his industry and perseverance in its 
cultivation and also demonstrates his right to 
be classed with the representative and enter- 
prising agriculturists of Dallas county. 

Mr. Hoy was married, in 1880, to Miss Mary 
C. Bcchtel. a native of Union county, Pennsyl- 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



78*.) 



vania, whose pai'ents are both now deceased. 
She has become the mother of seven children, 
as follows: Jesty, who is the wife of Leonard 
Westley and is now living in Oregon ; Aima 
R., who is still at home; Lydia E., who is a 
graduate of the Dexter high school and w'ho 
has been teaching school for two years in this 
county; Frank A., Katharine M., Robert J. 
and Howard, all at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hoy are people of genuine 
worth and have won the respect and esteem 
of all with whom they have come in contact, 
by reason of those qualities of character which 
everywhere command regard and admiration. 



JASPER L. .JOLLEY. 

Jasper L. Jolley is one of the extensive land- 
owners of the county, owning five hundred 
and sixty acres, which includes the old home- 
stead farm of four hundred and fifty acres. 
He is largely engaged in the raising of cat- 
tle and is a business man of enterprise and dili- 
gence, who carries forward to successful com- 
pletion whatever he undertakes and shows 
keen discernment and marked sagacity in the 
conduct of his agricultural and commercial 
interests. His birthplace was the farm upon 
which he now resides and his natal day was 
October 29, 1860. He is descended from an 
old southern family, his grandfather, John 
Jolley, having been a native of North Caro- 
lina. He married Hannah Cook, who was born 
near Steubenville, Ohio, and Ijoth spent their 
last days in Union county of the Buckeye state, 
where the grandfather died at the age of sev- 
enty-eight years. Both were members of the 
Society of Friends or Quakers but their family 
became identified with the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. Throughout his active business 
life John Jolley followed the occupation of 
farming. 

Lewis Jolley, father of our subject, was born 
in LTnion county, Ohio, December 21, 1827, 
was roared to manhood n|)ori a farm, and in 



1855 emigrated l(j Iowa, casting his lot among 
the early settlers of Dallas county. For several 
years he worked at the carpenter's trade, and 
then turned his attention to farming. In 
l^^bruary, 1856, Mr. Jolley was united in mar- 
riage with Mrs. Elizabeth (Sowsh) Young, 
widow of George Young. She was of Irish 
lineage, her grandparents having come from 
the Emerald isle to America. Her parents 
were Joseph and Mary (Montgomery) Sowsh, 
natives of Pennsylvania and members of the 
farming community. Her mother died at the 
early age of twentj'-seven years, but Mr. Sowsh 
long siu'vived his wife and passed away in 
Ohio when about eighty years of age. Mrs. 
JoUej^ was born in Allegheny county, Penn- 
sylvania, and was ever a faithful companion 
and helpmate to her husband. The parents 
of our subject had five children, four of whom 
are yet living. 

Two years after his marriage Lewis Jolley 
liegan farming upon a tract of wild land. He 
moved an old gun-shop to the place, in which 
he lived luitil a frame residence could be 
erected. Steadily and persistently he contin- 
ued his labors until acre after acre was placed 
under the plow, and good improvements stand 
as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. 
He was an energetic man, possessing good busi- 
ness ability, and was recognized as one of the 
representative agriculturists of the commu- 
nity. He was always opposed to oppression of 
any kind, was a strong anti-slavery man and 
active in support of the temperance cau.«e. He 
filled various local offices with credit to him- 
self and satisfaction to his constituents, and 
in religious belief he and his family were 
Methodists. In 1883 he retired to private life 
and died in November, 1887. Mrs. Jolley sur- 
vived her husband until tiic 4th of Septem- 
ber, 1902, when she, too, passed away. A 
daughter of the family survives, Mrs. H. V. 
Rickerson, who is living in Adel, Iowa. 

No event of special importance occurred to 
vary the routine of farm life for Jasper L. 
•Tolley in his boyhood days. He was trained 
In habits of industry and thrift upon tlic lionie- 



7!i<) ' PAST AND PKESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 

t-{vm\ lanii. wlicru lie worked in the iields I'roiu feature^! of the laiid.-^i-ape bcfau^e of the excel- 
early youth. His edueation wa.-^ acquired in lent iiuiirovenient< whicli he ha.* placed upon 
the common schools and through further read- it and the high state of cultivation under which 
ing und ohservation he has Ix'coiiie a well in- the Helds are kept. It is very productive, for 
formed man. He continued to a.<si-t hi< father through the judicious use of fertilizers and 
in carrying on the work of the home farm until the system of rotating crops he keeps the land 
his marriage on the 26th of Novemher. 1884, m good condition. He is regarded as one of 
to ]\Iiss Sarah C. Cook, a native of Indiana, the leading agriculturists of this section of the 
born September 20. 18(J2. Her father. .Tohn state and is a .substantial citizen whose suc- 
Cook. was born in A'irginia, Decemher 2!). ce.'^s is well merited. 

1827. a -on of .h.seph and Elizal.etl; ('(M,k. and The home of :Mr. .and :\Irs. .Jolley has been 
after he had arrived at years of nialurily he Me-sed with seven children hut they lost one 
wedded Elizalx'tli Thomason. a daughtei- of in infancy. The others are as follows: Lena 
Lewis and ^lary Tliomason. She was horn ('.. who was born May ol. INS.!, and accjuired 
February 7. 1821. ;nid on the ."ith of .July. a college education: Loreu ('.. who wa- Ijorn 
1849, gave her liand in marriage to .Mr. Cook. .Tauuary 20. 18.S7. an<l i- now attending eol- 
This union was ble.ssed with foiuleen chil- lege; Dorothy L.. Worn .\ugusl 12. 1S91: 
(h-en. of wlioni three died in infancy. Ten Lewis, born May 24. 1804: Helen, horn I'^eh- 
of the family ai-e .-till living, as follows: Wil- ruary 27, 1899; and Marie, .hine 10. iSDii. The 
liam L.. a resident of .\del. Iowa: Mr-, liar- eldest daughter is an artist of eon-ideralile 
riet S. Crow, who is li\inu in l>illing<, Mon- ability and jiower and many beautiful works 
tana; .loliii \\'.. who also reside- in ISillings: from her brush adorn her jiareuts' hduie. 
Mrs. Lizzie .1. Snyder, at .\del. Iowa; .Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. .lolley have a very wide and 
who makes his home in Pueblo, Colorado; Mrs. favorable ac(juaintauce in tlie county and the 
Jolley: Samuel, who is li\ing in \'an dieter, hos]>itali1y of the best home- is cordiidly e.\- 
lowa; .\. I'"., who i< located at Des Moines. tended them. Mr. .lolley give- his ]iolitical 
Towa : Charles, of Waukee. this county: and allegiam-e to the re]iuhlican i)ar1y and has 
Iiali)h. of De.xter. Iowa. The other membei- linn faith in its princi]iles. believing Ihem most 
of the family was Mrs. Eva Phillips, who died conducive to good goxcrnment. Hi.- entire 
in Van Meter when about thirty years of age. life has been ])as,sed in the locality wliere lie 
.\t the lime of hi- marriage Mr. .lolley began -till lives and the fact tliat njauy of his -tanch- 
fai'miiig u|ion land whii'h he rent<'d from his est friends are those who have known liim from 
falber. liis business career has been crowned boyhood is an indication that his has Keen an 
witli a gratifying measure of success. He has honorable, upright life, lie is genial in man- 
worked pei'si-lenlly ami energetically as the ner and social in disjio-ition and ibii- ha- l>i'- 
years have lione Oy and moreover his lal>or has conic popular with those with whom lie has 
been guided by -nund judgment and keen busi- been brought in contact, 
iiess discrimination. .\- his Ijnaiicial ri'-inirces 

have increased be has made judicioii- invest- 

nieiit in ]iroperty and he now nwn- the old 

family home-lea. 1 of lunr hundred and lifty .TEREMl.MI .1. .M.MIONEY. 
acre-, while hi- lotal landed iK)ssession> aggre- 
gate live hundred and si.xty acres, all of which .Tcremiah .1. Mahoney. well known in liiian- 
lies in Dallas county. He is feeding cattle for cial circles of Dallas county as cashier of the 
the market on an extensive scale and both Pedtield Savings Bank, was bdru in Muscatine 
liranches of his business arc jiroving very comity. Iowa. February Id. 18;;7. a -on of 
profitable. His farm is one of the attractive Michael and Ellen (OT'.ainor) Mahoney, both 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



V.)l 



of wlioiu WLTc natives of County Cork, Ireland, 
and emigrated to the United States in young 
inanliood and womanhood. Tliey toolc up 
their al)odu in ^luscatinc county, Iowa, and 
were tliere married, tlie father hiter purehas- 
ing a farm near WiUon Junction in Musoatin<' 
cmnity. mi whicli he re.-^ided up t<i ihr tiiiii' 
of hL< demi,-c in ISSS. when iir liad reached 
the age of scwnty-onc years. I lis wife sur- 
vived him initil .hniuary 1. 1!H)(I. passing away 
at the age nf seveuty-foiu' year.-. ^Ir. >hdioney 
was a democrat in his jiolitical views l)ut never 
an ofKee seeker, and both he and iiis wife were 
de\out memliers of tlie Catliolic cimi'ch. Their 
family uumliei'ed t'leven children, four of 
whom yet survive: William, of Muscatine 
county. Liwa. who is one of the largest cat- 
tle feeders in the >tate; Jeremiah J., of this re- 
view: Bridget, the witV' of Edward McSwiggin, 
living in Muscatine comity. Towa : and Kath- 
erine. of Chicago, who as a. Sister of Charity is 
known as ."-lifter Mary Charitina. 

Jeremiah .F. Mahoney was reared on the 
home farm. ac(iuiring his educatioi^ in tlie 
country schools and at Professor .1. B. Harris 
Commercial College at Wilton Junction. On 
the completion of his studies, in 1S8(3, he en- 
gaged in the live-stock business at Wilton Jinic- 
tion. being identifu'd with his brother, Wil-_ 
liam ^laliont'y. in this eiiterpri-e for Kfteeti 
year-. In I'JOO Mr. ^hiiiouey eml.arked in the 
furniture business at Marengo. Iowa. b<'ing 
ideiitilied with mercaiitiie |iursuits. however, bir 
onl\' about eighteen months, when he remtive<l 
to l)aven|)ort. Iowa, a.ud purcha-''d an interest 
in tile Pecan Oil Manufacturing Company, also 
going upon the road as traveling represeiilatixe 
for the house. Thi.s busines.s is incorjiorated. 
Mr. .M,-di(]ney liecoming one of its first oflicers. 
He -till retains a linaiicial interest in th<' coin- 
])any and i- at present a menil)er of the board 
of directors. In I'Vbruary, IDOM. he became 
cashier of I lie Pedlield Savings I>ank and is 
.still acting in tiii- capacity. Iiis duties are 
cai)ahly and honorably conduete(l. 'I'ireless 
energy, keen )M'rceplio!i. honesty of ]nirpo-e. a 
geniu- for de\'i,~iiiii and executing tiie riglit 



thing at the right time, joined to everytlay 
common sense, guided by resistless wiU ]iower, 
are the chief characteri.stics of the inaii. 

Mr. >hihoney was married, in 1896, to ^liss 
Nellie Pyan, of iluscatine county, Iowa, and 
they are now the parents of two children, Leo 
and Catherine. Mr. ^lahoney was formerly a 
democrat in jiolitics but at present is not iden- 
tified with any party although he has voted 
tlu' republican ticket since free silver was an 
is-ue and is at j:)reseiit serving as city treasurer 
of Redlield. The cause of education finds in 
him a stanch fritaid and active worker, as he 
is also a member of the school board. His 
sterling characteristics are recognized by all 
with whom he comes in contact, and he i- there- 
fore .justly numbered among the representatixe 
and enterprising busines- men and citizens of 
Dallas county. 



GRANVILLE CAA'E. 



Agriculture has always been the basis of 
prosperity. The products of the soil birm the 
foundation for all commercial activity and 
the property which pays a sure annual income, 
more reliable than that of any other invest- 
ment, is the farm. Among the more success- 
ful agriculturists of Union township is (iran- 
ville Cave, who is now the owner of two hun- 
dred and fifty-three acres of fine land on -ec- 
tion 1. He ha.< always made a s]iecialty of 
raising and feeding stock and in addition his 
labors in tlie cultivation of his field- bring 
him a good return. 

He was born in this county on the 2(lth of 
Ahiy. b8()L his |)arent- being John S. and 
Sai-ah (I'ayton) Cave. The father was b irn 
in Keiilucky. in ISO."), while the mother's birth 
occurred in Ohio in 1S23. John S. Cave was 
married twice and unto his second union there 
were boi'ii live eiiildreii : Marion, who i- li\- 
ing in 1 1 lis (-(HI III >■: Caroline, the wife of .bi-epii 
Nayloi-. row in Decatur county. Iowa: Ed- 
ward, a!-') of I>e;-atiir coiintv : ( Irativine. of this 



792 



PAST AND PRESENT OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



review; and one who has passed away. It was 
in the early '50s that the father came to Dal- 
las county and purchased land, becoming a 
pioneer settler in a district where all of the 
evidences of frontier life were to be seen. He 
undertook the task of developing a new farm 
and as the years passed by he transformed the 
place into prodvictive fields. For many years 
he successfully carried on general farming but 
his life's labors were ended in death in 1895. 
His wife sui-vived him for about eight years 
and died in 1903. 

Granville Cave spent his boyhood and youth 
in his parents' home and at the usual age 
entered the public schools, where he mastered 
the common branches of learning, while under 
his father's direction he received the training 
in farm work that later qualified him for the 
conduct of a successful business on his own ac- 
count. After arriving at years of maturity he 
Avas united in marriage to Miss Rhoda De Camp 
in the year of 1880. She was born in Indiana 
in 1863 and is a daughter of E. W. and A. E. 
(Howe) De Camp. Her father was born in 
Lidiana, February 27, 1832, and the mother's 
birth occurred in New York, September 9, 
1842. In his family were fifteen children. 
Previous to his marriage to Miss A. E. Howe, 
which occurred in Elkhart county, Mr. De 
Camp married Libbie Bosler, who died leav- 
ing two children : Warren, a farmer of Adams 
township, Dallas county; and Hiram, a ma- 
chinist of Topeka, Kansas. The children by 
the second marriage are: Nettie, the -wife of 
Emery Skinner of A del; Marshall, of Spring- 
field, Missouri; Mrs. Cave; Silas, of Redfield, 
Iowa: Lafayette, of Linn township. Dallas 
county ; Nellie, who died when two years of 
age; Emma, who passed away when a young 
lady; Nannie, the deceased wife of Frank 
Rogers, of AVinfield, Kansas; Josie, the wife 
of J). Bonnett, of Santa Cruz, California; Ida, 
the wife of Frank Connelly, of Winfield, Kan- 
sas; Addie, who married L. A. Rising, also of 
Winfield, Kansas; Norman, living in Plamil- 
ton, Iowa; and Charles, of Adel township, Iowa. 



It was in the year 1863 that E. W. De Camp 
came to Iowa, settling in Dallas county, where 
he resided until 1886. He then removed to 
southeastern Kansas, where he lived for two 
years, after which he returned to Dallas 
county, Iowa, where he also lived for two years. 
In 1901 he took up his abode in Springfield, 
Missouri, and purchased a fruit farm. He and 
his wife are now living in that city and he is 
practically retired from active business life, 
having attained the age of seventy-five years. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Cave has been 
blessed with a son and daughter. The elder, 
Marvin E., is a graduate of the Redfield high 
school and is now operating a part of his 
father's farm. He married Miss Nellie Sho- 
berg. The daughter. Bertha May, is the wife 
of Sunnier Davis, a resident of North Dakota, 
and they have one son whose name is Marvin. 
Mrs. Davis taught music for two years previous 
to her marriage. 

The home of the family is pleasantly lo- 
cated on section 1, Union township, and the 
farm comprises two hundred and fifty-three 
acres of rich and productive land. The place 
is well tilled and Mr. Cave has made a specialty 
of raising and feeding stock. He has largely 
turned over the active work of the farm, how- 
ever, to others and is now practically living 
retired, enjoying a well earned rest. His wife 
is a devoted member of the United Brethren 
church and both are interested in all that per- 
tains to the moral and intellectual develop- 
ment of the community. Mr. Cave has served 
as a school director for several years and the 
cause of education finds in him a stalwart 
champion. In his political vicAvs he is a demo- 
crat and socially he is connected with the Mod- 
ern AVoodmen camp. No. 3498, at Redfield. 
As one of Dallas county's native sons he has a 
wide acquaintance here and his many good 
qualities as a business man and citizen have 
gained for him the warm and unqualified re- 
gard of the great juajority of those witli whom 
he has come in contact. 



DALLAS COUNTY INDEX. 



HISTORICAL. 



Introduction 7 

IOWA. 

Physical Features 8 

Geological Formations 9 

History 11 

Louisiana Purchase 14 

Establishing New Government. 17 

Explorations and Settlements. 17 

Indians of Iowa IS 

Black Hawk's War 18 

Des Moines 21 

Iowa Territory 21 

Early Courts 22 

Boundary Dispute 22 

Developing the Country 23 

Mormons 24 

Hungarian Colony 25 

Education 25 

Religious Instruction 26 

Public Lands 26 

Locating the Capital 30 

The Forty-niners 30 

Iowa and Slavery 30 

Floods 31 

Temperance Question 31 

Indian Massacre 32 

Outlaws and Horse Thieves... 34 

Financial Depression 35 

Banking System 36 

Crop Failures 36 

The Civil War 36 

Severe Storms 41 

Great Drouths 41 

Grasshop|)er Scourge 42 

Petrified Giant 42 

Grangers 43 

Kate Shelley 44 

Political Sketch 46 



Steps Toward Statehood 47 

Remodeling the Constitution.. 48 

New Party in Control 48 

Business Depression in IS94... 52 

War with Spain 53 

State Institutions 54 

State Societies 56 

St. Louis Exposition 57 

Retrospect 5S 

Other Days 64 

DALLAS COUNTY. 

Descriptive 68 

Geology 72 

Indian Affairs 75 

Early Settlement 76 

First Settlers 77 

Early Experiences 78 

Froze to Death S3 

Floods 84 

Organization 85 

First County Officers 86 

Early Records 91 

First Ferry 93 

First Deed 93 

Elections of 1850 93 

Inconveniences of Early Days. . 94 

Old Stone Jug 94 

Schools and Churches 95 

Gregg Fund 97 

Societies for Mutual Protection 101 

County Seat 101 

First Courthouse 102 

Old Courthouse 103 

County Seat Controversy 112 

New Courthouse 115 

County Officers 121 

Present Condition 123 

Early Elections 124 



County Jail 125 

Jasper Mason 125 

Poor Farm 126 

Swamp Lands 130 

Agricultural Society 131 

Railroads 133 

Civil War 134 

Spanish-American War 142 

Bank Robbery 143 

Farmers Institute 145 

Adel Township 148 

Boone Township 151 

Van Meter Township 154 

Adams Township 155 

Union Township 156 

Des Moines Township 157 

Washington Township 161 

Sugar Grove Township 161 

Linn Township 161 

Walnut Township 162 

Dallas Township 162 

Spring Valley Township 163 

Beaver Township 163 

Colfax Township 163 

Lincoln Township 164 

Grant Township 165 

Perry 166 

Woodward 196 

Dawson . 202 

Bouton 204 

Minburn _ , 205 

Linden 211 

Redfield 212 

Booneville 217 

Waukee 218 

Granger 223 

Dallas Center 225 

De Soto 230 

Van Meter 233 

Dexter 236 

Adel 243 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



Aiken, Dr. E. R 753 

Aldrich, I. N 440 

Allard, Nathaniel 777 

Allen, A. M 318 

Anders, J. H 416 

Anderson, John 671 

Anthony, John C 617 

Appenzeller, Andrew 560 

Armfiold, G. W 609 

Arthaud, Leo 612 

Ashmore, Jabez 508 

r, Christian M 459 



Badger, John 341 

Barlow, J. H 770 

Barnard, Eli 683 

Barnett, Curtis 525 

Barth, Charles 445 

Barton, R. A 591 

Berger, Benedict 281 

Bever, Alvin 314 

Bilderback, Thomas 712 

P.lackman, Joseph W 272 

Blake, W. 422 

Blanchard, Don A 467 

7iia 



Blue, David 677 

Bodenberger. Erwin 503 

Boone, Joshua 701 

Boyd, H. E 397 

Breakfield, John 771 

BreakfieUl, R. H 725 

Brenton, Charles R 291 

Brenton, Clyde E 291 

Brenton, William H 290 

Eringham, J. N 275 

Britton, Mrs. Sarah 698 

Brown, John 754 



794 



PAST -V^'D PRESENT OF DALLAS COL*yTY. 



Brown. Leonard R 571 

Brown. X. J 430 

Brown, William 322 

Bnan, J. C 731 

Burchfield, E. H 564 

Bums, F. D 519 

Bums. Henry T 450 

Butterfield. Dr. E. J 304 

Caldwell. Dr. T. J 409 

Calonkey. H. P 693 

Campbell, B. B 718 

Campbell. S. M 363 

Cardell. W. W 619 

Cave, Granville 791 

Chaney, F. D 349 

Chariot, W. J 455 

Chestnutwood, L. A 719 

Clark. H. E 33S 

Clarke, George W 464 

Clayton, H. C 383 

Cla>-ton, L. W 356 

Cleary, Rev. James 477 

Clements, George D 404 

Coffin, J. H 492 

Coffin, William 734 

College, J. P 664 

Collins, J. B 299 

Compton. Eli 286 

Cook, Charles E 664 

Cook, Sam H... 331 

Cook, William 67!> 

Coulter, F. R 4T0 

Crouse, W. S 426 

Curtis, G. W 717 

Davenport, William F 390 

Davis, H. H 740 

Dawson, C. V 522 

Dawson, J. SI 384 

De La, R. H 456 

Dickey, A. D 682 

Diddy, C. A 536 

Diddy, J. W 715 

Dilenbeck, B. C 358 

Dilenbeck, S. S 652 

Dills. W. P 414 

Dingwell, E. W 362 

Dooley, John 760 

Downey Brothers 492 

Downey, F. C 471 

Dunbar, F. S 335 

Durkes, Peter 476 

Elliott, J. R 762 

Ellis, C. K 463 

Ellis, W. B. 596 

Emmert, E. A 289 

Estes, Thomas A. ol6 

Evans, S. D 533 

Eveland, H. A 624 

Fagen, A. C 578 

Fahey. W. H 625 

Farlow, I. J 300 

Farnslev, P. G 629 

Fitting, F. H 720 

Forester, J. W 565 

Forret, Jacob 470 

Forsyth. James C 557 

Fox, John 586 

Gamble, Levi D 732 

Gannon, J. J 521 

Gardiner, T. H 606 

Garwick, H. H 327 

George, W. H 345 

Gibbons, O. S 328 

Gilbert, Thomas J 537 

Gill, X. H 656 



Goar. E. J 336 

Golf. Dr. S. C 364 

Golden, Abram 417 

Goldsberry, H. B 469 

Goodson, S. J 729 

Goodwin, Robert, Jr 543 

Gordon, T. H 768 

Gose, T. J 774 

Gott, F. M 398 

Gray, George 672 

Gribben, M. W 552 

Griffith. D. T 298 

Guthrie, W. Scott 330 

Gutshall, Harry 402 

Gutshall, Jacob 278 

Hadley, I. A. 526 

Hall, William 637 

Hailing, L. C 570 

Hanes, J. X 486 

Harris, L F 534 

Harrison, Edward 352 

HajTnond, William D 475 

Hemphill, Frank L 611 

Hill. E. L 423 

Hill, James C 462 

Hoe.ve, F. M 758 

Hotchkiss, A. C 283 

Houser, A. H 763 

Hoy, J. J 788 

Huffman, Dan 642 

Huggins. J. H 618 

Hunt, Henry 726 

Hunt, J. W... 676 

Ikenberrj-. L U 391 

Jewett. Victor 296 

Johnson, Eleazar 684 

Johnson. George M 413 

Jolley, J. L 789 

Jones, B. F 374 

Jones, Sadastan 603 

Keachie, James L 535 

Kelly, B. M 769 

Kile. M. S 551 

King, D. E 319 

King. J. V 744 

Kinnick, W. B 425 

Kirgis, William F 530 

Lackie, William 355 

Lamb. William 282 

Lee, Edward F 584 

Lisle, George H 741 

Lisle, Henry 305 

Lisle, J. D 583 

Loury. W. F 478 

Lowis. George 513 

Ludington, A. X 647 

Lyon. C. R 644 

Lyon. James 514 

McBroom. Frank 583 

McCall. F. G 373 

McClatchey, Fremont 677 

McClintock, J. H 6S9 

McColl. A. M 757 

McConnell. Homer 749 

McCormick. Richard 566 

McKean. Cornelius 752 

McKean, George W 665 

McKibben. G. S 635 

McKlbben. S. S, Jr 703 

McKissick. W. L 292 

Mabbitt, Anthony 573 

Mahoney, J. J 790 

Mallory, Dr. E. H 690 

Mapes, W. M 484 

Mark, John S 447 



Marshall, Calvin 547 

Maulsby, Dr. M. B 306 

Maulsby. Milton 605 

Meier, Hans 527 

Mercer, Mrs. Sarah 656 

Merical, H. S 408 

Middlekoff, Frank 786 

Miller. Frederick 669 

Mills. C. C 787 

Mills. M. M 787 

Mleynek, Frank 636 

Modlin, H. C 651 

Moore, J. H 761 

Moore, W. P 391 

Mowrer, Dr. Peter A 529 

Murphy, W. H 556 

Mvers. B. F 454 

Xaiden, H. R 697 

Xash, Patrick 559 

Xelson. W. A 572 

Xewell. T. E 687 

Xichols, Edmund 498 

Xoel. Cole 388 

Xolte. H. H., Jr 666 

Xolte. W. P 415 

Xonh, T. R 310 

O'Connor. Maurice E 507 

Oglevie. James R 781 

OMallev, John C 550 

OMally. J. S 482 

Otterman. Joseph 263 

Parcel, Cjtus 751 

Parcel, Frank 548 

Parks. W. H. A 401 

Pattee. D. J 266 

Peddicord, J. P 595 

Peitzman, Frederick, Jr 632 

Peitzman. H. F 392 

Perry, John 704 

Peters. James 579 

Phillips. C. H 626 

Pierce. C. B 694 

Pitsenbarger, Jacob 597 

Piatt, C. B. 349 

Piatt. J. L 346 

Poftenberger. C. M 511 

Preston, F. B 512 

Price, R. K 423 

Quigley, J. H 526 

Redfield, T. M 658 

Reel, Peter 748 

Rhinehart. George L 284 

Rhoads, Enos 742 

Rickerson, H. V 376 

Ritzman. Jacob 580 

Roberts, J. H 602 

Robison, Elmer 711 

Robison, J. C 696 

Robison. W. S 515 

Row. Benjamin 472 

Rover. C. B 490 

Ru'drow. William W 437 

Ruscher. W. E..-. 631 

Russell. Burton 321 

Russell. J. W 270 

Schamel. H. M 276 

Schnoor, Hans 542 

Scott. Thomas 499 

Scott. W. D 504 

Scott. William P 351 

Seamann, H. H 549 

Sears. Frederick 708 

Sharp. W. T 407 

Shaw. Edward 431 

Sherman, Dr. B. H 277 



PAST -IND PRESEyr OF DALLAS COUNTY. 



795 



Shirler ioim iiZ 

Shoeman. J. S 382 

Sliuiiiway. 3. B ... 724 

SlElin. M. W. T72 

Skiles, J. W 620 

Slaninaer. P. J 424 

Smart. Alexander 338 

Smith. A. E. 528 

Smith, A. F ■.... 265 

Smith, Lon. B 368 

Staker. G. E 657 

Stephens. A. 3 778 

Stevens. Thomas . . 398 

Stever. Henry . 337 

Stickel. A. M ... 604 

Storm, D. J 449 

Storm. Joseph 370 

Stover. B. D 641 

Stnber, John 702 

Stump. Jacob 413 

Sweeley. Victor T 40.? 

Taylor. H. W 500 

Thatcher. IL H 343 

Thompson. H. P 369 



Thomaen, J. C 767 

Thomburg, H. G 623 

Thomburg, L, B 513 

Thomburg. Dr. IC W 574 

Thomburs, T. A 615 

Thomburgh, Isaac it, 506 

Thomley, G. H. 709 

Thornton, Lea 368 

Thornton. WUliam a 735 

Tice, John. 784 

Towna, J. C 585 

Trout, Dr. A. "W. 590 

Tan Cleave, 3. A 643 

Tan Cleave, S. G- 764 

Van Cleave. Thomas T 332 

Vandever, C. E 563 

Van Meter, H. C 361 

Van Meter. J. R 780 

Van Meter, W. L. 610 

Walker. R. 3 544 

Ward, 3. L 3T5 

Warford. Lemuel 439 

Waters, H. M 435 

Watson, James H 783 



Weaver, Solomoa 733 

"est, W. F 638 

Westcot, W. D 592 

White. John B , 344 

Wilcos, Levi P 432 

Wilcox, W. W 461 

Wilson, Jehu 636 

Wilson, Rnfua R y 494 

Wipperman, J. F 438 

Wise, D. W 41U 

Wise, John. 3 433 

Wise, L. C 373 

Witham, 3. T 446 

Wolt WUliam 739 

Wolfe, James H . 555 

Wood, R F 749 

Worster. A. L ., 312 

Worster. Frederick . , 309 

Wright, B. F 319 

Wright. J. H 520 

Wright. W. A. 468 

Yard, 3. H 738 

Young, Charles 381 

Young. F. C 673 



